Your complete guide to getting published in 2021. Includes absolutely everything you need to know about how to prepare your manuscript, get an agent, sign a contract, manage the publishing process and market your work.

“This is a book written by someone who knows what he’s talking about. Even better it’s written by someone who enjoys what he’s writing about and it shows. It is simply and clearly written, with an underlying sense of fun throughout” – Amazon reader review.

So: you’ve written a book and you want to get it published.

That means you need to know about getting your manuscript prepped for submissions. You need to know about literary agents, and query letters, and synopses, and book proposals.

You need to know what happens if an agent comes back with an acceptance – and what happens if they say, “I like it, but…”

You need to know about agent contracts as well as publishing contracts. And you need to know about the market for books, because that’s the market which will determine your future as a writer.

But that’s not all. You need to know about how to work with publishers through editing, design, marketing and publicity. What publishers want from those processes isn’t always the same as what YOU want, and you have to know when to play nice and when to insist on changes. You have to understand what you can do to market your books effectively – and in a way that works for the person you are.

And look: you’re a reader as well and you don’t want a tedious textbook crammed with wholesome but indigestible facts. You want a book that feels like a friendly, authoritative and humorous companion on your journey.

Finally, you want (and need) the voice of experience. The voice of an author who has been much published himself – and someone who (as boss of Jericho Writers) has helped thousands of writers on their journey to publication.

On your side from start to finish, this book has been written for you – and with your goal of publication in mind. From one writer to another – good luck!

Table of contents

Introduction
Part one: Getting Ready
Motives and Expectations
Is your book ready to go?
How to assemble a proposal
Which Agent? Which Publisher?
Protecting your copyright
Manuscript presentation
Titles, opening lines, opening chapters
Query letters
The synopsis
Part two: Planet Agent
Approaching agents and publishers
Communications from planet agent
An introduction to planet agent
Things to ask an agent
Signing up with an agent
Part three: How the book trade works
The Market for books
Part four: Getting your book deal
A publisher’s offer
Choosing your publisher
Advances, rights and royalties
Your publishing contract
Libel and other routes to bankruptcy
Privacy law
Towards world domination
Part five: Towards production
Working with publishers
Editorial
Cover design and title
The blurb
Part six: Publication
The Holy land of sales
E-book pricing
Publicity
Going granular
Your digital platform
The day of publication and after
Part seven: Life after publication
From hardback to paperback
Working with small publishers
Vanity publishers
Second-novel syndrome and other afflictions
Taxes, mortgages and other pleasures
Staying alive and staying published
Conclusion

Bingham has been published by the three largest trade publishers in the world, has sold in every major market, been on bestseller lists, prize long- and short-listed, and had work adapted for TV.