How to Approach a Publisher

So, you have written a best selling novel- well you think you have anyway- something that you have worked long and hard on and that you are really proud of. So what do you do with it? Do you save it onto your hard drive and forget all about it? No! A good book deserves an audience and if you think that it is good enough, then why shouldn’t anybody else?

The first thing you need to do before you approach a publisher or an agent, is to make sure that your manuscript is typed either by typewriter, or computer. It needs to be double spaced with at least a two inch margin all on either size, font size twelve and preferably typed in times new roman. Once you are sure you have the correct layout, the next thing that you need to do is make sure that you have corrected any spelling or grammar mistakes. It is no good relying on just a spell checker- they do not always pick up typing errors and grammatical errors- the best way to check for errors is to proof read your own work. If you find this a daunting task, then you can always ask a friend to help out, a fresh pair of eyes is always a bonus.

Once you are sure your manuscript is ready to go, then you need to follow these steps to try and get the best success out of finding a publisher for your novel.

• COVER LETTER- You must send a cover letter with anything you send, if you do not then the chances are, your manuscript is going to be put straight in the trash. A good cover letter must be brief and to the point, don’t waffle and wander off course because again, the publisher will loose interest. Check out this example:
  

  Dear Sir/madam,

  I am writing to you in regards to my manuscript which I have just completed. It is entitled, ‘Day of the wedding’ and is a story about a young bride who is torn between the groom and the best man, and doesn’t know how to decide between them, and ultimately it ends in heart break.

  I have never had anything published before, but I have always enjoyed writing and this is the first full length novel that I have completed and I would be very grateful if you could take a look.

  I have included a SAE just in case you do not think that it is right for your company,

  Yours faithfully,
  Mrs S Barns

  This letter is quite short, but it is too the point and also allows the reader to gain a little understanding of the type of manuscript that the writer has supplied. When sending anything to a publisher, always make sure to send a self addressed envelope if you want to receive back your material.

• SYNOPSIS- After the letter, the most important thing is the synopsis. This is a brief outline of the story including the beginning, the middle and the end without giving away the whole story- if you do this, then nobody is going to want to read the whole thing! It must be brief, but contain enough detail for the publisher to get a feel for the plot and the character and if you are unsure of how to write a synopsis- check out the Internet for some great ideas.
• MANUSCRIPT- Never send the full manuscript unless it has been specifically asked for- it won’t be read. Typically, a published likes to recieve a synopsis and the first two to three chapters of the manuscript. If the publisher is interested, they will ask to see more. And never email- more often than not you will not get a reply.
• WHO- How do you find the right publisher to send your work to? There are so many out there that it is difficult to find the right one for your type of writing style- this is where the Writer’s and artist’s yearbook comes in. It contains details of publishers, magazines, newspapers and much more- it is the Bible to any writer and it is a must have. But make sure you keep up to date- a new one comes out every year and often contact details vary.
• UNSOLICITED- if a contact states ‘does not accept unsolicited material’ this does not mean that you cannot approach them- it simply means that they will not accept the full manuscript.

The most important thing that you can do, is to keep trying. Even if you get rejected from one publisher, it doesn’t mean that a different one will not like your writing. But it can be a tough business, there are a lot of people out there who are trying to break into the writing business and it is not easy. All you have to remember is to keep trying and never give up!

Good luck!