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- Publishing
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Look no further than Inkwellium as the publishing house for you!
Why Choose Inkwellium?
Creating literary masterpieces is a tedious process but with the right tools, planning and assistance, you can create timeless stories that matter. With over ten years of experience, we at Inkwellium can turn all forms of manuscripts into hot-selling novels, cooking books, business books, e-books and more. Start your publishing journey with us and become the author of your dreams, thoughts and ideas.
One of the main questions that writers often ask is how do I get a book published? The process may involve many steps but a simple guideline towards getting your manuscripts published is very much possible. It all depends on the type of publishing you wish to engage with.
What are the different types of publishing methods?
- Traditional Publishing: Often entails the services of a publishing house who helps the author navigate through formatting, editing and designing the manuscript.
- Self-Publishing: The type of publishing where the author enjoys control over all services when designing and selling the manuscript; often turning to Amazon book publishing services.
- Hybrid/Vanity Publishing: It is a mix between self and traditonal publishing. It involves a middle ground where authors may have some control when it comes to engaging in multiple publishing services while also seeking help and assistance from traditional publishing houses.
How to Get a Book Published
Many writers continue to adopt the traditional route when it comes to publishing. With Inkwellium, you will receive enough guidance to navigate the complex world of traditional book publishing. Below are the ten steps that are vital for ensuring publishing the traditional way.
- Identifying Writing Themes and Target Audience
Conceptualizing a storyline that piques the interest of its readers is vital. One must ensure that that all the elements of the manuscript below must align with the interest of the readers:
- Themes
- Styles
- Genre
By tailoring your manuscript in such a way that it fits a particular niche in the world of fiction and non-fiction writing, one not only attracts the best readers but also the best literary agents and publishers who can help ease this complex book publishing process.
- Revise and Polishing Manuscript
Revising and polishing your literary piece of work is necessary before the publication process is underway. No matter how inspiring one piece of writing may prove to be, a well-reviewed manuscript is vital for its reader success. One must ensure that a scan of your manuscript is done successfully by the writer and one should look for anomalies in terms of:
- Lack of Strong Language
- Whether Narrative is Cohesive and Structured
- Plot Holes
- Making Passages Active
- Correct Typos and Prose
Tip: Before coming back to your original manuscript, create some distance from it so that you can come back to it with a fresh point of view
- Write Book Proposal
Before you have been successful in finding a reliable literary agent, sending an overview of the book is vital to determine whether it will do well in the market and will garner views among its readerships. This overview is known as a ‘Book Proposal’. This is accompanied by a ‘Query Letter’ where you also pitch your manuscript in a less than hundred words to get the best agent.
What should a book proposal look like:
- Sample Summary and Overview
- Sample Timeline
- Navigating Market Potential
- Sample Chapters
- Author Bio and Information
By capturing all the above elements and the main gist of your manuscript, one can determine whether a potential manuscript will be successful. A good proposal and its execution go a long way in making sure it’s the best read and best-seller in the market among its readerships.
Tip: A big hit is determined by the quality of the proposal which will convince the editors and publishers whether the material and writer is worth investing in.
- Finding a Reliable Literary Agent
Searching a reliable literary agent matters. Without the assistance of a literary agent, it would be impossible for the writer to connect his work with his publisher. A reliable literary agent is a gateway towards your success when entering the publishing industry. How one gets his work published will depend on the capabilities of your literary agent to connect you with an equally reliable publishing house.
Tip: Always make sure that you turn to a literary agent with the best offer and it is best to wait till making your decision so do give them a realistic deadline before signing on with them.
- Book Shopping
After a selection of an agent, they will start the process of ‘book shopping’ whereby they will start approaching various publishing houses to see which one makes the best book deal and offer.
Tip: If you are unable to obtain a good deal within the first six months, there is a chance that your manuscript may need further revisions or you may need to consider parting ways with your agent.
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- Select a Publishing House
After the literary agent has approved your book proposal, connecting you and your written work to a publishing house follows. Selection of the publishing house must be done wisely.
Things to consider when selecting publishing house:
- Shared Literary Ethos
- Possess Reliable Publishers Catering to Your Genre
- Informed in Market Distribution
- Possess Quality Editing and Designing Capabilities
- Share Nuanced Monetary values
- Possess Vast Reader Base
A publishing house like InkWellium are just one of the few examples who provide their expertise to assist you and ensure your manuscripts stand out.
Tip: Research online publishing platforms well to avoid monetary scams associated with fake publishing houses.
- Negotiate Contract Terms
After selecting a publishing house, you wish to work with, it is important to discuss the terms of publication between the publishers, illustrators and writers. These include:
- Monetary Terms ( share in royalties received, advance payments, etc.)
- Contract Duration
- Total Book Output (Number of Current and Future Books expected to be Written)
- Reprinting Policies
If standard modifications have been requested and the terms have been revised and mutually agreed upon, proceed to publishing.
Tip: After negotiating your price and ensuring publication has begun, you will obtain the ISBN (International Standard New Number) that is unique to every published book.
- Finding Reliable Editor
Finding a reliable editor who does a thorough job in refining your existing manuscript is necessary. It may be the one thing that determines whether your manuscript is a ‘Big Sell’ or a ‘Big Miss’. Editing is not just about grammar and diction but it goes beyond- it involves improvement in:
- Structure
- Formatting
- Story Pacing
- Characterization
- Plot Revisions
- Sentence Clarity
- Fact Checking
To do this, careful planning is needed prior to the submission of your manuscript. Successful proofreading by your editor can make a difference in how well your manuscript sells.
- Format Front and Back Cover Design
Within the publishing industry also involves working with illustrators to format your book cover design. Selecting a design appropriate to your manuscripts theme and style is necessary.
What does a cover design involve:
- Title Cover and Subtitle
- Author Name and Details
- Appealing Visual Motifs
- Endorsement and Publication House Name
- Quotations
When designing the cover design, it is essential to keep some considerations. These include:
- Genre and Style: The tone of the visuals and text used should match what themes the writer is catering to.
- Target Audience: When designing, it is essential to ensure that the book cover will grab the attention of the intended audience and cater to their aesthetics.
- Colour Palette: The colour palette should be reflective of the content matter used within the manuscript. If the tone is meditative or requires spiritual pondering, it should cater to soft, mellow hues while if the tone reflects on a historical or tragic account, it should have hues that may be dark, ominous or even foreshadowing.
- Author Information: The back cover page should address the achievements and biography of the author including listings of their other works.
- Reviews: How renowned or credible an author is determined by the cited reviews and quotations on the back and front cover pages. This plays a role in grabbing the attention of the target readership.
- Book Launch, Promotion and Marketing
Similar to how we discussed the importance of conducting your market research when submitting a book proposal, it is important that one engages in promotion efforts so that you can successfully market your books to the readers. Creating a physical and social media presence is necessary so that you can boost your books presence. This may involve:
- Word of mouth
- Pamphlet distributions
- Stall engagement
- Book Meet and Greets
- Influencers and Brand Marketing
- Engaging with Social Media Mediums and Handles ( E.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
It is important that one must also engage with marketing teams and strategists given today’s digital world. This means your book content can’t sell alone, it needs marketing such as book signings, press releases, podcasts or even the release of latest audiobook technology.
Tip: With the right tools and individuals onboard, focus should be on boosting visibility, engagement and presence not just prior to but even post-publication.
Alternative Publishing Routes and Online Book Platforms:
Although traditional routes towards publishing do exist but some individuals also cater to options of self-publication. This involves making use of multiple online book reading platforms like Amazon.
- Publish Books on Amazon and Self-Publication
Given the vast presence of Amazon globally and Kindle e-readers, Amazon book publishing has come into the limelight. Positive aspects of self-publishing means that authors have greater control over their earnings, royalties and are not being bound by stricter deadlines or timeliness. Writers are also no longer bound by strict contract durations. With Amazon book publishing, this is no longer an issue.
Conclusion
Traditional publication involves various steps ranging from revising your manuscript to finding the right literary agent and the right editor, to researching the best publishing house suited to your literary needs and finally engaging in campaigns focusing on book promotion and marketing. Ultimately it is a process that involves research, review and marketing. if you are interested in either traditional or self-publication such as Amazon book publishing services, Inkwellium is there to assist you and help you refine your manuscripts. With more than 700 hundred writers at Inkwellium, our services is all you need to turn your manuscripts into timeless stories!