The Most Asked Question: How Do I Get My Book Published?

“How do I get my book published?”

No other question comes up more often when I meet with writers. I’ve heard it at book fairs, writer’s conferences, and even while standing in line at the grocery store. Someone finds out I’m a publisher, and the question comes quickly—sometimes hopeful, sometimes frustrated, always earnest.

The first step is clear. Before publishing comes writing. Many people talk about the book they will write someday, but fewer sit down and finish it. Completing a manuscript is the beginning. Once you have a manuscript, you face the real question of what to do next.

There are two main publishing options: traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Traditional publishing involves submitting your manuscript to a publishing house. If accepted, the publisher provides editorial support, cover design, printing, distribution, and marketing. The author signs a contract and, in rare cases, receives an advance against royalties. Traditional publishing often means long waiting periods. Many houses require an agent, and competition is steep—most receive thousands of submissions each year and accept only a small fraction.

Self-publishing gives authors control. Writers hire editors, designers, and formatters or learn to do the work themselves. Marketing becomes the author’s responsibility. Self-publishing can be faster and allows greater control over content and timeline, but the quality depends on the effort and investment of the author.

Both paths demand more than just finishing a manuscript. Publishing includes editing, proofreading, typesetting, designing a professional cover, and preparing files for print and digital platforms. These are technical steps, not optional ones. A well-prepared manuscript stands out; a poorly prepared one discourages readers, regardless of how strong the story might be.

Marketing is unavoidable. Whether through a traditional publisher or self-publishing, authors must be active in promoting their work. Book signings, speaking events, social media, email newsletters, and personal connections all contribute. Readers discover books because someone has told them, recommended them, or placed them in their hands. Word of mouth remains the most effective driver of book sales.

One fact surprises many writers: publishing is not the end of the process—it is the beginning of a different one. A book may take months or years to write, but once it is published, the author’s role shifts to sharing it with readers. Publishing opens the door, but readers must still be invited in.

When writers ask me, “How do I get my book published?” I answer with three essentials:

  1. Finish the manuscript. No publishing decision can be made until the book exists in complete form.
  2. Decide on a path. Traditional or self-publishing each has costs, benefits, and responsibilities. Knowing your goals will determine which makes sense.
  3. Commit to marketing. A book without readers is a book unseen. Publishing brings a book into the world, but marketing connects it to people.

Every writer approaches publishing with hope—hope their words will matter to someone else. The tools and processes change with time, but that hope remains constant.

Stories like these remind us how words shape lives—how they can steady us, stir us, and spark change. The Power of Authors, by Evan and Lois Swensen, carries this conviction to its core. It isn’t a manual on writing but a meditation on purpose, showing how every word—whether in a novel, a thank-you note, or a simple message—can echo far beyond its moment. This book invites readers to see authors not only as storytellers but as builders of memory, guardians of truth, and quiet catalysts of change.

It’s available now on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, and everywhere good books are sold.

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