I get this question from a hopeful author every once in a while: \u201cI am an author, but I don\u2019t have any money. Is there any way that I can get my book published?\u201d Here\u2019s how I typically respond to that question:
\nSure you have a chance of getting published without spending money. Here are my recommendations:<\/p>\n
1: Study the publishing industry so you know how it works, what your options are, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author. There are good books on publishing and book promotion in the library system. There are many FREE enewsletters you can subscribe to, blogs by successful authors and professionals you can visit regularly and useful articles and resources at the websites of professionals and publishing organizations. There are writers\u2019 groups and free programs for hopeful authors in most communities. Sometimes you can get scholarships to writers\u2019 conferences, which provide great opportunities to learn more about writing and publishing as well as to meet author\u2019s agents and editors from publishing companies. <\/p>\n
2: Become the best writer that you can be. Practice, practice, practice. And attend critique groups to find out how your writing is affecting others\u2014because it is others that you are, presumably, writing for. Sign up for free or inexpensive writing workshops through your community college or arts program.
\n3: When you are ready\u2014you have done your work well\u2014approach some of the many, many traditional royalty publishers with your project. A traditional publisher will invest in your book\u2014no need to put out any of your own money. Your studies will help you to approach publishers in an appropriate manner with the appropriate material\u2014a book proposal, for example.<\/p>\n
4: If the publishers you want to approach require that you engage a literary agent, locate an appropriate one through Association of Author\u2019s Representatives. A legitimate agent does not charge you. They take a percentage of what you negotiate with a publisher.<\/p>\n
5: Some authors can find investors for their projects or advertisers. If you book is a local history, for example, you might be able to get a local bank or another business to advertise in the back of your book, thus help with the production of it. If it is on a topic or has a theme of interest to thousands (or millions), you might be able to get funding from an appropriate entity (organization, agency, institution, or even individual, for example). In other words, if your book focuses on caring for feral cats, going green or how to feed a family healthy meals for less, you might find an advocate or group that is interested in spreading this message to fund your project. A college or university might help you get a book on astronomy for beginners, cancer research, job search tips or parenting for the single mother produced and help you distribute it.<\/p>\n
Can you get published when you don\u2019t have any money? Certainly, but you\u2019d better rely heavily on other attributes, such as creative-thinking, ability to think outside the box, persistence, patience, and the willingness to be proactive on your own behalf. Here are some additional suggestions:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Read this blog regularly.
\n\u2022 Ask for the information you would like to see included in this blog.
\n\u2022 Visit my websites for information and resources.
\n\u2022 Sign up for my FREE ebooklet at patriciafry.com
\n\u2022 Read my books\u2014you\u2019ll find them in the library system.
\n\u2022 Sign up for SPAWNews. It\u2019s FREE at spawn.org.<\/p>\n
For those of you with a little money and a huge desire to succeed, order my latest book today: Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author<\/em>. Available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order a copy here: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I get this question from a hopeful author every once in a while: \u201cI am an author, but I don\u2019t have any money. Is there any way that I can get my book published?\u201d Here\u2019s how I typically respond to that question: Sure you have a chance of getting published without spending money. Here are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t