How To Publish

Would you like to know how to publish a book? Do you sense you have what it takes to write a publishable non-fiction book? Do you have a true story to tell, a teaching you want to express, or a set of guidelines which others would benefit from? Do you have clearly brilliant ideas flash through your head? Do you suspect there is a target audience for them?

If you answered yes to all the above questions, and you want to know how to get published, and you do not know how to begin, here are some helpful suggestions:

Begin learning how topublish a book at your local library learning about book proposals. A book proposal is what all non-fiction writers must write first. Publishing houses or literary agents do not want to see your actual book first; they want to see a book proposal first. This fact may take some getting used to, but you must come to understand the importance of a book proposal if you want to know how to get published.

A book proposal consists of at least six main elements: It includes a short overview of what the book is to be about, a brief biography of yourself, a detailed description of the book's target audience, a book outline or chapter by chapter summary, one or two sample chapters, and a marketing strategies section.

Begin by writing the overview. This is usually about two pages, double spaced 12 point type. Essentially, it is a sales pitch. What is your book to be about, why would anyone one care to buy it, and who are the people that will be caring? You must answer those questions as strongly and succinctly as possible and you must also show why you are qualified to write the book.

Amongst the many good resources at the library, you should know about: How to Write a Book Proposal, by Michael Larsen. This book discusses all the details of how to get published and gives many examples of book proposals. Of particular importance is the section on "mini proposals," as these are becoming increasingly common in the publishing industry. If you want more info on how to publish a book you can always contact a publisher and request an interview.

Working on your overview, and also the chapter summary section, will help you fine-tune and polish your book idea. At first, you may not like the idea of writing a book proposal. "Why cannot they just see my book, instead of seeing what my book will be about?!?" you may be asking. As you start to understand how publishing houses work and how they are clearly in a business, you will start to understand how writing book proposals is the best way to help you learn how to get published. Book proposals are the easiest way for people to assess your idea and its market potential.

The good news you will find out is this: Writing the book proposal can save you a lot of wasted time. Why spend four years working on a book that has no audience? It is better to spend six months working on a book proposal and find out early on that your idea is not sellable.

The other good news is this: If your idea is sellable, writing the book proposal will fuel your inspiration. A great book proposal gives birth to a great book.