How can I get a book published?

[Ashlynn]

[Joss]

Write a great book taht someone will want to pay you for or self-publish. Publishing isn't easy if you want a publisher to pay you for it; same for self-publishing regarding readers paying for your book.

[Jenny]

For the most part, traditional publishing is not the best route for first timers. The publishing houses only promote those that have a name so you wind up setting up your own book tours and promotional events and going bookstore to bookstore to get your novel on the shelf.

The best thing to do nowadays is self publish an eBook to Amazon and/or Smashwords. You can use Jutoh to create the eBook and then upload it to either site. Then you promote your book through social media and get a following... build the social network before your books launch using Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Forums, etc. You can use createspace to do print on demand paperbacks that do not cost you anything unless someone actually purchases the book - then the wholesale cost is taken from the sale and you get paid the rest.

If you go traditional publishing, start by finding an agent - you should never have to pay an agent or publisher to publish the book. To find an agent, you will need to research agents in the genre you want to publish in and find ones that accept unsolicited submissions. You can purchase the book Writer's Market and it has a ton of publishers and agents as well as instructions on what to do when going the traditional route. Also, Writer's Conferences are the best place to get your book seen by publishers and agent. You have a few minutes with each one usually to give your presentation about your book and convince them to take a look at it. The best Conferences are in San Francisco, Portland, OR, Chicago.