9 Things To Do To Find A Publisher In 2021

Have you tried everything to find a publisher? But have you taken these 9 basic steps?

You have just completed your manuscript, and you are about to start your submission campaign. Unfortunately, you are in doubt, like a creatine-stuffed David Douillet: among the more than 3,500 French publishing houses, which one to choose? How to target publishers who match your project? How can you be sure to contact potentially interested houses?

Let’s review the 9 principles of a well-crafted campaign.

Beware of your reflexes

The very first time, you will say to yourself “I’ll start with Galligrasseuil, on the off chance. Because even if you have been warned, you will secretly think that for you, the big Parisian house will be an exception. That packed by your text, “Antoine” will do everything to “sign” you.

It won’t happen, you can take my word for it. And why? The quality of your text is not even in question. But to enter one of these brands, you have to be already published elsewhere, or recommended by someone from the house.

When it comes to editing, forget about brilliant ideas that end in “on the off chance”. Or, you don’t really want to have it edited.

Get back to basics

Now that you have lived for months, perhaps years with your manuscript, you have an answer, more or less clear, to the question of “What?” “(What is my book about) and” For whom? (Who is my potential reader).

Your text falls under one genre, maybe two; of a sub-genre if it is. Define it.

Use common sense and honesty. Do not play “my text speaks a bit of everything, there are a lot of things in it, I’ll let you read it, you’ll see. Nobody, among your canvassed publishers, will take this trouble.

Your responses to “What? “And” For whom? Do you find dubious? Look for confirmation or corrections.

And if you are still hesitating, remember the obvious: we write books like the ones we love to read. Look at your bedside books, and you will remember what excites you!

Explore the sources

Now that you have an idea of ”What?” “And” For whom? You can start looking for relevant publishers.

Where can I find the names of relevant publishers? All over! You just have to bend down to pick it up:

Again, check out your own bedside library;
In your surroundings; be careful, look for connoisseurs of the genre. Your big sister answers you evasively “Go see Galligrasseuil”? Forget, she doesn’t know anything about it.
On the Internet. How? ‘Or’ What? Find an entry point on the relevant genre (literary blog, fan forum) and read the lists of “friend sites”. You will quickly come across the names of publishing houses;
At the bookseller; pick a time when he has some time (be prepared to come back), and ask him some names.

To find a publisher, read

You are now equipped with a few publishers names Ghostwriting LLC. However, this draft listing is only of theoretical interest for the moment. You will have to “qualify” it, enrich it with what you are going to learn about each of these houses.

For that, difficult to cut, go through the box “reading”. Read books from each publisher. This is the surest way to know if you are right for each other. And then, if you find yourself face to face one day, you will be able to talk to him about something that makes him happy: him!

A lot of young writers don’t bother to read at all. When I talk to them, I see that there is no place in their life for reading. Reading and writing are the two phases of breathing. Do not forget it.

Listen to what you are told

Take an interest in the publisher’s background material. Editors do their best to communicate what they are looking for. Finding this information is not difficult. The content on their website that interests you is called “Who are we?” “Or” Our story “,” Catalog “and” Submission guide” (= the technical note on how to present your manuscript).

Sometimes the publisher prominently announces that they will not be taking submissions for a while. Respect his request: if you ignore it, you will be ignored anyway.

Investigate

It is better, now, to get an idea of the “firepower” of the editor. Not necessarily to snub him with a sneer, but to avoid disappointment and bitterness.

If you do not want to publish at his own expense, learn to detect the hidden author’s account. To do this, there is a very simple way: take an interest in the visibility of the publisher. Look for his works in bookstores, or on large online bookstores. Ask your bookseller. If the publisher is really unknown, it is either that he is very small (not to be neglected, therefore), or that he only lives by the provision of services to writers, and does not care to disseminate his productions.

Make contact

On rare occasions, publishers go out of their way. Their pale complexion reddens in the light of day. Their hands are seized with tremors: agoraphobia is a shipwreck … We even hear them, it seems, painfully articulating a few words in this language that they only practice in writing the rest of the time. These supernatural events are called “book fairs”.

All kidding aside, don’t miss the shows. Go to these high masses of the book to discuss with those who publish them. This is the best way to find out what they are looking for, and what they are refusing. However, don’t bring them your manuscript: have you ever seen a stand repacking? Believe me, this is hell on earth.

Write down the name of your contact, or that of the person indicated. Having shown your face, having released some tempting information on the project will be, when you receive your manuscript, a nice little “extra”.

Ah, and take the opportunity to buy a wikipedia book, if you’re excited about the interview. It will not be wasted money: remember what I said above: read!

I also note that in recent years, in many book fairs, speed dates have been organized. Instead of going there to flirt with a potential tender half, it is, in this case, to quickly present your project to a publisher and to pack it in five seconds. By the editors’ own admission, it is a privileged way for them to find projects. Give it a try, but as always, be well prepared.

Be pro

On Yahoo! questions, we love to ask for the same information over and over again. We also love to answer anything. All the fun is in the chat. Don’t take your relationships with editors like a Yahoo!

So, generally, avoid calling an editor who is nothing to you. A lot of things can be done in writing. The publisher clearly prefers to choose the time of day, of the week, when he devotes himself to the future and to manuscripts.

Avoid asking him:

The questions that despair;
Ridiculous questions;
Annoying questions.
Don’t ask him for information that doesn’t exist or that you could easily get on your own:

“Explain to me, how does editing work?” “
“If I send you my text, when will I get an answer?” “
“Do you publish in German?” Do you make bread crumbs? “

Don’t make a fool of yourself. Don’t give the impression that you think you’ve already accepted:

“What percentage of copyright do you practice?”
“I want to make a gesture for your house, so I offer you a manuscript. Would you rather kiss my feet or shine my shoes? “

Never imply that you are suspicious of your potential partner. In any case, these questions will never get an answer during the canvassing phase:

“Could you send me a sample contract?” “
“How much do you shoot, in general?” “

If you are not comfortable dealing with editors, you always have the editorial advisor solution. He will know how to find out for you.

Create a listing

Have you made the first overview? Are you starting to choke on the news? Open a listing. Think about it so that it will be of use to you throughout the entire submission process, or even for your next works.

I am giving you a model that is worth others; don’t forget to keep it up to date and use the “sort” function at will!