STEP #1: Write Your Project & Develop Your Credentials.

Seems like two steps, doesn’t it? It’s not – or at least it may not be. You need to write (or perhaps just develop) the project, and at the same time, you need to make it clear (first to yourself; and then to others) that you’re the best person to be writing it in the first place.
This means having the writing “muscles” to do the job, as well as having the expertise to prove it.

Step #1A: Write The Project

• Fiction: write the entire book (most novels are generally between 90K-120K words), rewrite as necessary.
• Nonfiction: Write a proposal (outline + a sample chapter or two), rewrite as necessary.
Step #1B: Develop Your Credentials
• Fiction: Publish! Win awards, grants. Try to give the appearance of a writer whose career is really taking off.

STEP #3: Decide on the Publishing Venue

All publishers are not created equal. Some are far better suited to certain types of projects than others. Review Steps #1 and #2 to
assess both your project and yourself: determine where the project (and you) would be best suited. Consider:
• Regional v. National: does your project have national appeal (will it appeal to people in Maine, Idaho, and Alaska)? Or
is your project more regional, appealing to people in a certain region (state, city, county, etc.)?
• If regional, consider: Small Presses, Specialty Presses, Regional Presses, Academic Presses
• If national, consider Medium Presses, Large Presses
• Trade v. Academic: do you envision your project to be sold primarily through bookstores and other “trade” channels, or
through educational and academic venues?
• If trade, consider Small Presses, Specialty Presses, Regional Presses, Medium Presses, Large Presses
• If academic, consider Academic Presses
• Niche v. Broad Market: does your project have the potential to reach a vast number of readers, or is it targeted towards a
specific, smaller audience?
• If niche, consider Small Presses, Specialty Presses, Regional Presses, Academic Presses
• If broad, consider Academic Presses, Medium Presses, Large Presses
• Local v. National Platform (especially for nonfiction): do you have a national platform with speaking engagements and
media across the country? Are you better known in a single region?
• If local, consider Small Presses, Specialty Presses, Regional Presses, Academic Presses
• If national, consider Specialty Presses, Medium Presses, Large Presses

Bottom line, though: the book, and the writing, must stand on its own. If the book’s fabulous enough, you don’t
need any further credentials.
• Nonfiction: Become an expert. Earn an advanced degree (Ph.D., etc.), find speaking engagements, have
personal experience in the matter, and so forth. Keep in mind that if your expertise is impressive enough, a
publisher can always find you a ghostwriter to do the writing.

STEP #2: Assess Your Project.

Go to the bookstore. Figure out exactly where your book will fit on the shelf. Make sure it fits solidly on one shelf – of course your
goal may be to cross “genre” lines, but if there’s not an initial place to put your book, bookstores (and publishing professionals) may
not know what to do with it.
Fiction comes in a variety of flavors.
• Commercial: more “plot-driven”. Genre fiction (mysteries, thrillers, romances, etc.) are often preferable to
“mainstream commercial fiction,” which tends to be harder to sell for first-time novelists.
• Literary: more “character-” or “writing-” driven. Can also have genres (literary mystery, literary thriller, etc.).
• Experimental: unique, different, genre-breaking works.
Nonfiction usually falls into two broad categories.
• Prescriptive: “How-to”. You’re providing information. Depending on the subject matter, academic books
usually fall into this category, as well.
• Narrative (Creative): You’re providing information, but in some kind of “story” format, using some kind of
narrative arc. Essays, memoirs, biographies, and so forth fall into this category.

Some definitions:
Direct-Submission Publishers (Go To Step #4):

• Small Presses (including “Micropresses”): Relative term, but generally means they publish 3 or fewer books per year;
many are family-run. See International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses. If this is the proper venue for
your book, go to Step #4
• Specialty Press: focus on a specific subject (collectibles, etc.). May have national or regional distribution. If this is the
proper venue for your book, go to Step #4.
• Regional Press: focus on a specific region (e.g., Southwestern America). Usually have regional distribution. If this is
the proper venue for your book, go to Step #4.
• Academic Press: publish much more than scholarly monographs and academic tomes. Now do cookbooks, popular
fiction, serious nonfiction, literature in translation, reference works, art books, textbooks, etc. Approximately 100 U
Presses in the U.S. Often focus on region or strengths of affiliated university. See Association of American University
Presses Directory. If this is the proper venue for your book, go to Step #4 or #5.
Literary Agency – Submission Publishers (Go To Step #5):
• Academic Press: The more prestigious academic presses often prefer submissions from literary agents. Go to Step #5.
• Medium Press: Smaller than “large” Presses; may publish 10-100 titles per year. Other criteria are generally the same.
If this is the proper venue for your book, go to Step #5.
• Large (“Commercial”) Press: Books published “for the trade” – not textbook, technical, or scholarly publishers. Books
sold to the general consumer through bookstores, chain stores, Amazon, etc. Have major national distribution, major
media ties, often the best chance of being reviewed in prestigious papers, journals. If this is the proper venue for your
book, go to Step #5.

Step # 4: Find A Direct-Submission Publisher

Direct-Submission Publishers (my term) don’t require the intermediary of a literary agent to approach them, work with them, and negotiate contracts. These generally include Small Presses, Specialty Presses, Regional Presses, and most Academic Presses. In addition, some Medium and even Large Presses may accept direct submissions – it will depend on the publisher.
Research the Direct-Submission Publishers: Find reputable publishers through Literary Marketplace, Writer’s Digest, and
a variety of other hardcopy and electronic sources.
Skip Step #5; proceed to Step #6.