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How do I find a publisher for my book?

Dave, I'm preparing a proposal for a book about a promising new Open Source technology, and would like to get suggestions for a suitable publisher. How do you identify a possible publisher for a new book, and then how do you approach them with an actual book project?

Dave's Answer:

First off, I'm glad that you're preparing a proposal rather than trying to shop around an already-written book. In my experience with over a dozen different publishers, trying to find someone to publish an already-written book is considerably more difficult because each publisher has their own preferred style and format into which you end up having to recast your manuscript.

As a general rule of thumb, I always encourage you to look for publishers that have had success with similar titles, rather than trying to convince a publisher unfamiliar with that market segment. Selling a technical book about open source software, for example, is quite different to selling an intro book on Windows XP!

Then there's the whole question of book production too: a technical book requires a different and more accurate editorial cycle than a more theoretical book. If the book includes specific lines of code or program snippets, someone is going to have to double check that everything works correctly (that's the technical editor), a requirement that isn't there on most books. For the same reason, the development editor and copy editor need to be familiar with more technical titles too, or your carefully crafted code examples will be reformatted to fit some layout requirement and end up broken. (I have heard stories of overzealous editors fixing grammar in software listings, for example, or changing quotes to match a standard English usage style, even though in almost all languages a single, double and back quote are dramatically different, not to mention the confusion from turning straight quotes into so-called smart quotes!)

To find these publishers, either go a local bookstore that has a strong technical books section (there are still a few left, like Nerdbooks in Dallas, Texas and SoftPro Books in Waltham, MA and Denver, CO) and ask the person who purchases related titles (in your case, that'd be open source titles) about what publishers have the most interesting books, sell the most, and are easiest to work with. That'll be great data, and you might even ask if they can make an introduction to someone at the publisher too.

If you don't have that option, you can use Amazon.com to do some research too: search for related titles, then note the publishers. Probably you'll see O'Reilly Media, CRC Press, Prentice Hall, Digital Press, etc., since the more well-known publishers tend to stay focused on more consumer-oriented works. Pick the two or three that sound the most promising (or pick 'em randomly just to get started), then use Google to find their individual Web sites.

All tech publishers are delighted to get unsolicited proposals, so it's a sure bet that they'll have "become an author" or similar links on their site that lead to extensive discussions of what they seek in a book project. For example, buried on the bottom left of their busy home page, O'Reilly Media has a link to "write for us" that's well worth reading.

O'Reilly offers some invaluable advice on how to send in a proposal too:

Your query or proposal should include information about why you are uniquely qualified to write the O'Reilly book on the topic. This might include a description of your technical experience as well as your experience as a writer. We receive thousands of query letters and unsolicited proposals each year, and without this kind of information, we really can't respond properly. Oh, and be sure to use a descriptive subject-line. A sure way to get your proposal left at the bottom of an editor's inbox is to use the subject "Book proposal" without saying what the proposal is for!

When I send in a proposal, I tend to include no more than a single paragraph about the actual book I am interested in writing so that I don't waste anyone's time with too much information. If the short description is engaging, then they'll respond favorably, inviting you to send them a full proposal. If they aren't interested, you might ask yourself why rather than just crossing them off your list. Is the title not marketable? Is the product you want to write about unpopular or eclipsed by a new system? Did you have an incoherent proposal message? Do they already have a book on the subject or - though you couldn't know this - a book in production?

Always make sure to explicitly copyright anything you submit too. I had a very bad experience when I was first starting as a writer where a publisher asked me to submit a full expanded proposal (which has about 1/3-1/2 page description of each chapter) and then promptly told me they didn't want to proceed with the book, hired a freelance writer to produce the book from my outline, then published the book I had proposed in the first place. You do not want that to happen with your book idea!

Anyway, those steps should get you started. If you have specific questions about contracts, contract terms, negotiations, etc., please don't hesitate to come back and Ask Dave Taylor!.

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Comments

Dear Dave,
My desire is to write and publish a series of childrens books. I have the first book done, but now I do not know what to do next. I am a first time author. There are so many publisher ads online and want to find the best one for me. Can you please offer a suggestion as to whom to contact and how to get my book published? I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Linda

Posted by: Linda Mae at April 4, 2005 7:16 PM

Hi Linda. Children's publishing is, as far as I am aware, one of the very toughest markets to get into. I have a children's book of my own that I've been trying to find an illustrator for, and I've talked with a number of agents all of whom basically say "give up", in so many words. :-|

No good advice, but if YOU find something great, I'd sure love to know about it!

Oh, you can read my children's story at my Attachment Parenting site too: http;//www.apparenting.com/

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 4, 2005 11:24 PM

Hi, I am wondering how to actually get the work copywrited before you send it in. The book is not yet finished, does that matter?

Posted by: LV at August 31, 2006 12:37 PM

Hi Dave,
My book is about poetry. Should I also send my book title for copyright also.

Posted by: sharon stroud at April 24, 2008 2:11 PM

Hi,
I am currently writing the true story of an Ethiopian Refugee and is amazing experiences. Where would I start lokking for a publisher?
Gill

Posted by: gill at August 20, 2008 11:27 PM

Dear Dave's
I like to publish a book about my life because so many people asking me to do? but my English grammar is not perfect I am artist I can layout or make nice cover for my book, my life is all about to born in poor family in Iran had racist crazy father was police...then my mom die when she young, ...I go to war Iran and Iraq I wounded close to die....I lost my brother in war....then father die....awarded and help by US embassy to move as professional artist...stay hard life in Istanbul....in los angeles....and became homeless in canada....over 5 times....all this life story can be interesting to people know about artist and former revolutionary guard try to change his life and move in north America and get sucks from Canadian and racism...please inform me
hossein

Posted by: Ted at September 21, 2008 4:42 PM

I have lots of written documents based on a true story. I call it my daily journal which I have be documenting since 2002.A spirit came to my life in 2002. First I thought this could not be true there is no such thing as spirit comunicating with people.He said he is the God but many people thought he was a thing of the past, he is alife in spirit form he said. Then the most funny thing happened,the spirit became abusive toward me and my family daily doing all kinds of things to us in abusive way. l called a priest to my home to pray and bless my home with holy water and salt. The priest also took me to the alta in church to pray for me and for my family and demand for the spirit to stay away from my family and I. The spirit said he is the one and only God. My question is if this spirit is the one and only God why is he abusive toward me and my family? According to the Bible isn't God suppose to be a loving God to all mankind.
I have written documents of the things spirit does to me and to my family daily since 2002. I gave some of the documents to my Ppriest and he was shock after reading it. My question is how can I publish my documents and how can I find a publisher for my true story?

Posted by: R.E at October 5, 2008 6:07 AM

Hi Dave,

I am Nigerian and currently working on a book that deals with widowhood rituals, and think you can recommend a good publiisher in Britain, Canada and USA. Please help.

Posted by: Emeka Esogbue at February 27, 2009 12:11 PM

Hi,

I am writing short humorous pieces about being a Belgian woman (me) being married into an Irish family. I am just trying to find a magazine/paper who I could approach with my idea for a column, can you advise me on how to go about it? Thanks!

Regards,
MArtine

Posted by: Martine Finn at August 12, 2009 5:10 AM

Hi Dave

First im only fourteen but writeings in my blood. Iv'e writen a book intitld Hero's Quast. It takes place in the year 2036 when a group of heros have to fight to save all thats left of the world. I've my friends and family they told me that is was good so i want to take a shot and try to publish it the only promblem i dont know how... So i guess I want to know if you can spare me some advice and how to get started. Sincerly Alan

Posted by: Alan McDaniels at October 11, 2009 7:02 PM

Hi Dave,
I am fourteen and currently working on two books, one on my own and one with a frend I have gotten pretty far but i need to find a publisher and i have no idea how any of it works yet. So I have been searching help agian i have no idea how it works and I need general info. Everyone has to start somewhere right? Thanks,
I).(V).(V).

Posted by: Deming at October 27, 2009 4:28 PM

MY book is about what every young teen wants to beleive in and what every adult forgotten

Posted by: Charlene Ingram at November 21, 2009 4:12 PM

please sir
i have a collection of poetry and a film that i want to sell,how do i go about this .i basically need a publisher and possibly a film producer to work with.how do i possibly get this goal achieved.
thanks sir.

Posted by: dole at March 6, 2010 8:03 AM

very good

Posted by: pritam at March 9, 2010 12:59 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!