"Manuscripts Wanted" — Questions You Should Ask the
Publisher Before You Sign
BY VIC PETERS
There are days when I feel as if everyone I know
is a writer, and that they are all looking for the same thing, to be
heard. The pursuit of finding someone to accept a manuscript for
publication is at best disheartening. Many begin to feel that continued
rejection is about as miserable as a writer will ever feel — it is not.
Signing with the wrong publisher not only brings misery in a new and
clever package, but it can also quite possibly destroy the inclination
to write.
Greed and deception are as prevalent in publishing
as anywhere else. There are many companies willing to take an authors
money and hard work. The irony is that it is given just for the asking.
Choosing a good company to work with is equally important as the words
chosen in the manuscript.
In an author beware world it pays to be informed.
This guideline is designed to help you make decisions based on
information, rather than emotion.
The Company
Like it or not, you and your publisher enter into
a kind of marriage, the kind of marriage where their name attaches
itself to you. Think about that. An important facet of the relationship
is the reputation your new partner has in the industry. If their stature
is questionable, it may be difficult to find reviewers, distributors and
even readers. It’s called guilt by association. Therefore, your first
order of business is to do research.
One way to establish a publisher’s reputation is
to visit your local bookstore and ask the owner if they are known. If
so, what are they like to do business with? Using the Internet to
investigate the company’s name and their officers is also an advisable
avenue. Still another approach is to post questions within various
writing groups. By far, writing groups can be your best source of
information.
Be direct and ask the publisher how many books
they put into print last year. How many to date? Are they are willing to
provide you with a list of their authors for references? A useful gauge
in picking a publisher is knowing how well the company treats its
authors. Find out how many books the average author has with this house
– you want to know if authors stay for more than one book.
The Product
Something else to consider is the book itself.
Just what is it this company is going to produce for you? A hardback?
Trade paperback? Paperback? EBook? Ask them what the size is going to
be, along with an estimated page count. What is the proposed list price?
What you need to establish is how well your book
is going to stand up to the competition — other books sitting on the
shelf in your genre. If similar titles are selling in the $13-$15 range,
and the publisher wants to list yours at $22, your book may be tough to
sell. Price does matter.
Find out what services the publisher provides.
Editing? Copy Editing? Format? Cover Design? Copyrights? How about help
with the permissions for songs or quotes? Are there any fees attached?
Will the publisher help you locate a well-known author or celebrity to
write a forward? What about that all-important back cover blurb — any
help there?
Is the editing accomplished electronically or is
it sent snail mail? How many edits should you expect? How long does the
process usually take? Will the product have an ISBN? How about a bar
code? Will they provide the author with any free copies? How many? Is
this publisher willing to send you a sample of their current work? The
sample should ultimately be a reflection of something you would be proud
to put into public view.
The Contract
Read it, read it again and then have somebody else
read it — like an attorney. The last thing you want to do is to sign
away the rights to your manuscript without understanding every single
detail.
What are you getting out of the deal? Royalties?
Movie rights? International rights? Anything? You need to know exactly
how much you are going to get paid and when. Watch out for percentage
contracts with variable rates. Does this publisher pay their authors?
What is the average pay for an author? Are they willing to give you
verification?
When was the last time this company was audited?
Is the company in good fiscal health? How long is the contract for? Six
months? A year? Your next two books? Is the publisher asking for any
money from you? Why? A reputable publisher pays you – not the other way
around. How long do they plan on keeping your title in print?
The Marketing
While many will produce, few will promote. Even an
outstanding book will not sell unless it is correctly marketed. The
major expense in publication lies not in book production, rather book
promotion. Some publishers would like you to believe that once your book
is in print, it will sell — but that isn’t the truth. A successful
author will tell you that it takes a lot of hard work to get a new book
into the public’s eye. If your publisher is unwilling to show to you a
proven marketing strategy, look for another company.
What you need to find out is how the publishers
marketing system works — in other words, who is going to distribute your
book? Ingrams? Baker & Taylor? A regional distributor? Will sales be
restricted to giants like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? Does the publisher
have adequate contacts with independents like BookSense? Grocery stores?
Chain stores? Warehouse Stores? Are they willing to service the local
stores in your area?
What are the sales percentages for each
distributor? This is extremely important. Some publishers will claim to
list your book with many different distributors, but just how many are
actually being sold? Listing isn’t selling. You may want to ask yourself
how this company stays in business if it doesn’t actively promote and
sell books.
Ask what the terms of payment are for a given
distributor. Most retailers are accustomed to an open account with books
being taken on a returnable basis. Check to make sure that your
publisher allows returns and doesn’t demand orders to be paid in
advance. This type of business practice will get few, if any orders.
How many books does the publisher plan on
initially distributing? Don’t get tricked with some type of “Print on
Demand” language — you need to know if your publisher will commit to
running a thousand books or more at their expense, because “demand” is
only created after a number of reputable people have read your work and
then communicate to others in a positive manner.
Your book should be circulated to reviewers,
newspapers, bookstore owners, retailers, radio stations — even to your
friends and family who will give you a tremendous boost through their
contacts — months before it is ever “released.” This gives potential
retailers a chance to preview the product and opt-in. So, another piece
of valuable information is the number of copies the publisher plans on
printing for advance review copies.
Ask if the ARC’s are going to be distributed in
the form of a book or professional galley. If it is a galley, ask for a
sample — again, it has to be something you’d be proud of. Who will be
paying for these copies and the mailings? Will the publisher furnish a
professional media kit? This is a regularly updated promotional tool
used to highlight your interviews, signings, reviews, awards and
appearances. If so, ask to see a sample.
Do they provide posters? Shelf talkers? Bookmarks?
What about a web site? Will the publisher provide you with this service
or are you expected to furnish your own?
Are authors given an in-house publicist? Who is
it? What is their experience level? How many authors does the publicist
work with at one time? Will your publicist set up a book tour? Are they
going to pay for it? If so, ask where, when and how long you will be
expected to be away from your family. How about the scheduling of radio
and newspaper interviews? Will your book be introduced at tradeshows?
Summary
Granted, if you are a first time author, you may
not get everything that you want, but the company should still offer you
fair compensation and a reasonable chance for success.
The best advice that I can give to you is to keep
your checkbook closed, be patient and do the homework. Don’t take the
word of the publisher or agent at face value, instead, confirm their
responses with others who have had past business dealings and then make
sure everything is in writing. Keep in mind that web sites and promo
literature are often clouded enough to the point of being untruthful.
Protect your work, protect your dreams and keep trying.
Where to Get Started
Preditors and Editors
A guide to publishers and publishing services for serious writers
Print on Demand Database
“For-a-Fee” Print-On-Demand Publisher Database
Types of Publishers
An ongoing discussion courtesy of Writers Net
Writer Beware
Fraudulent Literary Agents/Publishers in the News
WritersWeekly Warning Reports
The highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world
The Writer’s Center
"The easy path to publication is paved with your dollars."
Vic Peters is an author who specializes
in spiritual fiction. He has released his first novel, Mary's Field,
and is currently nearing completion of a second book.
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