How difficult is it to write and publish a book?

doubled254: How difficult is it to write and publish a book?
I want to write a book that acts as a rebuttal to everything that Ann Coulter has ever written. I’m going to call it. “Godly: The Government of Conservatism”
So, if I write this book, how hard would it be to publish? I’ll be as wicked and acid-tongued as Ann Coulter, I’ll just back up my statements with facts and try to make a more flattering face on the cover of my book.
I’ve written books before, and I think that it would be really, really fun to actually get this book written.
So, how do I go about this? I’m very serious. I want to do this. I’ll do whatever it takes.
What should be my first step after writing this? How do you find a serious publisher? How do you get your book distributed?
Thanks for your help, guys!

Answers and Views:

Answer by .02
write, no. publish, yes.

Answer by know_buddycares
its not difficult if you are a good writer.

Answer by mark r
You need to get a book on gettign published, thats a start.

Answer by goldwing110083
I strongly suggest you write first….without a manuscript, I doubt that you will publish. With a manuscript, I doubt that you will publish, but at least there is a chance. Don’t think writing is easy, for it is real work. I strongly suggest that you work very carefully on the first 2 lines of the proposed book, for publishers are so bogged down with manuscripts, if they are unimpressed with the first 2 lines, the manuscript is thrown on the heap. Good luck

Answer by advicemom
it’s hard to get published. Most companies only accept books submitted by agents, and it is hard to get an agent. when they take unsolicited manuscripts, usually only one person reads it (an intern of some sort sometimes) and if they don’t think it’s totally great and will make lots of money, they will not pass it on to the real people who publish. You see celebrities publish SUCKY books because their name will sell it; you could have the best book ever but no one knows you so they won’t immediately buy your book. It costs a lot to market a book and carry it in the stores or whatever, so the publishing companies don’t take chances on new talent often, but Stephen King could write a book of bad jokes and it would sell. J.K Rowling got turned down several times for Harry potter, and look how successful those books are. It is a lot of luck and timing and good luck to you! Oh or you can self publish but those books are not taken “seriously” and they are called vanity press.

Answer by ramall1to
Writing the book is no harder than putting words to paper but to publish it is very difficult. You need an agent to sell it to the publisher and a publisher that will actually print it. They also do the distributing of it for you unless you get a publisher that does it for pay and then they will publish as many copies as you want and you pay them for it and then do the distrubution yourself. First you need a publisher and they will then tell you to get an agent or ask if you have one. Once you get into the writing game, you will have it a lot easier for the next one but the first is about like pulling your eye teeth with no pain killer.

Answer by Ya-sai
Don’t know Ann Coulter, but I know a bit about publishing.
Unless you are a published and well known writer, your best bet is to publish yourself. For a sum of 250pound (around 500 dollars) or less you can publish your own book. Just search on the Internet, many publishing companies out there are ready and willing to publish. Otherwise send a synopsis of what you have written to the well-known publishers with a s.a.e and they will answer with a yes or no.

Answer by dukalink6000
Writing is up to you. Sitting yourself down to write and rewrite the book until it is at a place where it can be submitted.

The next step is to go the library (Reference Section) and find a copy of Writer’s Handbook.

Check through the numerous publishers to see those that may be interested in what you have to offer.

See what their requirements are for submission and whether or not they accept unsolicited manuscripts (some may require you to get an agent, and that’s a feat in and of itself.)

Most publishers want to see the first three chapters and an outline for the rest of the book.

Answer by cockeyed_shot
You may want to really gather your facts on Coulter and know the info well. Then go talk with a publisher.

Answer by fudgesource
After organizing your thoughts, then writing, editing, and editing again, you have to get it to a publisher for acceptance; then there’s more editing (someone else will likely do it, much to your chagrin). This is not a quick process.

Don’t bother trying to publish it on your own (like at Kinkos or whatever) because distribution would be next to impossible and you’d be out quite a bit of dough. If you’ve written books before, ask your current publisher for suggestions as to the right publishing house for acceptance and distribution.

Good luck – it’s a worthy adventure despite the time and sweat equity!

Answer by Avid Reader
Take these steps….
1) Write your book…re-read…edit…edit again. Publishers want lines double spaced.
2) Get copy rights to your book before sending it out….Library Of Congress…cost approx. $ 30.00. Never send work out without a copy right.
3) Buy a book called “Writer’s Guide”, it is a must if you are serious. That book will list contact information to publishers, what genre they accept, if they accept 1st time authors, what format they accept and their guidelines.
4) Follow submission guidelines to the letter or you are wasting your time.
5) Again, before sending work…re-read and edit…do not waste their time by sending sloppy work.
6) From there it depends on the market and publishers you submit to.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!!

MOST IMPORTANT MAKE SURE YOUR QUERY LETTER AND SYNOPSIS SELL THEMSELVES! IF A PUBLISHER DOES NOT GET PAST THAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT WILL NOT BE SEEN. DO NOT SELF PUBLISH UNLESS YOU ARE DESPERATE! THAT IS CALLED VANITY PUBLISHING AND A REAL PUBLISHER WILL NOT TAKE YOU AS SERIOUS! A real Publisher pays “You”. Rarely does a first time author make a lot of money….however, after your first book is out it is easier to submit to a larger publishing house.

Answer by schuywriter2
Well, for one thing, I’ve been at this for almost 20 years–y’know: Writing and finding out what works for me.

And I’m also a serious writer. I take what I do seriously.

But publishing a book (no matter how good it is), is even ten times–even a hundred times–more difficult than what they say on paper, or even in those interviews they have in one of Jeff Herman’s writers’ guides.

You’re up against a lot of wanna-be authors and the road to getting published is incredibly tight–if not difficult.

First off, you have to know who you are going to go up against. You have to find out if other authors’ had published anything similar to what you’ve created, and research it to the bone.

While you’re doing this, look at those writers’ guides by Jeff Herman, and find out which agent or publisher is open to your kind of book.

Write out a query letter proposal to your book, and send it out.

But be prepared to get rejected. It’s nothing personal, it’s just the nature of the industry.