Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published

by Jennifer Basye Sander

A new updated edition...to help writers beat the competition.

Written by a New York literary agent and a West Coast acquiring editor, this book offers inside advice, author case studies, and even sample proposals, contracts, press releases, co-author agreements and more. This third edition features new content on non-fiction success, hot topics in fiction and non-fiction, how world events affect publishing, and more.

€ The most complete handbook on the market in this area
€ Expanded information relevant to the changing tide of the industry
€ Includes sample proposals, press releases, agreements, etc.
€ Authors know the book publishing world as editor, agent, and as authors

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, How To, Business

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2000

About the author

Jennifer Basye Sander has been an author and book packager for nearly 20 years. Her career has spanned all aspects of the business, from retail sales and book acquisition to editorial and publicity. She and her husband founded the Big City Books Group, which develops book projects and has over 40 successful books in print.

Also known as Jennifer "Gin" Sander

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an aspiring novelist, this book didn't do much for me. I could tell by the second chapter that it was really more oriented toward the non-fiction book writer. Example: I skipped chapters 7 and 8 all together because they specifically had the word "Nonfiction" in the chapter heading.

That doesn't mean that there was nothing of value in here, just that I was not in the target audience.

Also, many of the tips just seemed like common sense:

* try to get to know other authors
* try to get to know editors and publishers
* try finding yourself an agent
* think of publishing as a business
* consider your motivations for writing

I suppose I'll get back to my writing, hone up the product itself, and re-open the publishing question a bit later on. Perhaps I'll come back to this later on, root around in the text to dig out the pearls of useful wisdom.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a little while ago. I found its advice invaluable.

I have been keeping it on my shelf as a reminder to keep writing, keep working on publishing such works as opposed to rolling over and keep napping, keep brushing out the kittens or keep scrubbing those lovely ones' litter boxes.

However, I decided at long last it is time to get going, stop lollygagging in Lala Land.
Please know, fellow denizens of the world writ large, this author Sheree Bykofsky provides ample information to get your mark out there - to get your say out when it is not just on the Internet! You can do something a little more l33t than stuffing handwritten pamphlets in mailboxes, though I'm not looking askance at any of our politician colleagues who want us to vote this way or that, maybe even for the opposite party next term.
The way to get your thoughts known is through following the guidelines in this book and/or via some of the other books out there on how to get published. I have read many of those books of political opinions and have observed how particular reasons make opinions change to their polar opposites. But that is neither here nor there. We are reviewing a lovely publication book here which I approved of, and I think you will too if you know what you're looking for.

I generally avoid the Complete Idiot's Guide series, because I do not identify as a complete idiot, but I peeked into this work just to prove to myself that I do not like or need the Complete Idiot series, and...

I proved myself totally wrong, I thought it actually had some pretty good data to share. And this well-organized tome is actually a published book from a reputable publisher (Alpha the Internet suggests - they publish Pandy and Friends; let's focus on their English offerings - Upper Intermediate and Adult. Literature for the classroom. Um... back to the review), so I think that this text has something over all the self-publishers out there. I don't think there's anything bad about the self-publication route! It just sounds like publishing by yourself gets pricey, so only a little may get out, especially by the third and fourth printings, if your work has generated enough of a fan basis by that point.

So although I did not use this to get published (it basically offers what I found to be quotidian advice about querying the right niche publishers for your interests) I did step out of my comfort zone and get amply rewarded. Other reviewers have commented it has a nonfiction bias, which may be so.

You didn't specify you wanted to write fiction though, did you? You just said you wanted to publish.

[Brandon Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than likely this book would have gotten a higher rating if I had read it when it came out. But I didn't, and most of the information I gleaned from this book is outdated in today's fast-paced publishing world. Still, there are some fantastic nuggets of wisdom in here, but only if you know enough about the business to discern what is current and what is old, old hat.

[Alain Burrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Complete Idiot's Guide To Getting Published Fifth Edition" by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander is a very good general overview of getting a book published. Like other books in the series, it provides simple and well organized advice on the topic. There are many books that delve deeper into the topics presented here, but this is a good general book on the entire process. Once read, an author or aspiring author can look to these other resources for the areas he or she needs more information.

I like how the authors are both motivational, with encouragement to write, but honest in how difficult it can be and that many books published both in the traditional manner and by indies with POD don't sell very much, if at all. I felt they provided an honest look at the industry.

The book contains twenty-five chapters divided into five parts. These are: Part 1: As You Begin to Write with chapters on So Why Write, Write What, If You Need an Idea Stalk the Best-Seller List, Super-Stealth Market Research Techniques and What's Hot, What's Not. Part 2: Submitting to Publishers contains chapters on Submit What, Queries That Sell Nonfiction, Bulletproof Nonfiction Book Proposals, and Fun with Fiction. Part 3: Getting a Book Contract. This part has information and chapters on What's an Agent for Anyway, Finding and Working with an Agent, What You Can Expect from an Agent, Submitting Directly to Editors, Behind Closed Doors, and The Party of the First Part (book contract basics), Next, in Part 4: Working with a Publisher, the authors cover chapters on I Signed a Contract - Now What, Saying Good-Bye to Your Baby, Welcome to the Home Team, Proper Care and Feeding of Your Editor, Maximum Publicity for Maximum Sales, Television and Online Publicity, and Real-Life Publicity and Marketing Ideas. Finally, in Part 5: Continuing Your Career as an Author there are chapters on After the Party is Over and Going Indie the Pros and Cons. The book also contains a glossary, additional books and blogs for writers and other resources, and a couple of sample book proposals.

The book has a little bit about just about everything related to getting your book published. For the beginner, or the aspiring author, it is a good place to start to receive an overview of the process, from figuring out what to write to getting publicity for your work and writing additional works. I also liked that this newer edition had a little on the Indie movement since POD publishing and eBook publishing have changed the game quite a bit and these DIY avenues are definitely worth looking at these days.

I'd recommend this book to anyone just getting started, or wanting to get started, with writing and getting a book published. It provides an honest look at what is required and the steps it takes. It is a good guide, and will point the reader in the right direction and help along the way.

[J.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're writing non-fiction, this book will probably be very helpful. But if you're interested in publishing a novel, you'll probably be left wanting. This is not to say the authors don't cover publishing fiction, just that it's neither their expertise nor their focus. It's like a restaurant meal where the mashed potatoes were great, but the meat just wasn't very flavorful - it's just not satisfying.

The authors, both who've worked as editors, one who seems to have published a number of books on miscellaneous and sundry topics and the other who has worked as an agent, give lots of good advice on how the publishing business works and who the various people are that you might deal with. They tell you what it's like to be an editor and how you should treat them, and ways to improve your chances of being published. They suggest methods for doing market research and coming up with topics that might fill a book. Also covered are the benefits of using an agent and ways to publicize your book. They even include a CD in the latest edition with sample proposals and query letters which follow the generally accepted formats in the business.

And yes, they try to work fiction and its nuances into the text, but it almost always feels like an afterthought and often seems a bit confusing. Most of the examples given apply mainly to non-fiction, such as establishing yourself as an expert in your field beforehand by giving interviews or writing for your local paper. At first it wasn't that big of a deal, but by the end of the book I felt pretty disappointed. There is some really helpful information here, but it's just not targeted at publishing fiction.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a number of great mysteries in life: the Most Holy Trinity, what happens inside a black hole, what women do when they go to the bathroom as a group. Another is exactly how it is that a book moves from being an author's idea to a manuscript to a published volume. The authors of this guide are both widely experienced in the business of publishing. They share their collective years of experience with the novice writer approaching the prospect of giving birth to a book. Much of thei... (show more)

[FeLicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about two years ago and thought it wasn't relevant to me. It was recommended by an agent friend of mine and now I find this book invaluable. The authors take the mystery out of publishing and even include examples of proposals and contracts. They're not afraid to recommend web sites and other books to further a writer's education. If you want a book published and feel you need to know that world, buy this book.

[Christine Otis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors are very informative, honest and provide very specific information that many writers need and should heed to.

I think knowing the other side to selling and querying an agent is outside the realm of so many writers and yet, so many are unwilling to seek out the information they need.

This book has it.

It would greatly help their understanding, focus and how to query and handle the process of seeking agents.

I highly recommend this read.

[Winna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic info. Again, different from book publishing in Indonesia (although just a little). Useful if you want to learn everything from the basic and not just about publicizing the book. It starts from the writing, submitting manuscript, deadline, how the book gets into stores, and how to publicize (only about 3 chapters about that, which is too bad).

[Ben Behunin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I picked up this book early in the process of arranging my own book. It was helpful and positive. Many of the other books out there are rather negative, or mayby just too realistic. No one likes to hear how slim your chances are when you're pouring your soul into your work. This book offers hope, or at least a hint there of.

[Kristen Gurri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't too impressed with the book at first. My fiction writing project is almost to the second draft stage so a lot of the information didn't pertain to me.

However, the second half of the book provided a very good education on what to do after you declare your text proofed and polished and ready to face the world.

[Shavar Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extensive and extremely informative book on getting your book published. Reading this book gave me the confidence that I may not necessarily have to self-publish. The CD gives great samples on book proposals, agent-author contracts, publisher contracts, info on literary agents, etc.

[M. Shipley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, but when I sent them a query letter, (as the said to in the book I paid for!) I got no responce. I would have thought with all the good advice, they would at least say they recieved the letter!

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I much prefer reading fiction, but this was very helpful. Favorite lines:
1. "Artful language does not make good storytelling. Conflict does" (108).
2. "Writing a book is an art. Publishing a book is a business" (161).

[Spencer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a good start on the process of getting published by a publisher. It tells how to work with agents, editors, production people, sales and book store owners. The book was a quick read with many helpful tips. If you want to get published it is a worthwhile read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an overview of the inner workings of getting published, I found the book to be a great resource, not only did it provide practical advice but also brought a common sense approach. I will surely use the author's advice both in my personal writing as well as in my classroom.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book to start with, but I kind of wish it was more focused. A lot of the publicity information, especially, seemed more geared to promoting non-fiction works, instead of fiction. Is there an Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Novel Published? Because I want one.

[A.M. Bochnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and honest in understanding the aspects of the world of publishing. Focused on traditional publishing and clear that the authors are not fans of self-publishing. If you are only interested in self-publishing I do not recommend.

[Marc]

Still working on it. I'm busy trying to write my own proposal.

[Lisa]

Need to write a query letter...and finish the book. and a lot more

[Ray Charbonneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent general overview of the process. If you know the questions to ask, similar answers are readily available online, but the book help to make sure you cover all the questions.

[Tamia Rene` · Rating 3 out of 5]

It helped a little bit with self publishing. I am still lost.