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Via
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 Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:30 am Post subject: Guys and Dolls |
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To date, I have never once attempted to get anything professionally published--I just write for fun, I write for me, and I write for YWS (because you know you are my addiction).
BUT...I have recently decided to venture into the world of publication. Most of you don't know this because there is no good place to post them on the site, but I write children's books as well as poetry, short-fiction, and novels. I have this one children's story that every time I read I love it more and more called Three Penguins and a Pearl (TPP, because I'm lazy). This I am to publish.
So, from here on I need some advice:
1. I am in need of an illustrator. I am an okay artist, but for this I feel like my mediocre drawings will not suffice. What do I do to accomplish this? Is that my responsibility or the publishing companies responsibility?
2. How do I even go about finding a publisher? Do I look locally or do I go to a big popular company first?
3. What do I do to get them to publish my book (after I find "them", of course)?? A.k.a., how do I 'audition' my book? |
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snap
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:36 am Post subject: |
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I'm honestly not quite sure about the illustrator, though if I had to guess, I would say the publisher would do it (but don't quote me on that.)
As for being published, first you have to decide whether you want an agent, or just go for a publisher. I'm doing the same thing right now, and, personally, I decided to go for an agent. They definitely lighten the load, and it's hard to deal with the publisher yourself. They'll make sure they get you the best deal, and a lot of times have special admissions privileges (such as being able to send a full manuscript when just an author can only send a partial.) If you want an agent, if you go to sites like www.agentquery.com, it will give you agents for the field you write, and will tell you how to submit to them. If you want to look for publishers, I would suggest the writer's market, and it is the same general idea. Anyway, I hoped this helped!! |
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Via
Ἀθηνᾶ
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:42 am Post subject: |
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| Agent....I must pay this agent, right? How does that work? |
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Tyd
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 11:15 am Post subject: |
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I don't think you have to pay agents. They just get a percent of the profits, or a lump-sum of money for getting your book published  |
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miyaviloves
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 11:17 am Post subject: |
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No, some agents don't expect you to pay them, but if your work gets published they take a percerntage of the profits, well I have been looking into Agents and that would appear to be the way they work. I think getting an Agent would take a load off your back as they do all the hard work
Meevs
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snap
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, I should have mentioned that. oops. Anyway, an agent WILL NOT ask you for money up front. In fact, if they do, don't send your work to them, because it's a sign that its some kind of scam. They will profit from selling your book, just like you will. They will take a percentage, I believe the going rate right now is 10-15%. |
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Cpt. Smurf
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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| snap wrote: |
| Sorry, I should have mentioned that. oops. Anyway, an agent WILL NOT ask you for money up front. In fact, if they do, don't send your work to them, because it's a sign that its some kind of scam. They will profit from selling your book, just like you will. They will take a percentage, I believe the going rate right now is 10-15%. |
Exactly right. |
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Via
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Cool. So how do I go about getting an agent? Do I just email them like "Yo dawg, u wanna b my agent homie?" (Mm I like being dramatic) or is there a process to it? |
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Cpt. Smurf
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, there is a process. You have to find agents that specialise in your genre of writing, ie. fantasy, crime, romance etc. You then send them a query letter for your book, as you would a publisher. It is quite important to send a query letter before the whole manuscript, as most agents, unless otherwise specified, will just send a manuscript back if they haven't asked to see it.
I've put three links to agent listings, one for the UK, one for the US, and one for the rest of the world:
UK Agents
US Agents
Rest of the World
Each agent has a specification of what they want to be sent to them. Unsolicited MSS are manuscripts that you send without sending a query letter first.
Well, good luck, I hope this helped. Let us know about any progress!
-Kaz |
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There's always been a lot of tension between Lois and me, and it's not so much that I want to kill her, it's just, I want her to not be alive anymore.
~Stewie Griffin |
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Via
Ἀθηνᾶ
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| What do you write in your query letter normally? Like, what kind of info? What's the purpose? |
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Cpt. Smurf
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Agent Query
This has all the necessary info you'll need on submitting a query to an agent. It should come in handy.
-Kaz |
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There's always been a lot of tension between Lois and me, and it's not so much that I want to kill her, it's just, I want her to not be alive anymore.
~Stewie Griffin |
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Via
Ἀθηνᾶ
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 21
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 3471
Reviews: 681
Country: second to the left and straight on 'til morning
314 Points
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you so much! You have been ridiculously helpful! |
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Cpt. Smurf
Victory is mine!
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Lol, no problem! Remember to tell us when you get some news! |
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There's always been a lot of tension between Lois and me, and it's not so much that I want to kill her, it's just, I want her to not be alive anymore.
~Stewie Griffin |
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Via
Ἀθηνᾶ
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 21
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 3471
Reviews: 681
Country: second to the left and straight on 'til morning
314 Points
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Haha I will. Right now I'm trying to decide about the query letter--because it's a children's book and it isn't ridiculously long, so the synopsis really doesn't need an entire paragraph. Hmm.. |
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Sureal
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