How to Get a Book Published A Practical Guide

So, you've written a book. That's a huge accomplishment, but now comes the big question: how do you get it into the hands of readers? Essentially, you have two main roads you can take: the traditional route or the self-publishing path.

Both require a manuscript that's been polished to a high shine and a whole lot of grit, but they are fundamentally different journeys.

Your Realistic Path to Getting Published

That dream of seeing your book on a shelf is a powerful motivator. But to make it happen, you need to get real about what the publishing world actually looks like. Choosing your path isn't just a small detail; it’s one of the most important decisions you'll make, shaping everything from your creative control and upfront costs to how much you earn and where your book is sold.

It's not about which path is inherently "better." It's about which one is the right fit for you, your book, and your long-term goals as an author.

Choosing Your Publishing Journey

Think of traditional publishing as the classic, gatekept route. You’ll need to find a literary agent who loves your work enough to champion it to big publishing houses like Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster. If an editor there acquires your book, the publisher foots the bill for everything—editing, design, printing, and distribution. You'll typically get an advance payment against future royalties. The trade-off? It's a long, often frustrating process of querying, and you give up a significant amount of creative control.

Self-publishing, on the other hand, puts you in complete control. You’re the CEO of your book. You hire your own team (editors, designers, formatters), you set the timeline, and you keep 100% of the creative say. The biggest draw for many is the much higher royalty rates. The catch? You fund the entire project yourself and are solely responsible for every single step, including the heavy lift of marketing.

If you're weighing the pros and cons, our deep dive into traditional vs. self-publishing can give you even more clarity.

The core difference isn't just about who pays the bills—it's about who holds the power. In traditional publishing, you trade control for expertise and distribution. In self-publishing, you trade an upfront investment for control and higher potential royalties.

This infographic breaks down what the process actually looks like for each path.

As you can see, the traditional path is front-loaded with gatekeepers—the agents and editors you have to win over. Self-publishing shifts all that work to the back end, where you, the author, have to manage production, distribution, and marketing.

To make it even simpler, here's a quick side-by-side look at the key differences.

Traditional vs. Self-Publishing at a Glance

Aspect	Traditional Publishing	Self-Publishing
Upfront Cost	None for the author.	Author pays for everything.
Creative Control	Limited. Publisher has final say.	100% author control.
Timeline	Slow. Often 18-24 months or more.	Fast. Can be done in months.
Royalties	Low. Typically 5-15%.	High. Often 40-70%.
Distribution	Wide, including physical bookstores.	Primarily online, print-on-demand.
Gatekeepers	Many. Agents and editors.	None. You decide to publish.

Ultimately, both paths can lead to success, but they demand different skills, mindsets, and resources from the author. Knowing what you're signing up for from the start will save you a world of headache later on.

Preparing a Manuscript That Agents Actually Notice

A person editing a manuscript on a laptop with a cup of coffee nearby.

Before a literary agent ever reads your query letter, they're already forming an opinion based on your manuscript pages. A polished, professionally edited book isn't just a nice-to-have; it's the cost of admission. This is where so many aspiring authors stumble, thinking a quick spell-check is enough to get them in the door. It’s not.

Getting a book published means you’re fighting for a spot in a massive, competitive market. We're talking about a global industry projected to hit $142.72 billion in 2025 and climb to $156.04 billion by 2030. While the big publishers hold a lot of that pie, this growth also carves out space for authors who show up with undeniable work.

To make your manuscript one of those undeniable few, you have to get serious about editing. And that means understanding that not all editing is created equal.

The Three Pillars of Professional Editing

Thinking "editing is editing" is a rookie mistake. Each layer of the process tackles a different set of problems, and skipping one leaves behind weaknesses that agents can spot a mile away. A truly submission-ready manuscript has gone through all three rounds.

Developmental Editing: This is your big-picture reality check. A developmental editor digs into the very foundation of your book. For a novel, they’re asking: Is the plot sagging in the middle? Are the characters’ motivations believable? Does the ending land with an emotional punch? For nonfiction, they’re testing your core argument, making sure it’s clear, compelling, and logically structured.
Line Editing: With a solid structure in place, the line editor zooms in on your prose. They work sentence by sentence to sharpen your voice, improve rhythm and flow, and make your writing sing. This isn't just about fixing mistakes; it’s about elevating your craft.
Copyediting: This is the final, meticulous polish. The copyeditor is your detail-obsessed friend who catches every typo, grammatical slip, and punctuation error. They’re also the keeper of consistency, ensuring your main character’s eyes don’t magically change from blue to brown in Chapter 12. They make sure the entire manuscript follows a consistent style.

Believe me, an agent can tell within the first five pages if a manuscript has been professionally edited. A weak plot, clunky sentences, or a spray of typos are all red flags. Investing in proper editing isn't a luxury—it's a fundamental requirement if you want to be taken seriously.

Finding the Right Editor for Your Book

Diving into the world of freelance editors can feel overwhelming, but you can narrow the field pretty quickly. The most important rule? Find someone who lives and breathes your genre. A fantastic sci-fi editor might not have a clue what to do with your historical romance, and vice versa.

Once you have a shortlist, it's time to vet them properly. Don't just hire based on a slick website.

Always Get a Sample Edit: Most pros will offer to edit your first 5-10 pages for a small fee. This is, hands down, the best way to see their work in action on your writing. Does their feedback resonate? Do you like their style?
Check Their Track Record: Look for a portfolio that includes traditionally published books, especially in your genre. Testimonials are great, but seeing actual books they've worked on is even better.
Have a Real Conversation: Get on a call. Talk about your vision for the book and listen to how they respond. Editing is a partnership, and you need to feel you can trust your editor, especially when they deliver tough but necessary feedback.

Mastering Professional Manuscript Formatting

After all that blood, sweat, and tears in writing and editing, the last thing you want is to be rejected because of sloppy formatting. Agents and publishers have very specific, standardized expectations for how a manuscript should look. Ignoring these rules instantly marks you as an amateur.

The goal here isn't to be creative; it's to be invisible. The formatting should be so clean and standard that the agent can forget about it and focus entirely on your words.

Here are the non-negotiables:

Font: 12-point Times New Roman. No exceptions.
Spacing: Double-space the entire document. Don't add extra space between paragraphs.
Margins: One-inch margins on all four sides.
Indentation: Indent the first line of every paragraph by 0.5 inches (a single press of the Tab key usually does it).
Page Numbers: Your header should include your last name, the book title, and the page number.

To make sure you get every detail right, we've put together a complete guide. You can follow our detailed manuscript formatting guidelines for a full checklist and even a downloadable template. It's a simple step that makes a world of difference.

Mastering Your Pitch to the Publishing World

You've done the hard part—you've written the book. Now comes the pivot from creator to salesperson. It’s time to convince the gatekeepers of the publishing world—the literary agents and editors—that your book is the one they've been waiting for.

This is where your pitch becomes everything. Whether you're chasing a traditional book deal or blazing your own trail with self-publishing, the next phase is all about getting your work in front of the right people.

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The Traditional Path: Querying Agents

If your dream is to see your book on the shelves of a major bookstore, published by one of the big houses, you'll almost certainly need a literary agent. Think of them as your champion, your negotiator, and your industry guide all rolled into one. But before they can champion you, you have to win them over with a killer query letter.

A query letter is, quite simply, a one-page sales pitch. It’s your first (and often only) chance to make an impression on an agent who might get hundreds of these every single week. Yours has to rise above the noise.

So, what goes into a query that actually gets read?

A Personalized Opening: Always address the agent by name. Then, show them you've done your homework. Did you love a book they represented? Do they specialize in your niche? A little personalization goes a long way.
An Irresistible Hook: Open with one or two sentences that perfectly capture your book's core conflict or big idea. Make it intriguing. Make them lean in.
A Punchy Synopsis: Give them a brief summary of the plot or your main argument—think 200-250 words. This isn't a detailed, blow-by-blow recap; it’s a teaser designed to make them desperate to read the manuscript.
A Quick Bio: Tell them who you are and why you're the only person who could have written this book. Keep it short and relevant.
A Professional Closing: Wrap it up by stating your book's title, genre, and final word count. Then, a simple thank you for their time and consideration is all you need.

The single biggest mistake I see authors make is sending out a generic, copy-pasted query. Agents can spot a form letter from a mile away. Taking the time to personalize your pitch shows you respect their work and dramatically boosts your odds of getting a request.

For Nonfiction Writers: Crafting a Winning Book Proposal

If you're writing nonfiction, the game is a little different. You'll usually pitch agents with a book proposal before the manuscript is even finished. This document is essentially a business plan for your book. It has to prove not only that your idea is great, but that there's a hungry market for it.

A solid nonfiction proposal almost always includes:

Overview: A powerful summary of your book's central concept and, crucially, why the world needs it now.
Author Bio/Platform: This is where you prove you have the credibility and the audience to sell this book. It's a huge factor for agents.
Market Analysis: Show you understand your target audience and list a few comparable titles that have succeeded (while explaining how yours is different).
Marketing Plan: What are your ideas for getting the word out? Agents want to see a partner, not just a writer.
Chapter Outline: A detailed, chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the entire book.
Sample Chapters: One to three polished chapters that prove you can write and deliver on the promise of your proposal.

Navigating the Self-Publishing Platforms

Decided to go the indie route? Fantastic. You get to bypass the gatekeepers entirely, but you also step into the role of the publisher. Your first big decision is choosing the right platform to launch your book.

The two giants in this space are Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark. Each has its pros and cons.

Feature	Amazon KDP	IngramSpark
Reach	Unbeatable, direct access to the world's largest online bookstore for both ebooks and print-on-demand.	The gold standard for global distribution, reaching thousands of bookstores, libraries, and online retailers.
Exclusivity	Offers KDP Select, an optional 90-day exclusive program for ebooks that unlocks promotional tools like Kindle Unlimited.	Completely non-exclusive. You can sell your book anywhere and everywhere at the same time.
Upfront Cost	Free to upload your files and publish.	Charges a small setup fee per format, plus fees for any revisions after publication.
Best For	Authors laser-focused on the Amazon ecosystem and readers who shop there.	Authors who want the best shot at getting their print book into physical bookstores and libraries.

One non-negotiable step for any serious self-publisher is getting an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). This is the unique 13-digit ID for your book. While KDP offers a free one, it lists Amazon as the publisher and locks that edition to their platform.

My advice? Buy your own ISBNs from a service like Bowker (the official US agency). This lists you as the publisher, giving you total control and the flexibility to sell your book on any platform you choose, now or in the future.

Bringing Your Manuscript to Life as a Finished Book

Whether you've just landed a deal with a traditional publisher or you're rolling up your sleeves to self-publish, this is the moment your polished manuscript begins its transformation. It's an exciting, hands-on phase where a text file becomes a physical book someone can actually hold. And it all kicks off with what is arguably your single most important marketing tool.

I’m talking about your book cover. It's far more than just a pretty wrapper; it’s a direct signal to your ideal reader. A fantastic cover instantly communicates your book's genre, tone, and the promise of the story inside, often doing a better job of selling it than any back-cover blurb ever could.

A professional book cover being designed on a computer screen.

Getting a Cover That Actually Sells

If you've gone the traditional route, the publisher's in-house design team will take the lead here. They’ll likely ask for your thoughts and ideas, but ultimately, the final call is theirs. This isn't a bad thing—they have mountains of sales data and a keen sense of what visuals are resonating with readers in your specific category right now.

For those of you self-publishing, hiring a professional cover designer is a non-negotiable investment. Here’s how to make that partnership a home run:

Do Your Homework: Before you even think about contacting a designer, head to a bookstore or get lost in the Amazon charts for your genre. Find 5-10 bestselling books in your niche and really study their covers. What fonts are they using? What's the color palette like? Is there a common theme to the imagery?
Write a Clear Design Brief: Don't just send your manuscript and hope for the best. Give your designer a solid summary, pull out the key themes, describe your main characters, and share that collection of comparable covers you gathered. The more you can articulate the feeling you want the cover to evoke, the closer you'll get to a design that works.
Trust the Pro: Remember, you hired a professional for their expertise. Be open to their feedback on what works from a marketing standpoint. The cover that you personally adore might not be the one that grabs a reader’s attention and makes them click "buy."

Crafting an Unforgettable Interior

The interior design of a book, known as typesetting, is the invisible art that makes for a seamless reading experience. When it's done well, the formatting guides the reader’s eye, making the text easy and enjoyable to read. But when it's done poorly—think awkward spacing, clunky fonts, or weird margins—it can yank a reader right out of the world you’ve built.

A clean, professional interior is just as crucial as a great cover. It’s a silent signal of quality that builds trust with the reader before they’ve even finished the first page.

As a self-published author, you have a few solid options for this step. You could hire a freelance book designer who can create a completely custom layout for both your print and ebook versions. Or, you could turn to fantastic software tools like Vellum or Atticus, which provide user-friendly templates that produce beautiful, professional results for a fraction of the cost.

The Magic of Print-on-Demand

For most indie authors, the days of gambling on a huge print run and filling the garage with boxes of books are over. Thank goodness for print-on-demand (POD).

Services like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark use POD technology, which means a copy of your book is printed and shipped only after a customer has actually bought it. This model is a complete game-changer. There are no upfront printing costs and zero inventory to manage.

This technology is a huge reason why individual authors can now compete so effectively. The publishing world is always in motion; for instance, while U.S. print book sales saw a slight 1.6% dip in early 2025, the digital and self-publishing markets are booming, with over 4 million new books hitting the global market each year. If you want to dive deeper, you can explore the latest book market trends from PublishDrive. POD ensures your finished book can stand on the shelf—virtual or physical—looking just as polished as anything from a major publisher.

Building Buzz Before Your Book Launch

A person creating a marketing plan for a book launch, with social media icons and charts around them.

So you’ve finished writing your book. That’s a massive accomplishment, but the marathon isn't quite over. Here's a hard truth I've learned over the years: the most beautifully written book on the planet won't sell itself. The real magic happens before your book ever hits a single shelf.

Creating momentum in the months leading up to publication is what separates a launch that lands with a thud from one that truly takes off. This is your chance to find your future readers and get them genuinely excited. It’s about building a runway of anticipation so that on launch day, people are ready and waiting to click "buy."

Start Building Your Author Platform Now

If you wait until your book is out to find your audience, you're starting way too late. Your author platform is simply your community—the people who know your name and are interested in what you have to say. The foundation for that should be laid months, if not a full year, ahead of time.

Don't overcomplicate it. A solid platform really just needs a few key pieces:

A Simple Website: Think of this as your digital home base. All you need is a clean design, a page about who you are, and—this is non-negotiable—a way for people to sign up for your email list.
An Email Newsletter: This is your single most valuable marketing asset. You don't own your social media followers, but you own your email list. It's a direct line to your biggest fans.
One or Two Social Media Channels: Resist the urge to be everywhere at once. Find out where your ideal readers hang out online, and plant your flag there. Focus on doing one or two platforms well.

Consistency is the name of the game. A weekly blog post or regular, engaging updates on your chosen social channel will slowly but surely build the audience you'll need for launch day. For a deeper dive into promotion, exploring social media marketing best practices is a fantastic way to sharpen your strategy.

Identifying and Reaching Your Target Audience

You cannot, and should not, try to market to everyone. The most effective marketing starts with getting laser-focused on who your book is for. This goes beyond simple demographics like age and location. You need to understand their mindset.

Ask yourself some pointed questions:

What other books are sitting on their nightstand?
What podcasts are they obsessed with? Which blogs do they read?
What specific problem or desire does my book speak to?
What's their sense of humor like?

Once you have a clear picture of this person, you can start finding them. Show up in the online groups where they gather, connect with influencers they already trust, and create content that speaks their language.

Trying to sell a book without knowing your ideal reader is like shouting into the void. Pinpointing your audience transforms your marketing from a guessing game into a targeted conversation with people who are already primed to love your work.

The Mechanics of a Powerful Launch

As your publication date gets closer, it's time to pivot from general audience-building to specific launch-focused tasks. The primary goal is to concentrate as much buzz and as many sales as possible into that first week. This activity signals to retailers like Amazon that your book is worth paying attention to.

One of the most critical parts of this strategy is securing early reviews. Enter the Advance Reader Copy (ARC). These are pre-release versions of your book that you send out to reviewers, bloggers, and key influencers weeks before the official launch.

A great ARC strategy has a few moving parts:

Assemble a launch team: This is your inner circle of dedicated fans who get the book early and promise to leave an honest review during launch week.
Pitch book bloggers and reviewers: Do your homework and find influencers in your genre who have an engaged following. A personal pitch with a free copy can go a long way.
Use dedicated services: Platforms like NetGalley or Booksprout can connect your ARC with a vast network of reviewers actively looking for new books to read.

Positive reviews provide powerful social proof. Seeing that others have read and enjoyed your book gives new buyers the confidence to take a chance on it. Aiming for at least 10-15 reviews on day one can make a huge difference. For more creative strategies, check out these excellent book launching ideas to ensure your release makes a lasting impression.

Your Publishing Questions Answered

The path to getting a book published is winding, and every author has questions. Let's tackle some of the most common ones that pop up, especially for writers navigating this world for the first time. Getting clear answers can give you the confidence to take the next step, no matter which publishing route you're considering.

How Much Does It Cost To Self-Publish a Book?

This is the classic "it depends" question, but we can absolutely put some real numbers on it. When you self-publish professionally, you're not just paying for a print run. You're investing in a team of experts to bring your manuscript to life.

Realistically, costs can run from under a thousand dollars to well over $5,000, all based on the level of support you need. The final price tag really comes down to a few key services:

Editing: This is almost always the biggest line item. A deep developmental edit on a novel can cost a few thousand dollars, whereas a final proofread to catch typos might only be a few hundred.
Cover Design: A fantastic cover is non-negotiable—it's your book's most important marketing tool. You could spend $300 on a high-quality pre-made cover or $1,500+ for a custom design from a seasoned pro.
Interior Formatting: Getting the inside of your book to look professional for both print and ebook formats typically runs between $250 and $750.
Marketing: This is the wild card. Your marketing budget could be a small amount for social media ads or a multi-thousand-dollar investment in a publicist.

For a professionally produced book that can compete with traditionally published titles, I always tell authors to budget somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 to get started right.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Book Published Traditionally?

Patience isn't just a virtue in traditional publishing; it's a core requirement. Even after you've poured years into writing and perfecting your manuscript, the journey ahead is a long one. From the day you sign with an agent to the moment your book hits the shelves, you’re typically looking at a timeline of 18 to 24 months.

Why does it take so long? The entire process is a series of deliberate, time-consuming stages:

On Submission: Your agent pitches your book to editors at publishing houses. This alone can take months.
The Acquisition Process: If an editor falls in love with your book, they still have to get the green light from their publisher and the rest of the team.
Editorial: You’ll work with your editor through several rounds of revisions, which can easily take six months or more.
Production: Next, the manuscript goes through copyediting, cover design, and interior layout. This phase adds another six months.
Pre-Launch: The final six-month stretch is all about marketing, building buzz, and getting advance copies to reviewers and booksellers.

Do I Need a Literary Agent?

If you're dreaming of a deal with one of the "Big Five" publishers (like Penguin Random House or HarperCollins), then the answer is a definitive yes. These major houses almost never look at unsolicited manuscripts sent directly by authors. An agent is your advocate and your key to the gate—they have the industry contacts to get your work in front of the right editors.

However, an agent isn't the only way to land a traditional publishing deal. There are many fantastic small and independent presses that welcome direct submissions from authors. These publishers often focus on niche genres and can be incredible partners, allowing you to sidestep the lengthy agent-querying process.

Think of it this way: for a blockbuster deal with a huge publisher, an agent is your ticket to entry. For a more tailored, small-press experience, you can often knock on the door yourself.

What Is an Advance and Do I Have To Pay It Back?

An advance is simply an upfront payment from a publisher against your book's future royalties. In essence, it's the publisher placing a bet on your book's success. Advances vary wildly, from a few thousand dollars for a debut author to the massive, headline-grabbing seven-figure deals you hear about.

Here’s the most important thing to know: you do not have to pay the advance back if your book doesn't sell enough copies to cover it. The publisher assumes that financial risk. However, you won't see another dime in royalties until your book has "earned out"—meaning your share of the book sales has finally surpassed the amount of your initial advance.

Navigating the publishing world requires expertise and a dedicated partner. At BarkerBooks, we've helped over 7,500 authors bring their stories to life with professional editing, stunning design, and global distribution. Let us handle the complexities so you can focus on what you do best—writing. Discover how BarkerBooks can make your publishing dream a reality.