Getting Published

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

Ok I have a question... not sure where to put it but figure this is best...

I write poetry (haven't posted any yet but will do that some other day when its not 5am...) Over the last 6 or so years, I've written about 100 poems I would dub "printable"...

How/what is the best way to get a book of my poems printed? I figure mailing either a manuscript or a CD of my work to tons of publishers is probably an excersize in futility (and quite expensive).

Does anyone know what I should do? Any ideas at all? Thank you!

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

Ok I have poems posted now... (perhaps thats an understatement?)

 

[oncewaslost]

ummm... you could have put them all in one thread

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

yeah... would have been really long, but still a good idea... will do that more in the future.

 

[Bookman]

To see your books of poetry published, you'll almost certainly have to self publish them. There are several such self-publishers around. It will be a waste of postage to send them to regular publishers. They will return them unread in most cases, and throw them away in other cases.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

so how does one go about self-publishing? take it all to a printer & such? what should i do first?

 

[katelyn]

I suggest that you check out Xulon Press and iUniverse. They are both print-on-demand self-publishers. Xulon is Christian, iUniverse is all kinds of books (and it's cheaper). If I decided to self-publish, I would go with one of these options as they get you on the Amazon.com site, and you don't have to worry about doing all the printing stuff yourself as you would with true self-publishing.

 

[yakkmeister]

Ok I have a question... not sure where to put it but figure this is best...

I write poetry (haven't posted any yet but will do that some other day when its not 5am...) Over the last 6 or so years, I've written about 100 poems I would dub "printable"...

How/what is the best way to get a book of my poems printed? I figure mailing either a manuscript or a CD of my work to tons of publishers is probably an excersize in futility (and quite expensive).

Does anyone know what I should do? Any ideas at all? Thank you!

The most important thing about getting published is professionalism.

Publishers will most often have strict submission guidelines; it is best that you find out what these are before you go and send the manuscripts.

Being published is very very hard; most publishers will only want to see you if you have already been published; catch 22.

The self publishing route is expensive, but may be the path you need since larger publishers don't really like to publish poetry; such volumes don't tend to sell.

However - you need to be tenacious, and don't worry about the inevitable pile of rejection letters you get.
Stick it out.

 

[Hands&Feet]

Print on Demand is the way to go. Trafford Publishing, while not Christian perse, have the best rates I've found, are very flexible, and the lowest cost per book.

There is no waste. They print as there are orders--even one order. They are very resonable when it comes to making revisions, too.

Most of these POD companies will give you an ISBN, a website, list your book on all the internet booksellers-amazon, B-N, etc.

The difference is you have to sell the book. If you have have the good fortune to sell several thousand books, you can take those figures and shop the book to the larger trade publishers. First time authors have very litte luck with them unless they have proven sales. Poetry is tough, but there are some specialty publishers out there who do well with it.

I personally like to work with the nonchristian companies because it always leads to some of them finding Jesus.

If you are not going to sell a lot of books, POD will help you to realize 3 or 4 times the profit that a trade publisher will offer you. However, the trade publisher will help market the book and should ultimately help you to sell many more books.

I have found that POD is a great way to launch a book and have it earn the credibility it needs to get a big advance from the big houses.

The traditional pub. industry has really gotten ugly in the last few years. Even Christian publishers have taken on many worldly characteristics. Do what you can do on your own first and your chances will be much greater for success.

I am amazed at how many opportunities my wife and I have had to share Jesus with great results just by mentioning that I have a book. They aren't threatened when we talk about the contents of a book because it isn't directed at them. But it inevitably brings out the many questions people have about faith and God.

I am truly in awe of what I have seen Him do this way. I hope my pen never dries up till He takes me up!
Good Luck and don't give up. God gave you those poems for a reason.

 

[katelyn]

Hands&Feet, I found your post very helpful! I'm currently writing a manuscript in hopes of publishing, and the closer I get to completion, the more nervous I get about braving that very scary world of big publishing houses.

I've been playing with the idea of skipping the publishing house gauntlet and just self-publishing this as my first book via POD. I too like the idea of going with a "secular" POD company for the same reasons you mentioned.

Anyway, I had kind of given up on the idea of self-publishing, as I began doubting whether I'd really be able to sell my book on my own (which actually sounds fun to me, although difficult), but now you've got me thinking about it again! Thanks for sharing your insight!

 

[Hands&Feet]

Anyway, I had kind of given up on the idea of self-publishing, as I began doubting whether I'd really be able to sell my book on my own (which actually sounds fun to me, although difficult), but now you've got me thinking about it again! Thanks for sharing your insight!

You would be surprised at how much business you can drum up even on a local level. Newspapers, Radio and TV all love to do human interest stories on local authors. If you plan a big media blitz on your release and do some book signings at bookstores, etc. you can sell enough to get it off the ground. If you have any ministries in your area that your book fits well with, they will help you out. I am amazed at how many businesses are willing to give you a hyperlink. If you belong to a denomination or have a network of churches, you can speak at them. I like titles that have a catchy contemplative quote because they make good coffee mug, bumper sticker, t shirt logos for promotion.

I know some of this stuff sounds kind of "capitalistic", but if you have something that you believe God has ordained you to write, then we must believe that it is worthwhile for as many to hear the message as possible. Far be it from me to limit how far God will take something.

Go with God and go for the gusto!!

 

[Christian4U]

is there anyway to publish a book without it costing so much money...i have a book i have been writing for a few years now and i need to finish it and get it published...is there anyway i can do that? so that it wont' cost too much money

 

[yakkmeister]

is there anyway to publish a book without it costing so much money...i have a book i have been writing for a few years now and i need to finish it and get it published...is there anyway i can do that? so that it wont' cost too much money

no - not really.
Publishing is a very costly enterprise.
The POD system mentioned earlier seems the most cost effective method.

 

[saint]

Here in Yugoslavia (eastern Europe) we sometimes photo-copy pages from printer,

print cover in some other place,

and put it all together in the third.

.
​

This way you can start by any small number of products.

.
​

Catchy thing is to print the first by printer.

.
​

Of course, this is meant for small volume small budget books.

.
​

HOWEVER, it's easier to find buyers for cheep books and readers for small

Everywhere in the world costs differ from machine to machine, even in the same street. Huge difference. Best quality doesn't have to be most costly, and quality is necessary in this type of publishing.



Anyone tried in the States?

 

[katelyn]

I haven't tried anything like that, but I've read a book (How to Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book) that talks about that type of thing.

 

[loveHIM_liveHIM]

Yeah... if you want to make it just for fun, for friends & whatnot, you can do everything urself on your computer and take it all to Office Depot, they'll spiral bind it for you cheaply...

 

[discipleofWORD]

Hmmm... for those interested in publish poetry.
(that applies me to)

I have been doing some research by looking through Poet's Market. I'm serious, even though I don't have my own copy, buy it! It tells you the things you need. Start off submiting poems to suitable magazines. There's even Christian magazine markets up here! So it's all good!

But this is one thing that caught my eye. I think when it comes to poetry, make chapbooks. Sorry, I don't have much information as I should, but I heard it's a good start(it's for making a poetry book 25 pages to 50 pages).

Just go to your nearest bookstore(Barnes and Nobles should be a good start) and get "Poet's Market 2003/2004/2005(or most recent version)". It cost 25dollars around, but it should be worth every cent if you're consistant and determined to publish that poetry all in the name of Christ.

Daniel Kim.

Note: Did anyBODY here sent their poems to a magazines? I need some help here. Did you put your poems and cover letter in a big yellow envelops that is big as a regular sheet of paper? I need some information here! ThanK!!!!

 

[yakkmeister]

Hmmm... for those interested in publish poetry.
(that applies me to)

I have been doing some research by looking through Poet's Market. I'm serious, even though I don't have my own copy, buy it! It tells you the things you need. Start off submiting poems to suitable magazines. There's even Christian magazine markets up here! So it's all good!

But this is one thing that caught my eye. I think when it comes to poetry, make chapbooks. Sorry, I don't have much information as I should, but I heard it's a good start(it's for making a poetry book 25 pages to 50 pages).

Just go to your nearest bookstore(Barnes and Nobles should be a good start) and get "Poet's Market 2003/2004/2005(or most recent version)". It cost 25dollars around, but it should be worth every cent if you're consistant and determined to publish that poetry all in the name of Christ.

Daniel Kim.

Note: Did anyBODY here sent their poems to a magazines? I need some help here. Did you put your poems and cover letter in a big yellow envelops that is big as a regular sheet of paper? I need some information here! ThanK!!!!

Check with the submissions department of the magazines you want to be published in.

They will let you know.
Be sure you follow their guidelines carefully.
Use correct tense; pularality and context in everything you write or they will toss it out.

 

[katelyn]

I got an email today about the publishing program at CafePress...it looks kind of cool if you were just wanting to publish for family and friends and see where it goes from there...

 

[plum]

is there anyway to publish a book without it costing so much money...i have a book i have been writing for a few years now and i need to finish it and get it published...is there anyway i can do that? so that it wont' cost too much money

katelyn just gave the answer i was so pumped to give.
http://www.cafepress.com
there you can make your own books in different sizes, styles... you even design your own cover art. It's awesome! I highly recommend using CafePress. They've always been 100% reliable with my store I have on there and the quality of my purchases have been good. I plan on having a book made for someone as a Christmas gift or birthday gift.