The Road From Completed Book Manuscript to Publication

Books published by New York publishing houses tendhe interviewed got their first book published before an
to garner a higher degree of respect than thoseagent accepted them as a client.
published outside of the Big Apple. Authors with NewGetting an agent requires an audition process as well.
York books often find it easier to get media attentionAn author must pitch the agent,show them their book
than those using other methods, such as small pressesproposal before the agent determines whether or not
or print-on-demand publishers.she can sell the book to a publisher. Thus retaining an
Unfortunately, the road from completed bookagent is no guarantee that the book will be published
manuscript to publication through traditional channels isby a New York house.
a long one with numerous challenges. A first-timeWhen signing a book contract with a traditional New
author must first create a formal book proposal whichYork Publisher, the author loses control of the book's
will take weeks of work. Next, the writer goes throughcontent and cover design, as well as the rights to the
the process of submitting it to publishers and/or agents.book. The author typically earns less than 10 per cent
Agent and Author Terry Burns interviewed over 600of the sale, which translates to less than one dollar per
multi-published authors and foundthat it took them anbook sold. If the author hires an agent, the profit margin
average of 6 years to see their first completed bookis less, because the agent's fee is 10 (and sometimes
in print. He also learned that 87 per cent of the authors15) per cent of the author's share of the profit.