This is post two of : You’ve written a book, now what do you do with it?
It occurs to me I should give you a few brief pointers on how to go the traditional route, should you decide to.

First, remember I broke in almost 30 years ago. So some of my ideas on how to submit and such are outdated. Second, remember it hasn’t got any easier.

If you decide to go the traditional route, what you should do is submit your manuscript in whatever format is required of course.

BUT, you say, SUBMIT WHERE?

Well, that’s a good question. You can go look at your favorite publishers of the kind of stuff you write — you read the kind of stuff you write, right? == and see if they take direct submissions.

Most of them — at least most of the big houses — will not take direct submissions. They will take submissions via agents, which puts you in a more confusing position, because agents can become agents simply by saying they are so, and not have any more idea than you do on how to get you bought by a publisher.

First of all, never ever pay a fee to an agent to read your book. Agents who make their money that way have no reason to submit your book. Second, do not accept agents’ offers to publish you. They’re just micro publishers then and …I’ll explain the issues with that.

In the same way, never pay a publisher to read your book. Publishers who make their money from reading fees have no reason to make money from selling books to the public.

Now, I will tell you and it might or might not be typical that of all my books sold through an agent, the agent made the sale 2% of the time. Most of the time, I talked to the publisher and arranged for the agent to send the book. And starting out, I made the sale, and the agent just dealt with the contract… which they’re not really any more qualified to do than you are. No, seriously, they have no particular expertise. (These days, as squirrely as things are, get an attorney.)

So, how did I make those sales? I went to conventions (and workshops) and connected with the editors/publishers. Or I got friends to recommend me. Or–

Now maybe my experience is weird, but it is my feeling MOST of publishing runs on personal connections.

So, you start submitting your book around. You are, of course, a grown up, and make sure your book fits what the publisher is looking for in genre, theme, general style and expected audience. And you look in their (or the agent’s) website for the format required.

Of course I’ll hope you’re both good and very lucky and someone buys your book straight off the gate. This is rare, but could happen!

However, let’s say you’ve been submitting for a while and the large and medium tier publishers have all rejected you. At a conference are on a panel with the publisher of Necrophiliac Duck Press who says your book sounds very interesting, please send it to her. So you do. You get an acceptance almost immediately telling you she loves the book, and they would love to publish it.

Finally you think. And of course sign on. Or do you?

Well, if you do or don’t is entirely your decision, but while some small presses are extremely professional and intent on building a name for themselves (look at Raconteur) most… aren’t so much. And they don’t really know how to promote your book any more than you can. They aren’t going to get you in bookstores (which I don’t actually know do anything) and they’re not going to invest thousands or dollars for your cover, or your launch, or– Partly because it makes no sense to spend that for a new author with no track record. They are, ultimately doing what you’d do on your own.

But, you say, at least you don’t have to do it yourself.

Right. And if you go into it that way, with your eyes fully open, maybe you’ll be okay. Just be aware that a small publisher will take around 50% of your royalties (Has to, to stay in business) and that some of them have truly horrific contracts. Or disappear with no way of being contacted, while your book is on all the electronic platforms, so you can’t publish it yourself. Or– Look, there’s a long catalogue of things that have happened to people publishing with small presses. (With big presses too, it’s just more visible with big presses. And less flakey.)

In general, though, for most people, traditional publishing involves a lot of loss of control and potential earnings.

If that’s what you have your heart set on, I’ll wish you all the luck. Because to make it big (or even medium) in trad pub you need luck and talent both.

Next week: So you want to go indie!