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Path: utzoo!watmath!credmond
From: credmond@watmath.UUCP (Chris Redmond)
Newsgroups: net.books,net.wanted,net.research
Subject: Re: getting a book published
Message-ID: <206@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Jul-86 09:52:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.206
Posted: Thu Jul 24 09:52:52 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Jul-86 04:45:07 EDT
References: <171@pecnos.UUCP> <486@valid.UUCP>
Reply-To: credmond@watmath.UUCP (Chris Redmond)
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Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
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Xref: watmath net.books:3897 net.wanted:9251 net.research:516

In article <486@valid.UUCP> jao@valid.UUCP (John Oswalt) writes:
>> I am writing my first book and I would like some advice on how to get
>> it published.  Following are my specific questions:
>>
>Get an agent.

As the author of two books (one published 1985, one due out in a few
months) I strongly disagree with this suggestion.

For one thing, I am dubious that any reputable agent would take on
a previously unpublished author.

I have now lost track of exactly what questions the original postert
was asking, but I think he should start by looking in two books which
will be available in the nearest public library: Writer's Market and
Literary Marketplace.  Both have lists of publishers as well as a
fair amount of general information for authors.

The best procedure probably is to hunt up the names and addresses
of small to middle-sized publishing companies who specialize in
the kind of thing you have written.  This can be done through the
two books I have just mentioned; through a large book whose name I
can't remember off-hand, but which will also be in many libraries,
which amounts to a compilation of last year's catalogues from dozens
of publishers; and, best of all, through looking at books in fields
something like the one you have in mind.  (If they've successfully
published one book about South American archaeology, they'll probably
know how to go about marketing another one, etc.)

Write brief letters to a few of those publishers, describing what
you've written and what your qualifications are for writing it, and
asking whether they would like to see an outline or a sample chapter
or a full manuscript.

Don't expect a very lucrative contract for your first book, and
don't expect much bargaining power with your publisher.  That comes
later, if ever.  Most publishers are pretty marginal businesses --
let's face it, neither McGraw-Hill nor Prentice-Hall is likely to
publish your first book.