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So you have finished writing your book, and are now looking for
a book publisher. Or perhaps you are thinking about writing a book
and are looking ahead toward book publishing options. In this article
we will discuss the kind of book publishing many people dream of
– royalty publishing.
Royalty publishing occurs when someone other than you; i.e. a book
publishing company, pays for the production of your book. The book
publisher may or may not offer you an advance against future royalties.
For first time authors, advances are rare, but there are certainly
instances of publishing companies offering large advances to new
authors. You will, however, need a fantastically original topic
with potentially large volumes of sales for the publisher to even
take an interest in you in the first place.
If your book is fiction, you will need a completed, well-edited
manuscript of your entire book before you start looking for a book
publisher. So if you are not done, get writing! If you are doing
nonfiction, you will need a BOOK PROPOSAL to secure a contract
with a book publishing company. Our CD program entitled Be Your
Own Book Coach contains an entire section on writing your book proposal,
as do certain books you can find in the bookstore or library.
Since most royalty publishing companies will not work with you
directly, you will need to find a literary agent to represent you.
Agents send your proposal to various book publishers. Hopefully,
they get a bite or two, at which time they negotiate a book-publishing
contract on your behalf. Contracts stipulate your advance against
royalties and your royalty percentage, usually ten percent of the
cover price in your home country and five percent elsewhere. That
means that for each twenty dollar book sold, for example, you get
two dollars, but only after you have used up any money you received
as an advance. Agents usually take about fifteen percent of whatever
they negotiate for you.
Concerning finding an agent, many authors thank their agents in
the acknowledgment section of their books, so check out books
in your genre and make a list of names. Alternatively, you could
do a web search for book agents in your genre. You will need patience.
If you find an agent, and if the agent succeeds in selling your
book, the process could take a year. Then you must add another year
to the time it will take the book publishing company to produce
your book.
Most people believe that book publishing companies promote and
market books. They do not. What they do offer is to list your
book in their catalogue and have their salespeople mention it when
they go to visit bookstores. The book buyer may or may not choose
to carry your book. Even if they do carry your book, what will
make the book jump off the shelf and into the buyer's hands? A good
cover will do this to a certain extent, but the promotion that lets
potential readers know that the book is there, is done and
paid for, not by the book publishing company, but by you.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the various methods of
book publishing. Do not let that stop you. Get writing and get that
book out there no mater how you do it. Your readers need you.
Book Coach Press helps writers become published authors.
Our products and services
provide writing help that guides you from book ideas right through
to publication. We offer hassle-free, top quality manuscript evaluations,
writing advice, copy editing, book cover design, book formatting,
and publishing. We help you write a book that makes you proud and
makes a difference.
>> Click here for our list
of products and services.
>> Give us a call and reserve a
consultation with us so we can inspire you, get your book ideas
clear and move your book-writing forward today!
>> Read our success
stories or take a gander at some of our testimonials.
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