How to Publish My Mystery Book?
I’m a professional writer. I wrote a well-reviewed business management book a few years back, which was published by a respected business press.
But it’s my dream to publish fiction. I’ve read hundreds of mysteries and now I wrote one myself. I need to find an agent or a publisher, but no luck. Still, so many mysteries are published, there must be a big market.
I know about self-publishing, but I don’t have the time or money for that.
Any suggestions?
- mad editor
Tags: Business Management, Management Book, Money, Mystery Book, Professional Writer
May 20th, 2009 at 7:45 am
It’s tough to get fiction published. All I can tell you
is keep trying. Check all the literary agent lists and
set a pace, try to submit 5-10 letters a day. You
may get 300 declines, but all you need is 1 yes.
Don’t give up!
May 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I’m a romance author, so I’m afraid I don’t know much about your genre. But you would probably do well to join Mystery Writers of America, a well-known professional organization for published and aspiring mystery authors. I’m sure that just like Romance Writers of America, they have publications and message boards that you will find very helpful.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Well, since you are professional, I don’t have to go into the long thing of how you need to edit it a million times, have people who know what they are talking about read your genre, and then edit it once more until it’s perfect. Have you checked out the Writer’s Market books? It has a list of reputable literary agents who will accept your genre of writing–if you can manage to query well enough. Since so many mysteries are published, literary agents and companies may not be looking for them, as the market IS swamped with them. I know lit agents and companies are refusing vampire stories now because their editorial staff is swamped and they have to swim out of the slush room in synchronized fashion. Don’t try a publisher. You should know that most publishing companies want a literary agent now. I would try a literary agent. Just get a Writer’s Market book and you’ll find companies. You have a generous chance. A lot of the times, five agents will inhabit the same company, which gives you five chances in that same company. Research fiction query letters, of course. That’s going to determine whether they want to see a word of your novel or not. Oh, and research the mystery market. See if they’re looking for mysteries right now. I can’t say since I don’t read many mysteries myself. I prefer the good ol’ Sherlock Holmes, personally. But good luck! Just keep researching! It’s out there.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Once you have completed your manuscript you need to go back and revise it. Most authors do several revisions. The author James A. Michener once said: I’m not a great writer, but I’m a great rewriter.
This next step is matter of debate among some writers. Some writers are able to objectively edit their own work. Some benefit from the objective eye of an independent editor. If you think that you can objectively edit your own work then good for you. Just remember that over 90% of the writers that attempt to become traditionally published are rejected. It’s entirely up to you if you think that you can successfully edit your own work. For many writers it would behoove them to hire an independent editor. Not only will they give you invaluable information to make your manuscript better, but they will be able to give you great insight about the publishing world. An editor is an investment. They will cost you anywhere from 5-15 dollars per 250 words. Remember, editors don’t just fix your grammar. They help you improve the overall story. They look out for contradictions and inconsistencies and other things that can weaken a story. They know what agents and publishers are looking for and they know how to help you in a way that will increase your chances of landing a good agent–which is the next step.
Once you have a revised and edited manuscript ready to go you are ready to research agents that specialize in YOUR genre. You should purchase a copy of WRITER’S MARKET 2008 from amazon.com for 20 dollars: It contains the listings of agents and publishers across the country and it contains invaluable information on how to write a great synopsis and query letter and more. You can view a copy at most book stores. There is a similar book at the library called LITERARY MARKETPLACE.
Keep in mind that the top tier publishing houses ONLY work with agents. Many of the smaller publishing houses will work directly with the writer, but in MY opinion most writers would benefit from the representation of a professional literary agent.
Do NOT query agents or publishers based on geographic location. There’s mail, email, fax and phone at your disposal whenever you need it. It’s hard enough landing an agent or publisher without narrowing your search to your hometown or home state. You won’t need to meet the agent or publisher in person because you are going to make sure that they are legit BEFORE you send them ANYTHING. I’ll explain more about that in a minute.
After you’ve sought out and researched the legitimacy of potential agents, you are going to find out what their submission guidelines are and then you are going to send them a query letter and possibly a synopsis, depending on their guidelines.
It is not considered proper etiquette to simultaneously submit to multiple agents within the same agency. Read what professional literary agent Nathan Bransford says in step No. 6 at this link: If you submit to multiple agents (at multiple agencies) be sure to mention it in your query letter.
Be sure to customize EACH query letter to EACH agent. Do NOT send out the same query letter to multiple agents. They know when somebody has researched them and when somebody has sent them a form query letter. If they have a blog read it (all of it) and then mention that you are a subscriber. Find out what other books they have represented (PublishersMarketplace.com) and see if you can’t compare one of their books to yours. You must do so quite artfully though. Most agents don’t want to represent books that are just like what they have already sold, but you can mention a similarity that will give them some insight into your book and at the same time let them know that you have done your homework, which lets them know that you are taking your agent search seriously. Small things like this make you stand out: Some agents/agencies purposefully don’t list their contact information to increase their chances of receiving higher quality query letters, which goes to show how many poorly written query letters they receive on a regular basis:
In the query letter you are selling yourself as a writer and give a VERY brief summary of the manuscript. In the synopsis you have the opportunity to go into more detail, but it is still important to keep it relatively short–typically in the 500-2,000 word range. The synopsis should contain the “spirit” of the story and should NOT touch on every major plot point and character.
Every agent or publisher has submission guidelines that they expect you to follow EXACTLY when it comes to format and length. They might say that they want a one page query and a one page synopsis. Some agents may only want a query and no synopsis. Their submission guidelines will be clear about what they want. NEVER give them any more or less than they ask for.
The query “phase” is their opportunity to weed out the lemons, whether it’s for bad ideas or for not following their submission guidelines. They figure that if you can’t submit a proper query letter then you probably can’t write a decent, sellable book. Remember, they receive thousands of submissions per year. They don’t have time to deal with so-so queries and manuscripts. They are looking for as close to perfect as possible. That’s why–in MY opinion– it can be beneficial to hire an editor FIRST.
If an agent or publisher is interested they will request part or all of your manuscript. Again, they have VERY specific guidelines about manuscript submissions as well. You will make the appropriate format modifications and will then send it to them by mail or email–whichever they request. When sending manuscripts through the mail do not use fancy packaging, custom stationary, use overnight or certified mail or anything like that. Doing these things will brand you as an amateur. Just use snail mail, regular packaging, regular paper and regular postage. If they like your manuscript then they like it. There’s nothing that you can do aside from your query, synopsis or manuscript to stand out in their eyes. Here’s a link to help you write a query letter:
Also, do NOT register the copyright–or place a little (c) on–your work before you send it to any agents or publishers. Some people are nervous about doing this but the truth is that LEGITIMATE agents and publishers have no interest in stealing your work. It annoys them and brands you as an amateur. I like how Maryn Bittner (another Books & Authors Yahooer) once put it: If you copyright your manuscript apply chip directly to shoulder of agent/publisher, move manuscript toward the reject pile. It’s sad, but true.
It is EXTREMELY important to research any editor, agent or publisher that you work with. There are a ton of shady, unprofessional and ignorant people in the publishing industry. Always check them out at:
One of the first clues that you shouldn’t work with somebody is if they do not uphold The Association of Authors’ Representatives Canon of Ethics:
Here are questions that you should ask any potential agent or publisher:
You may be charged for copies, postage and long distance phone calls, but NEVER pay reading or editing fees. Agents and publishers are paid from the profits of the book.
Some of the best advice I can give you is to STAY AWAY from self-publishing. It is a dead end nearly every time and it doesn’t count as a legitimate publishing credit.
Before you do anything I have mentioned you should read every blog posted by professional literary agent Nathan Bransford of Curtis Brown, Ltd.: (Curtis Brown has represented authors such as Ayn Rand, S.E. Hinton and D.H. Lawrence). Scroll down to the archive and start from the very first blog post and work your way to the present. Then read every blog in the archives of the other editors and agents that link through his site. THEN you can think about submitting to agents or publishers.
Nothing in the publishing industry is absolute. There is more than one way to do things and everybody has a different opinion. That is why it is important to reach critical decisions on your own. Only you know what is best for you. Educate yourself BEFORE you make any decisions.
Follow this advice and you will increase your chances of being published. Try to take a shortcut and you will SERIOUSLY decrease your chances. Just becoming a traditionally published author is an art in itself. Don’t short change yourself, your time and your manuscript by rushing things.
Haste makes waste. If you act in haste your manuscript will end up in the waste.
Good Luck.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Going along with what the other post stated – there is a massive market for the mystery genre, which is incredibly too crowded.
However, if you have been published before – even just a small article – that does play a significant hand in your attempt to get published. I would say the majority of aspiring authors who are swamping this mystery field have never been published. I see so many posts on Y!A about young authors who do not have a publishing credential to their name. It’s great that they want to write, and it is possible for a new author without any background to get published, but there is a good chance that a publisher will select an already published person as opposed to an unpublished writer.
If you want to continue to gain more publishing credentials – what you could do is start submitting mystery short stories into various contests. Writer’s Digest is constantly holding contests for writers – and if they aren’t – they can recommend them, so I would check out their website.
Other publishing credentials would include more articles published in various magazines and/or additional reviews to write. The more credentials you have supporting you, the better off you will be.
You can also just continue straight onto the part where you attempt to get the book published. It’s your choice whether or not you want to shoot for an agent first, then a publisher. Or just shoot for a publisher. There are many publishers who will not accept unagented manuscripts, but on the other hand there are many who will accept unagented manuscripts. That’s why – I will second the motion of checking out Writer’s Market 2008. It will answer loads of questions for you.
Best of luck.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:07 am
you try with lulu.com is good. also I am a writer.
good luck