How Do I Publish A Book?

And other questions writers ask writers.

When you are an author, you get questions. People ask, “Can I buy your book on Amazon?” (Yes. You can also try independent bookstores. Call ahead and if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll likely order it for you.) People ask, “Do you have an agent or what?” (Yes, I have an agent. His name is Scott. I’m not sure what the “or what” would be in this case. An on-call Wizard of Bookery who writes AND publishes the books for me? I’m working on it.) But here in this space on Medium dot com, I would like to answer a question I get all the time: “How do I publish a book?”

I am not an expert. But since February 2012, I’ve published five books. This gives me at least some degree of insight, though far better posts on this topic have been written by my Very Famous Bestselling Authormigos Neil Gaiman and John Scalzi. Still, I shall attempt to share what wisdom I have, in brief enough form that you may find it both useful and efficient. Also, quite frankly, I’d like to have a post to which I can point folks in future when they write to me to ask how to become an author.

Q: How do I publish a book?

A: Well, you can publish a book yourself via Amazon or other sites. It’s quite simple. But first, let’s see if we can’t get somebody else to pay you big bucks (or reasonable bucks) to write a book for their publishing company. (Because in truth, they are the ones who actually publish a book. Or the book. Or your book.)

Typically, the process for your first adult or young adult (YA) fiction book is as follows:

You write the entire book. You write a query letter to an agent with a sample chapter as both an attachment and pasted below the body of your query letter (magazine and web editors often hate attachments; agents sometimes do. Good to offer both options just in case.) Repeat #2 until an agent says, “Yes, I would like to represent you. I will take NO MONEY UPFRONT BECAUSE ANY AGENT WHO DOES THAT IS A CROOK. I will work on commission and take 10% to 15% of any deal I negotiate for you. Here is a contract to that effect.” Show that contract to a lawyer who knows about book contracts. Once you get the go-ahead, sign that contract. The agent (possibly after working with you to reshape your novel) shops your book around to various editors at various publishing houses. An acquiring editor (guess what she does?) expresses interest. A deal is done, with your approval. This includes The Signing of Things. You probably, but not always, get half your advance upfront. Your agent gets 10 to 15 percent of your overall advance, which they may wish to take all in one fell swoop out of the first half of the advance. Or they may take their percentage of the first installment and their percentage of the second installment. You’ll set aside some for taxes (get a good accountant who works with freelancers. It’s worth the investment.) You go back and forth with your editor until the book is something she deems publishable or very nearly so (probably needs a copyedit still). You get the second half of your advance. At some point in this process, the editor will ask if you have Famous Friends or Acquaintances who would be so kind as to provide quotes for the cover or rear (haha, it’s not called this, I just think it’s funny to call the back of the book “the rear”) jacket. Or you send the book off with a nice note to someone you admire and hope they respond. On occasion, they do! Then you get very excited, indeed.

Eventually, the publishing company publishes the book. This happens on a Tuesday, because new books drop on a Tuesday. Why? I don’t know. It’s just what happens. You have a book party with your family and friends or you just toast the world with Coca-Cola.

Now you’re automatically rich! HAHAHAHA JK.

Surprise! Most authors never see a royalty check. If you do see one, it will be because your book made back your advance. So let’s say your advance was $50,000. Does this mean that once your book sells enough copies at $14.95 cover price to equal $50,000 in sales, you start getting royalties? No! It is some mysterious alchemy the publishing company does! Their math is not your math. Just don’t expect to make royalties. That’s why your agent will have tried to negotiate the best possible deal for you with regard to advance money up top. Then if you do turn into J.K. Rowling and make a fuckload of royalties, it’ll be a pleasant surprise! You can ponder it whilst swimming in your mile-long river pool from one of your houses to the next.

Typically, the process for your first nonfiction book is a lot like what you see above, except you don’t have to write the whole thing first! Instead, you will write a book proposal, probably with the assistance or input of your agent. When you query said agent, you may just want to send a sample chapter with your query letter. You should have an outline of your potential book on deck.

And that’s how you publish a book, or more specifically, how you get other people to publish your book that you wrote.

Mostly just keep writing a lot and don’t worry about the other shit until you’ve written something amazing as a novel or a few sample chapters of a nonfiction project. Then worry about the steps above.

Okay go fucking write now, dammit.