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From: chuq@sun.uucp (Chuq Von Rospach)
Newsgroups: net.books,net.wanted,net.research
Subject: Re: getting a book published
Message-ID: <5369@sun.uucp>
Date: Wed, 23-Jul-86 12:41:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.5369
Posted: Wed Jul 23 12:41:13 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jul-86 08:12:29 EDT
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> I am writing my first book and I would like some advice on how to get
> it published.  Following are my specific questions:

>   1. What are the respectable publishers for computer reference
>      books?  What is your experience with them?

You don't say what kind of book it is.  Are you writing another Unix
introduction book? A macintosh or PC book? A text book on data
communications?  Different publishers have different interests or
specialties, and won't even look at certain niches.

If you're doing PC or Mac books, for instance, Microsoft Books or Sybex
would be good choices, as they both market good material to these markets
and they have some quality books in their lists.  For text books and the
lower volume technical market, Addison-Wesley and Prentice Hall might be
better choices.  Everyone is doing Unix books, but you want to stay away
from publishers that seem to be turning out dogs lest your book be given
the same moniker...

>   2. When should I contact these publishers?  Should I wait until
>      the first draft of my book is complete?

Each publisher is different.  Your best bet would be to find a copy of
"Writers Market 86" by Writers digest books.  Most publishers will have
entries that explain their submission preferences and needs.  In general,
three forms of submission are used:

o	Send in the entire draft.

o 	Send an outline and some sample chapters.  Typically a detailed
	outline of the content, the first three chapters and one other
	chapter.  It is cheaper than mailing the entire thing, you can send
	it out before you're done with the entire book, and you'll usually
	hear back sooner than an entire manuscript.  You WON'T normally get
	a contract out of it, just an indication whether they want to see
	the whole thing or not.  But at least they'll turn you down sooner.

o	Send a query.  If you aren't sure what to do, do this.  One or two
	pages that describe what the book is about and why you are
	qualifified to writer it.  Writers Market is critical as a resource
	to find out who to send it to.

>   3. What are the things that I can negotiate with the publisher?

For a first book, not much.  If you find a publisher interested in buying the
book, I suggest you find an agent to do the negotiation for you.  There are
lots of writers willing to pay (literally, just ask the subsidy publisher
market) to have their works in print, so it is a buyers market.

> Any other advice/suggestion is welcome.  Thank you for your help.

It sounds as if you haven't researched the market very well yet.  Before you
write a book, see if there is anyplace interested in seeing it.  Writers
market is a starting place, as is their monthly magazine "Writers digest"
Do some research into what it takes to be a writer as opposed to writing a
book, and see if you really want to do it.  Writing a book sounds like a lot
of fun until you get halfway through and the rent check is due.

Dave Smeds had a great line on this:  Writing is the only business in the
world that makes taking out the garbage look like more fun.

chuq
-- 
Chuq Von Rospach	chuq%plaid@sun.COM	 CompuServe: 73317,635
		{decwrl,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo}!sun!plaid!chuq

	O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim
	Of Brahamana and recluse the honoured name!
	For, quarrelling, each to his view they claim,
	Such folk see only one side of a thing.
		-- Buddha -- The Elephant and the Blind Men