Have you finished writing your book? Are you looking to get it published? If you are, the big question is, do you have a book that will make it through the publishing process and be successfully published?
Figuring out whether your book will get published or not is a difficult question as there are several factors to take into consideration. Let us go through some of these reasons to find out a possible answer.
The subject of your book
Is there an audience for your book?
A publisher’s job is to make money and to do that it needs to sell lots of books. They need to ensure that there are people out there willing to spend money on your book. The genre and topic are always important. If your book centres around a popular genre and is currently in demand, you stand a great chance of getting published.
The demand for your type of book
Writing a book that is wanted is the best way to ensure publication!
If you have not started your book yet, consider what publishers are currently asking for. You can find ideas from publisher’s websites, the internet and from Writer’s Market books as regards to popular topics.
What types of books are in constant demand?
What books are in the bestsellers list?
The readability of your book
Publishers are looking for quality books that they know they can sell to readers. There is more to writing than simply allowing the words to fall on to the page.
You need to ensure your book flows together well and is easy for your readers to understand.
The quality of your book
How well you can proofread your own work will have a great impact on whether your book will be published. Sending non edited work to a publisher is a grave mistake. It shows lack of skill and an unprofessional approach which is very off putting for any publisher.
Publishers are looking for quality in a book, so make your book the best that it can be. Don’t do yourself a disservice and submit your first draft expecting it to be published. If you are unsure of proofreading yourself, you can avail of help from a professional editor. A second eye will usually catch mistakes which you may miss.
Choosing the right publisher
Effort is also needed when it comes to finding a publisher who may be interested in publishing your book. You should expect to put in a lot of time and energy when looking for the right publisher.
The more time you take to research publishers and what they want, the greater your chance of getting published. For example, if you have a children’s book with a religious theme, you will need to seek out publishers who are looking to take on this specific type of book.
The internet is a great resource when looking for indie or obscure publishers.
Writer’s Market books are also a fantastic resource which every writer should have to hand when researching your options. Remember to choose publishers that are a good fit for your book. A manuscript which matches the criteria of a publishers has a greater chance of being published than one that does not.
How many publishers you’ve submitted to
Another aspect to consider is that the number of publishers you submit your book too will have an impact on how successful you will be in landing a publishing deal. However, remember to take your time and only send your manuscript to relevant publishers. There is more than one publisher for each specific genre though.
The more publishers you submit to, the greater your chance of success.
Bear in mind, it is almost impossible to figure out if a book will be successfully published, but there are ways to assess a potential success rate.
If you are attempting to publish for the first time, do not give up. Rejection is part and parcel with publishing and many well-known and successful authors received their own pile of rejection letters before they found success with their writing. This may be the case for you too.
Alternatively, you may want to give self-publishing a try.
Don’t forget, if I can help at all, just book a call with me.