There are two traditional routes to approaching a publisher: find a literary agent OR you can go ahead and mail your manuscript directly to the publisher.

• to manage your career.
• to keep current with the publishing market and trends.
• to understand the often complicated terms and conditions that come with contracts as they could be life bounding.
• to negotiate your advance and help you get the best deals.
• to deal with emails, calls, contracts and sell your rights to other forms of media.
• to speed up the publishing process.
• to handle foreign and serial rights.
• because they have relationships and connections with publishers and editors. Therefore, they'll know who will be most interested in publishing you.

A neat trick when looking for the right agent is to visit your local bookstore or Library and visit the books that are similar to the one you are writing. Flip to the acknowledgements page and check to see if the author listed his or her agent. This is a good sign that they liked their agent and you may want to contact that agent.

• Agents may focus on a certain area of the publishing business, such as foreign rights, marketing / promotion etc.
• Many will offer their services with editing.
• Agents usually receive a 15% commission for their guidance and expertise.
• When scouting out an agent it's important to know if the agent specializes in a particular genre(s) / market. They may specialize in mystery and if they receive a romance they aren't going to be interested in the manuscript.

When taking the traditional publishing route keep in mind that no legitimate agent will ask you for any money, this includes a fee for reading your manuscript. They may only ask for you to help them with expensive copying costs.

Finding a literary agent:

What is it that you'd look for if you received hundreds of manuscripts per month? How would you choose the right book to invest your time and money into? When we go to the bookstore, aren't we like agents, scouting out the book we want to invest our money and time to read.

Agents are looking for that something special. This feeling comes from the voice and the unique way the story is told. An agent will ask themselves, "What sets this story apart from the rest I've received this month?"

Double-check an agents submission guidelines to see if they specialize or work with your genre and target audience. It's best to send your manuscript to agents that enjoy the genre you write in. This way you have a better chance of getting read. You may have a great story, but it needs to get into the hands of someone who will enjoy it. Take a look at J.K. Rowling for example. How many times was she turned down. Another reason could be that perhaps the timing wasn't right for that particular agent or publisher. Publishers fulfill a book quota each year and that quota may have been met, so keep on trying!

You may want to attend a creative writing course and / or test your work in front of an audience before sending it out. E.g. submit your work to magazines, perhaps here on Chapteread, blogs etc.

You'll meet with the agent and if the both of you decide to partner and move forward with getting your book published you'll sign a contract that binds you to the agent. Don't sign anything without understanding the terms of the business, so be sure to ask if you have any questions or concerns. E.g. How long do they have rights to your work? Do they have a hold on you future work? You should be free to pursue new work with a different agent. Your relationship with an agent should not be strictly based on a contract, rather a healthy and fruitful partnership. Questions should be open and welcomed.

Someone who has experience and expertise with the industry, understands the in's and out's when dealing with contracts, and has good relationships with editors and publishers. The most important thing the agent can do for you is to deliver your manuscript or proposal to the right editor. The agent should know the editors likes and dislikes, this way they'll know which editor will be best for your book. The right editor and publisher will aid you and your agent through the rest of the journey.

• You see eye to eye with the future of your career.
• You have good conversation.
• You trust the agent.
• Feel comfortable.
• Your gut is saying, "This feels right."

If none of the above occurred when you met your agent, find another one.

Publishing is a long road, [it can take anywhere from 9 months to two years] you'll want to travel with someone you can rely on and trust. A good place to begin your search for a literary agent is by looking in a copy of the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook.

Agents should have 6-8 weeks to read your manuscript since they can receive hundreds each month. After this time it is ok to ask if it has been read. Some agents employ assistants to help read through the material. They are skilled readers, who'll give the agent a written or verbal report to whether the book is worth publishing.

You'll always be notified if your manuscript didn't make it, don't give up, we wouldn't have "Harry Potter" if J.K. Rowling gave up. Remember the roles of agent, editor, and publisher are used to describe an occupation and there are people behind those titles and they may enjoy a mystery over a romance. It boil's down to taste, and if they see potential and talent, they'll also see future sales and revenue.

If you're offered advice in a rejection letter take it into consideration and move on to the next agent, editor, or publisher. You may submit your manuscript to as many publishers / agents as you please until you find the right one. If you make considerable revisions to your manuscript you may want to try and resubmit it to the same agent, editor, publisher. Remember this is part of the process, finding the person who will become your biggest fan. If you have an agent, they will help you find that person.

When an agent is looking for the right publisher for your manuscript they'll approach publishers in the best way they feel fit. They may know right away which publisher to send it to, they could send the manuscript to two or three publishers at the same time or they may choose to send it up to six or more at the same time and notify them that the highest bidder wins the publication rights. [This usually occurs when the agent believes they have a very promising book on their hands].

If you choose to submit your manuscript to a specific agent, make a note of it and let the know that you have specifically chosen them to look over your manuscript and that you're willing to wait 6-8 weeks to receive a response.

If you decide you want to approach more than one agent at the same time because waiting 6 to 8 weeks per agent seems daunting, you may want to include that there are other agents currently looking at your manuscript. Some will not mind, others may, this is your call.

Your manuscript package to an agent must include: a submission letter, a synopsis of your novel and the first three chapters of your book [never send your full manuscript unless the agent or publisher has requested it.] Put some time into writing the synopsis because it is important. You'll want to describe the plot, your main characters, your intended audience, and include why you've written what you're proposing. Keep your answers professional, concise and to the point. Describe yourself, state whether are you looking for publishing or representation and have you been published before. If you have professional writing credentials, include those as well. The synopsis should be less than 3 pages.

Some agents will accept emailed submissions, this is something to look into while doing your homework.

Your work will be placed in what is called the, 'slush pile.' Simply put, a pile of unsolicited manuscripts. In this case it may have a slim chance of ever receiving a proper read, because editors are boggled down with the submissions they receive from agents who they rely on to help find books with potential, and those they'll personally enjoy. You'll want to do a little more homework and make sure the publisher accepts unsolicited material and if they deal with books in your genre / market. Refer to the 'Writers and Artists Yearbook' for a list of publishers.

The editor [also known as the commissioning editor or acquiring editor], assistant editor, or a reader [someone employed by the publisher] will read through the manuscript. The manuscript will either be turned down or the editor will say let's sign a contract. This decision may occur within a few days or months, perhaps even longer. Keep in mind that publishers are receiving thousands of submissions from authors just like you. To check if they've read your manuscript it is kind to wait 6 to 8 weeks before enquiring. To check if your work arrived safely, you may call the editors assistant or if you've sent it by email you may want to ask them to send back a response on it's arrival [If you have an agent they will do this for you].

If your manuscript is read by a reader they will submit what is called a 'reader's report,' a one to two page report which includes a synopsis, the manuscripts strengths and weaknesses and whether they recommend the book be turned down or published.

The editor has read your manuscript and thinks it's great. Now they must sell it to their colleagues. The different departments that deal with the publication of the book will come together in an editorial meeting [also known as an acquisitions meeting] where they'll make a collective decision to whether the book will be published or not. If you have a good editor they'll be passionate about convincing others and seeing the book through its publication.

If the answer is 'yes!', the editor will decide with the publisher how much of an advance they will offer, this figure will be negotiated with your agent. The money you receive for your book is yours to keep [as long as you deliver the book], whether the publisher makes a return or not. So it is a gamble on the publisher's part. You should receive the advance in two weeks from signing the contract.

The royalty rate can vary anywhere from less than 5% to more than 15%, it depends on the market and sales. An advance is the dollar amount the publisher has come up with foreseeing how many books they believe will sell within its first year of publication. This is called an advance against royalties; the author will not see a penny of royalties until the advance is paid back to the publisher in full through the sales of the book. Big book chains demand high deductions on the price of the book, as a result the royalties are lowered.

The editor and agent will agree upon a contract, reviewing all the details and clauses etc. Right of first refusal [ROFR] allows the publisher the right to look at your next work. Authors are asked to sign an option agreement, you'll want to ask some questions and perhaps do a bit of research before signing.

A template will be written up by the editor describing the authors biography, small blurb that will be placed on the book, the International Standard Book Number [ISBN], the length of the book, rights, and sales information. If you have a literary agent they will do the negotiating of the contract and make sure the both of you leave with the best deal, agents rely on that 15% cut of the advance for all the work they do.

Your book can be bought on a finished manuscript or on a proposal. The authors proposal is a description of the book they plan to write and why they are the best person to write it etc. If you sent in a proposal and the publishing company says, lets sign a contract and you receive your advance, but you still have to write the rest of the book, you'll work along side the editor. They must wait for the manuscript to be completed before the publishing process can begin. If a book is bought with the manuscript finished the author will begin working along side the editor, working on the structural editing.

From the editor your manuscript will be placed in the hands of the copy editor [also known as a desk editor], who will go over the book in much detail, from adding comma's to checking for consistencies, dates and terms etc.

We are at the stage where the contract was signed and the editor has put your book into production. The departments go to work, like Santa's helpers, working on the publication of your book so many copies can be stocked on the elves, I mean shelves!

Once the editor finishes working on the structural editing of the book, the copy editor will cover every word in detail. Several proofs of the book are made and they'll be checked against each other to wean out all errors and for the author to make corrections. When the editor / agent / author are satisfied with the edits, the final proof is printed, and the text is ready for the hot press. The cover and blurb is written and designed.

The design department will work on the book for several months. Once they're finished they'll have printed the proofs that were used for editing and the proofs that were sent out for publicity, they've worked on a design that will sell the book [for those of us that judge a book by it's cover], prepared the advertisements, posters, and other sales material.

The production department goes to work on the format, style and design of the book. Once the typescript [the typewritten manuscript / the printer's copy with the final design] is completed it will be sent to the typesetter who will arrange, design and set the text. The printing options and details are decided upon and the book is ready for printing. The number of copies to print is determined by the cost of the book, the author's advance and if the author has a fan base / their past sales.

For the publishing industry to make decent sales they must announce the book to the press in advance. The editor has many copies of the book made called proof's, it's the book in its unfinished state. The proofs are important in publishing because they are sent out to bookstores, magazines, editors, other authors, and critics for publicity, quotes and a buzz. Many publishers seek free publicity because they have small budgets for advertising. So they'll contact the press to get the author in the newspapers, on the radio, TV interviews, magazines, features, bookstore appearances, readings and book-signings, on websites etc. The marketing department also goes to work, because the publisher will use the rights they acquired in the contract to make revenue and promote the book. All the departments work together to make the book a success, for this is where their bread and butter comes from.

• TV.
• Film.
• Radio reading.
• Audio books.
• Reprint an excerpt of the book.
• International book sales.
• Foreign rights.
• Reprint rights sold to periodicals.
• Handle foreign rights.
• First serial rights, the right to publish the material before anyone else.

The marketing department prepares all the material for the sales department to use when they pitch to retailers to buy books. The publisher's sales team can begin working on book sales a year in advance, preparing your book for the market and work on getting sales to recoup the advance they paid the author and to seek profits. They will work with bookstores to purchase pre-publication. Book sales come from a variety of retailers such as bookstores, independent and major chains [like Barnes and Nobles and Boarders], internet sales [from distributor's like Amazon.com], supermarkets, department stores [like Wal-Mart, Costco, BJ's Wholesale club]. Book clubs are another outlet for sales.

OR

You may seek self-publishing.