2 questions - Writers Forum

TheGlobber · 08-02-2007, 11:30 AM

I just finished a how-to book. I cant really say more about the subject but i wanted some advice. Its my first book. And i will start searching for an agent. Then lets say that a publishing house wants to publish my book. Do i sign a contract with them and they pay me a sum of money and that's it? Or depending on the sold copies i will be receiving money? Meaning if they manage to sell 1000 copies do i get a percentage of the sales or not? Plz explain how it is done because i dont really know.
Another question i have is: Lets say that my how-to book is not the best available on the market but its still good. How much money can i achieve for selling the rights to a publishing house? I mean do you have in mind any non-fiction book and how much money did the author get for it?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

WriterJohnB · 08-02-2007, 11:48 AM

Read a "how-to" book about publishing.

In traditional publishing, you find an agent (or go it on your own, but there are drawbacks to either.) If a publisher accepts your manuscript, they will offer you an "advance," based on their estimate of minimum sales. Even though it's called an advance, it's still yours to keep. If the publisher sells copies in excess of the advance estimate, you are paid a royalty on each copy sold. An agent gets his cut, usually 10-15%.

Careful, there are many unscrupulous people in the publishing industry. If an agent, editor, publisher asks you for any money (other than the agent asking you to pay postage for manuscripts sent out, maybe) then they're very very likely to be a scam.

Research it, that's what google's for. Try Ralan's Webstravaganza - Ralan.com and click on "writing hints" or writing tips or whatever it's called.

Good luck,

JohnB

mammamaia · 08-02-2007, 08:09 PM

what john said... plus, if that postage/whatever is asked for up front and not just taken out in addition to the commission after the sale, that's also a tipoff that it's a scam...

no legit agent asks for a single penny in cash... all their expenses, whatevers come out of the money you're paid after the work is sold... the agent gets the check and gives you what's left after deducting their share...

TheGlobber · 08-03-2007, 05:22 AM

Ok. I understood the procedure. So to sum up i have to find a very good agent in order to get more from my book. Is that right?
I mean a good agent will hook you up with a good publisher and so on..
Where should i look for an agent? I mean i can do a research on the internet but i think you guys know a lot more than the internet. So if you could, suggest me someone..

Thank you very much

Mike C · 08-03-2007, 10:31 AM

Start with Writers & Artists Yearbook, or Writers Market, depending on where you're from. You can find them in a library if you don't want to buy.

Also AgentQuery :: Find the Agent Who Will Find You a Publisher

Cross reference all potential agents against P&E: Literary Agents which should tell you if the guys are reputable or scammers.

Then look at their websites, check out who they represent, whether they deal with your kind of book, and submission guidelines.

Also list authors who write similar works to your own, then look them up on Contact Celebrity Agents Lawyers Managers and Publicists - WhoRepresents?com and approach their agents.

WriterJohnB · 08-03-2007, 01:43 PM

Globber, you'll find that getting an agent, publisher, revisions, marketing, etc., is the hard part of the writing business. You need to start doing the research yourself instead of asking everyone else what to do. The way I do things probably has no relevance to what you need to do. In other words, you've learned the craft of writing (hopefully) and now need to learn the craft of getting published. And, just like writing a book, there's no one right way of doing it.

Good luck,

JohnB

Mike C · 08-03-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WriterJohnB

there's no one right way of doing it.

But there's a lot of wrong ways.