
“To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get sensible people to read it, are the three great difficulties in being an author.”
Charles Caleb Colton
A question that plagues a writer while writing and on completing their manuscript is, -‘ Will my book get published?’ How to get a book published in India? In this post we take you through the popular ways to publish and important guidelines for a successful book publishing experience.
There are four popular ways to publish a book
- The traditional method of publishing
- Self-Publishing
- eBook Publishing
- Audiobook publishing
Tips on How to get a book published in India
- First, decide the kind of book you have written? Is the book a novel or a work of non-fiction?
Here are some broad guidelines that will immensely help a first-time author find his way in the tricky world of traditional publishing. When one refers to conventional publishing, one talks of publishing where the publisher takes a call to publish your book based on the publishers’ needs. Whether the publisher would like to publish the book, based on the publishers’ requirements. In this type of publishing, the publisher takes on the entire cost of publishing and may give the author advance royalties.
Here are some guidelines for publishing books in different genres.
- For novels and memoirs: You should have finished and polished the manuscript before you even think about getting it published.
- For most non-fictions: You can either complete your manuscript or send a book proposal (a book proposal will be akin to a business plan for your book) in advance to a publisher and convince him to contract and pay you to write the book.
- If you’re writing a hybrid work (personal vignettes mixed with instructions or a multi-genre work that includes essays, stories, and poetry), it is somewhat challenging to get a publisher to accept it.
- Your focus will be to gather all guidelines to ensure a smooth traditional publishing experience.
2. Polish your novel
Publishing a book involves going over your work time and again until you think it is as good as you can make it. It will help if you go over it after an interval to see if it can be further improved. Take the help of author friends, editors to enhance your work. Friends and family usually cannot and will not give you critical feedback. Hence it makes sense to approach a professional, such as a developmental editor, to review your work. Polishing your novel means you should look at all common traps that writers commit while writing a book.
3. Write a synopsis
The length of the required summary will vary from publisher to publisher. Read their guidelines and give them what they want. As a general rule, a synopsis should not be longer than one page. A well-written outline that captures the essence of your book is essential. This not only reflects what your story is about but also your style of writing.
4. Write a query letter
Read the submission guidelines of the publishing company. Frame your query letter to include all information asked for, and no more. This is your first interaction with the publisher and you should invest adequate time and research to get it right. Remember, the publisher receives hundreds of queries every day, so you must stick to the publishers guidelines. Click on the link to read some does and don’ts for writing your query letter
5. Research agents and publishers
You must research books in your category or genre and note the names of the publishing houses that are publishing books in your genre and approach them for your publishing needs.
When you are approaching conventional publishers, you can take the guidance of a literary agent who has contacts with these publishing houses and who can pitch your book to them. Getting accepted by a conventional publishing house could be a long process with no surety that your book will be accepted for publishing.
6. Be prepared for Rejections
You will receive rejection letters. Do not take this personally. Some of the letters will contain constructive criticisms. Learn from them. Most of the rejections, however, will be standard letters. Throw those letters in the trash and forget about them.
Don’t give up. Just keep sending out more letters to more conventional publishers. This is a numbers game. You are more likely to send out dozens, if not hundreds, of queries before someone expresses interest. This can take months or sometimes even years. Just remain patient. It only takes one ‘Yes’ to make everything worthwhile.
Typically, writers who do not want to depend on the vagaries of publishers or wait for a long time to put out their work are increasingly looking at self-publishing as an option.
If self-publishing a book is an option then your question will be – how to self publish a book in India? Go ahead and research for the best self-publishing house. Once you have zeroed in on a publishing company that works for you, study their offerings and the cost of publishing, your budget and decide what works best for you.
The above publishing options work well for print, eBooks and audiobooks. If you are keen on publishing an eBook., several new possibilities open up before you both paid and free options. In India, print books are still the preferred medium for reading books, both for economic reasons and otherwise.
Audiobooks are a relatively new but growing medium of book publishing.
Start your next project……………even if the earlier one is still awaiting publication.
However, the path to publication isn’t the same for every author. Did your book publishing journey unfold differently? Please share with us your experience in getting your book published.
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Interested in traditional publishing of novel- science-social-legal thriller
Dr Dani
Thank you for writing to us. We can help you to publish your book using the self-publishing method. If this is of interest to you, we would love to take the proposal forward.Do write to us on info@zorbabooks.com
I am interested in free publishing name shayra Kashyap
Hi Sharya
Good to know. To post on free platform for poems/short-story/ blogs, click here, read the guidelines and you are good to go.
https://www.zorbabooks.com/submit-spotlight/.
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What can be the cost of publishing 1000 copies of a book, 300 pages, 5 inch * 7 inch size, considering : professional editing,. Cover, pages etc cost,. Actual printing & binding, Advertisement & publicity,. Delivery to retailer.
Dear mr Biswas, we are happy to hear from you. Today you will receive an email from us. Further, you can connect with us on 8800509579/0124-4259579. Or write to us on info@zorbabooks.com. We will be happy to hear from you.
Hema
I want to self publish small bible stories for kids with sketches who can help me
Hi Swarashree
For help in publishing bible stories for kids pl connect with us on info@zorbabooks.com or you can call us on 8800509579. We’d love to hear from you and help you with publishing.
My friend who just shifted to India had doubts on ways the book can be published. While researching I came across this and sharing the same with him.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My first fiction novel is already available on Amazon. I need a platform to rise as an author, but also that my work is read. I don’t favour books just showing on big websites but out of reach. Here in India, paperbacks are mostly popular i/o e-books (the ratio is 70-30). With AMAZON, people in India do not get paperbacks. If they want then they pay 3-4 times of the Novel price. Do you print and have the facility of releasing paperbacks on order as well. If yes, then you would be best suited to me for my second publication due December-2020 and further on. Writing is my passion with no stopping. I plane to write 2 novels each year till I breath last. Do let me know so I can catch up with further questions to you to answer.
Sir, We do publish both print and ebook. We would be happy to hear from you. Our contact is 8800509579/write to us on info@zorbabooks.com
Want to publish book
Welcome to Zorba Books. Do share your contact number too.
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