200 million people think they can write a book. Are you one of them?

Publishing a book is an exciting endeavor. You’ve put a ton of blood, sweat, and tears into this story and you’re ready to share it with the world.

But how do you do it? What steps do you take to land publication? What is the best way to publish a book anyway?

If you have a budding bestseller or amazing story and are thinking about publishing, look no further. Find out how to get your manuscript in the hands of readers here.

The Best Way to Publish A Book

It is easy to become overwhelmed by all the steps you may take to publish your book, but if you stay calm and focused, the experience can be enjoyable.

There a few ways you can go about publishing a book, but two are recommended. You can work with a publisher or self-publish.

Working With A Publisher

Simply put, a publisher will print your book for you. This is a traditional route if you’ve ever wished to write a book and have it published.

Here are the steps to publishing a book with a publisher.

1. First, decide if you are writing fiction or non-fiction. Fiction writers will need to provide an entire manuscript, while non-fiction writers should have a strong proposal written.

Non-fiction writers will need to submit a proposal letter or even a couple sample chapters of your book along with with your letter.

2. Comb through your book and revise everywhere you can. For a fiction book, decide your genre. is it mystery, thriller, romance? Your story must be as captivating as possible, with a clear plot, and thoughtfully written.

It’s also important to note that word count is important. Your manuscript should be as close to 100,000 words as possible.

3. A second (or third) pair of eyes is always helpful. You may think your piece is magnificent, but be flexible about room for improvement. Reach out to a fellow writer, reader, or professional editor or writer you may know, and ask them to read your book.

Take the critique well and consider how it can be improved before sending it off to publication. Make adjustments where necessary.

4. Fine tune your manuscript! After all the edits and critiques, polish it up, keeping an eye out for grammar, punctuation, and other errors.

5. Research publications to decide where to send your work. Format your manuscript correctly so that it corresponds with their requirements.

6. You’re all set! Now is the time to decide if you’d like help publishing your book. You can consider enlisting a literary agent or try to reach the publisher directly.

There are pros and cons of working with agents. Publishing companies rely on agents to review work before having it placed on their desk. However, sometimes it’s a challenge to land a literary agent.

Going to the publisher without working with a literary agent means you do not have to pay them, but they may prove beneficial and you can always try to secure one first to see how it goes.

Self-Publishing

Self-publishing is quickly becoming a very real option for writers. In 2016 well over 700,000 books were published and that number is increasing exponentially.

In short, self-publishing is publishing your book yourself, instead of seeking out a company. You have complete control over your content, design, and more.

One drawback is that you fund almost every step of the way, and tackle most of the work yourself, with the exception of a designer or proofreader.

It may seem daunting at first to self-publish, but if you pace yourself and follow the steps, you could become a pro.

Here’s how to begin your self-publishing journey.

1. Similar to the steps above, you must write your book (fiction or non-fiction), revise, and reach out for feedback.

Unlike writing a proposal letter to a company, a non-fiction writer can write their entire book with self-publishing and follow the steps to revise and reach out for feedback.

2. Choose an appealing and clear title! Choose your book title after the book is written.

3. Edit your book! When you’re not working with a publisher, editing can be a little more tricky. Find a trusted friend or colleague that you know, or hire a proofreader.

4. Design a cover for your book that stands out. Many readers will make their choice not simply by the content or idea of the book, but the cover design. This is one area where it’s best to hire another professional.

5. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing is the platform on which you will format and publish your book. Simply set up a free account with them and get started. It’s easy to use and you can publish quickly once all your edits and designs are complete.

6. Because you’ve self-published your book, no one knows it’s available! Part of self-publishing is managing your marketing and launch. This doesn’t have to be complicated.

Assembling a launch team is essential if you want to sell your book. A launch team is a group of people that will read your book and post positive reviews about it on Amazon, numerous social media platforms or on their personal blogs.

A great way to get people into your launch team is to offer them a free copy of your book in exchange for reviews.

Launch teams are not the only way to market your book. See how there are other ways to get noticed!

6. Once your book is formatted and you’re confident in everything, you’re ready to self-publish! Narrowing down a price can be difficult, but the recommendation is to keep it under $6. During your launch, set the price low and gradually increase it.

Get Started Publishing Your Book Today

A story sitting inside you should be written! The journey to publishing your book is like a story in itself; a humble beginning with a wrapped up ending.

Now that you know the best way to publish a book, start writing your manuscript or jotting down ideas and become a bestseller in no time.

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