Skip to main content
Newsletter

Publishing in the Real World. How Hard Is It?

What does it take to get your book published?

What does it take to get your book published?

Dedicated to Poetvix on HubPages

My good friend Vix wanted to know how difficult it is to get published in today’s ultra-competitive world. My answer: very!

There, my work is done. Article over! Now let’s go grab a cold one and relax the rest of the day.

Okay, maybe she was looking for a little more in-depth answer. I guess I had better work from that assumption and write a bit more.

This is actually a valid question with a difficult answer. The problem lies in your definition of “getting published.” Allow me to explain.

If you have written a book, you can get published by three different routes: you can get published the traditional way of finding a publisher who will take on your project and sell hard copies for you; you can self-publish your own book; or you can go the ebook route and publish online.

Getting published can also refer to having your work published in a newspaper or magazine, both of which can either be hard copy or online.

So the quick answer to Vix’s question is that the difficulty of getting published ranges from very easy to incredibly difficult, depending on what your definition of “getting published” is.

Let’s take a look at each of these and assess the difficulty of each.

Knowing the odds is important when considering publishing a book

Knowing the odds is important when considering publishing a book

Publishing a Book the Old Fashioned Way

In the United States, there are approximately 350,000 new books and editions published the old-fashioned way each year. The obvious question that I am sure you are asking is out of how many submitted? That, unfortunately, is a bit difficult to say.

To give you a ballpark estimate, most agents and publishers will tell you that they receive between one to two thousand query letters each month, or between 12 and 24 thousand per year, and there are literally thousands of agents and publishers. You can do the math as well as I can. A small percentage of submissions actually make it to the published stage.

Getting a book deal the traditional way is becoming harder and harder, especially for new authors. As more and more people turn to buying ebooks rather than hard copy, there are fewer new books printed, and most of the new books published are by established authors. This only makes sense since book publishers must use their diminishing budgets on “sure things” rather than taking a risk on an unknown author.

So the degree of difficulty in getting published this way is very high. It does happen for new authors, but the stars better be aligned perfectly in order for it to happen.

Outskirts Press

Lulu.com

Self-Publishing a Book

Degree of difficulty: practically zero! All it takes is having the money to publish the book and pay for an editing service. When I self-published my novel it cost $6 per book for the first one-hundred.

There are online publishing companies that cost less than that. Companies like OutskirtsPress and Lulu can walk you through the whole process in a somewhat painless procedure. They offer a variety of packages ranging from simple printing to marketing to distribution. In other words, you get what you pay for.

Publishing an E-Book

Degree of difficulty: again, practically zero. If you can follow online instructions from companies like Kindle then you can publish a book in a couple of hours. You can do it for free, which is always a nice incentive. You will have to share a percentage of your sales with the company that publishes it, but still, free is free.

Literally anyone who has a book to publish can publish this way. How many are published each year? There is no accurate count, but the number is in the millions.

Scroll to Continue

Help in Publishing

Getting Published in the Newspapers

There are two types of newspapers in today’s world: the online newspaper and the hard copy newspaper that we all grew up reading.

If you are trying to get an article published in the newspaper, your best odds are online. There the restrictions are not as tough, and new online newspapers are cropping up seemingly daily. Doing it the old-fashioned way requires a query letter to an editor who has watched his newspaper shrink in circulation over the past ten years, and he/she is quite picky about taking on new authors.

Getting Published in a Magazine

Good luck!

Again, there are hard copy magazines and online magazines, and without a doubt, the best avenue for a struggling writer is the online route. There you will meet less resistance and you will find editors that are very happy to take on new authors.

If you like the traditional, be advised that magazine editors will receive over a thousand query letters per month, and they will choose one or two from that batch. These are not good odds.

Get a copy of “The Writer’s Market” for all the submission requirements for all of the major magazines.

Believe in yourself

Believe in yourself

Writing a book is impossible without writing.

Writing a book is impossible without writing.

Is It All Clear as Mud to You?

My intent is not to be discouraging but rather to be realistic. This is a tough business, my friends. Getting published the traditional way is no easy gig. You will receive rejection after rejection until you have enough rejection slips to line a thousand bird cages.

The best advice I can give you is to build your portfolio. Start out small. If you want to publish in a newspaper, then start very small. Look for weekly publications in your area and then start pitching and continue pitching ideas. Local publications like local writers; it is up to you to sell your idea, but at least you will be dealing with someone who wants to hear from you.

Get published in a small publication and then use that as leverage as you try the big boys. Think of it as building your job resume in a job search. Any past experience is better than no past experience when you are looking for a job. The same is true when you are looking to break into the publishing community.

it used to be that writing a book wasn't nearly as difficult as getting that book published. Now we can safely say that getting published isn't nearly as hard as getting someone to read your book. The competition is fierce.

If you can, go to workshops and writing conventions. There you can meet publishers and the movers and shakers in the industry. Network your butt off and make contacts. Join writers’ sites where publishers and agents frequent. Get to know them online. Ask for advice.

In other words, pay your dues.

I wish you luck. If I can be of any help, feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Comments

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on December 12, 2018:

Again, Gloria, it is hard to say...check with CreateSpace for a more accurate idea.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on December 12, 2018:

Gloria, there are too many variables to say with any accuracy, but I would guess each book would cost you around $8...maybe slightly more.

GloriaMaeWaddy Ha on December 12, 2018:

How much does it cost to publish a.children's book presenting my own illustrations with color? The pages would be 25 in count not including authors and illustrators autobiograhies with front and back covers.

GloriaMaeWaddy Ha on December 12, 2018:

How much will it coat me to publish a child's book with color my own art work along with 25-50 pages?

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on January 05, 2018:

It is my pleasure,gyanendra! Thank you!

gyanendra mocktan from Kathmandu,Nepal on January 05, 2018:

Bill Holland, Thank you for your valuable information on publishing.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on January 08, 2017:

Bryan, sorry it took me so long to get to this. My only suggestion to you is don't give up. Getting a publisher is like catching lightning in a bottle. It really is that difficult. There are a ton of great writers who have not caught it yet. Best wishes to you! Perseverance is a writer's greatest tool.

Bryan R. Unwin on January 06, 2017:

Need some help getting starting in the book publishing business. Any suggestions, advice anyone can provide will be most useful and appreciated.

I have a manuscript that reads well, develops an interesting plot (and sub-plot) has a great ending which has the protagonist living happily ever after.

In addition, I have children's stories, YA stories and many poems.

I am ready to get published, just need the write shooting star!!!

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on November 04, 2016:

Rodric, first of all, thank you for the compliment. Honestly, I think your question is asked by 99% of the writers out there. I'll have a more detailed answer Monday on the Mailbag. In the meantime, keep working your craft and stop thinking so much. Thinking is the opposite of creating.

Rodric Anthony Johnson from Surprise, Arizona on November 03, 2016:

I already knew this information, but needed a reminder. Thanks for writing this hub. I am grasping for answers to questions that I have not asked yet. I am still not sure if I am a good writer. I know people have told me so, but most I assume are being nice. I have read good writers. I compare my work to their works and find it lacking.

I have to be honest to get an honest response--call it literary karma. I believe you are a good writer. I read your writing style and took many aspects of it to write one of my stories, and it was awesome! I loved the hub, and many other people liked the hub, but it was not my style.

My question is when will my style come? I keep floating between educational, informative and entertaining. I then change my voice and use the word "I" too much in my writing!

Okay, ranting over. My question is, I know I have good stories in my head, but how do I know I am a good writer?

I have published, self-published three books. I have not done well on any of them. I wonder if that is because my books suck, my writing sucks, or I should be writing histories and reference books.

This just seemed like the place to say all of this.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on October 27, 2016:

All great thoughts, Joy! I don't have the answer to your last question. If I have time I'll do some research on that one and add it to the Mailbag. Thanks for weighing in on all of this.

Joyce Fischer on October 26, 2016:

Wow! This is a great example of an evergreen post. So many responses with such good information.

I just have a couple of observation to add as an update and hope other readers see this and comment or confirm my impressions.

First, I've noticed lately there seem to be more agents looking for writers. I don't know if more people are choosing to become agents, or if established agents are marketing themselves in order to get more submissions that suit their target market. But I wonder if it's getting easier to find agents.

The other thing I'm wondering about is the tradition of publishing series, kind of like what you are doing with The Sun Never Rises. In the past, newspapers have offered this opportunity. Today, those chances seem to be disappearing. But I still see some authors publishing in books that include collections of short stories and later publishing books under their own names. These collections of short stories give the reader a taste of each writer's style. I wonder where the short story editors glean the stories for these collections. What publications do they look to for the best candidates for inclusion? Or do they put out a call for submissions?

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on May 24, 2015:

Thank you for sharing, Nadine. You are so good about that. I appreciate it.

Nadine May from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa on May 24, 2015:

Again a great post on this topic that I will share on our authors Facebook group page and on other networks to do with writing.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on February 13, 2015:

BloodMelody, you raise a valid question, and I'm not sure anyone has the answer yet. The ebook industry is still too new. I think we need a few more years to see all the ramifications.

Thank you for your thoughts.

BloodMelody on February 12, 2015:

ohhh such an old article XD but is it possible to go from self-publishing to .. not.. self publishing? or would your work self published have to be like.. a "kindle #1 bestseller for 13 years" before you would see it published by the big kids?

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on June 07, 2013:

Phoenix, we would make a great team....nothing could stand in our way. :) Thank you!

Zulma Burgos-Dudgeon from United Kingdom on June 07, 2013:

If you decide to set up a UK branch, I'm right here. I can turn on the charm when necessary and don't know the meaning of the word 'No.' lol

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on June 06, 2013:

Dream On, you are so very kind. Thank you and I will indeed keep you in mind. If the day ever comes that I take on such a huge undertaking, you'll be one of the first that I call upon. Thank you again and have a fantastic day.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on June 06, 2013:

So do I, Phoenix. :)

DREAM ON on June 06, 2013:

billybuc When I read my first hub of yours I got such nice vibes and it has ownly grown since.I seen a man who had suffered some great pain but through it all found something wonderful to give.I realized after reading more of your hubs over the years I have lost my voice and allowed other people to do and say what they want and I would just go along never understanding how to get out of this mess.Thinking it really didn't matter what I had to say or think.I would go out of my way to help them.Over the years I lost my pride and dignity but one thing for sure no matter what they couldn't take my heart.So if you change your mind and need someone to help you advertising and push for your publishing company.Keep me in mind.Billybuc Publsihing Compny tjhat has your heart in mind.Have a great day and thanx so much.

Zulma Burgos-Dudgeon from United Kingdom on June 05, 2013:

I think it has a nice ring to it. :)

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on June 05, 2013:

Dream on, your hub name is appropriate right now....me and a publishing company....well, we can dream for free, right? :)

DREAM ON on June 05, 2013:

Give it some more thought.I did a long post and it vanished mysteriously.Off to work now. Billybuc's Publishing Company has a nice ring to it don't you think?

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on June 05, 2013:

Dream On.....wow! I don't even know how to handle such praise. I'm just trying to give back to this community. If I help half as much as you suggest then I am a happy camper. I'm pulling for all of you to make it and catch your dream.

As for the publishing company....sheez....I wouldn't even know how to start, but it's a lovely dream.

Thank you my friend. Keep writing and keep following that dream.

DREAM ON on June 05, 2013:

Bill all I can say is your A M A Z I N G and keep up the great work.I have my eye on the pie in the sky and my fingers on on my keyboard typing as fast as I can.I watch your work , talent and dedication.They all are impeccable.Every time I come to one of your hubs I have to wait a week for the dust to clear because there are so many people leaving wonderful comments to your well written and right on the money hubs with tutorials to boot..I just want you know I bring up the rear.I watch ,listen and learn.You are like a Striper and everyone wants to catch you. I follow the hundreds of blue fish and you know the striper is around but not sure where. I am addicted to your hubs.Your lessons talk to me in my sleep.If they were edible you know what I would eat.Thanx so much for all your help and your time.Friends like you are rare.I know you are blessed and may good fortune follow you everywhere .I am so happy to read a hub I understand.(lol)When other people talk computers , publishing and contracts I might just as well be talking to someone from Mars.All joking a side You make HubPages extra special.Your friendly advice keeps everyone wanting more.You are a trail blazer and I am in hot pursuit.Voted up and I plan on telling a thousand people about this hub just incase you get bored and need something else to do.I think if we all pitch in we can help billybuc start his own publishing company and then we can cut out the middleman and go right with the big man.Then you can cut down your hours and relax and watch others learn and have the most fun you have had in years.Just a thought from your friend who has many ideas up his sleeve.Disreguard any grammar errors it was the computer and not me honestly.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on May 17, 2013:

Dianna, thank you! That means a great deal to me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianna Mendez on May 17, 2013:

Congrats on the recent success in publishing in a magazine. Your style here is excellent along with the wisdom shared.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 30, 2013:

Glimmer, it is true. There are some great success stories on Kindle. I'm not one of them but hope springs eternal. :) Thanks my friend.

Claudia Porter on April 30, 2013:

My husband has a kindle and he was looking at a bunch of ebooks. He said that a lot of folks have really made it big doing this. Authors that may have never been published now have huge followings. He knows because he follows some of them. He says you can tell they are doing well because the prices of their books go up. Great tips.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 19, 2013:

Genna, good luck with that novel. Yes, self-publishing is the easiest route, but then you are left with self-marketing, and that is not easy at all. :)

Genna from Tampa, FL on April 19, 2013:

This is extremely helpful. I have been working on a novel for the past few months and was trying to research publishing. It surprised me to find out that the hard part isn't necessarily writing the novel - it's getting it published. It seems sort of daunting. Perhaps self publishing is the way to go? Thanks for the wise words, as always :)

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 18, 2013:

Awww, thanks, Christy. You blow me away in views on HP. You have mastered your niche and it couldn't happen to a nicer person. I appreciate your kind words my friend.

Christy Birmingham from British Columbia, Canada on April 18, 2013:

Bill! Well I see you still have a strong following here - and it's grown even more. I also see such strength in your writing style. I bow to you for all the people you help here xx

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 17, 2013:

Heidi, that's great information and I thank you for it. I did not know about Createspace and the updates. I hope everyone reads your comment. :)

Thank you for taking the time to share that info with us.

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on April 17, 2013:

Totally agree that online, for both self-publishing and media, is the way to go. Traditional media is not interested in getting pitched for stories. Period. (Speaking from former trade paper editor perspective. Some of those pitchers drove me nuts.) But traditional editors do accept relevant press/news releases. If they decide to publish them, they are usually on a space-available basis (don't expect front page!).

On the book/ebook arena, Amazon Createspace has been an amazing free, print on demand platform. It was recently updated so that as you publish your physical book, it will create your Kindle ebook at the same time. You do still have to pay for printed copies if you want them as a special publisher price. But I've found it very reasonable and you can purchase whatever quantity you want. There are also expanded distribution options available (libraries, schools, etc.) for a reasonable $25 fee. Having your book on the Amazon universe doesn't hurt either!

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 17, 2013:

Vix, there is a great market out there for online newspapers and a chance to break in. I hope you give it a try. Your commentaries are hard-hitting and would be received well. Best of luck to you my friend.

God bless you and thank you!

bill

poetvix from Gone from Texas but still in the south. Surrounded by God's country. on April 16, 2013:

Thank you! This is a wealth of information. I really like how honest it is while still presenting the facts, the good, the bad and the ugly about breaking into a highly competitive business. I think, for me, the best alternative may be online newspapers. The e-book would be a dream, but I don't know that I would be up to marketing it just yet. You have given me so much to think about here. As always, I leave your hub having learned, having thought, and having been encouraged. And, thanks for the link :). God love you!

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Faith, I believe we all want that....but...as you say...but

LOL We will just keep writing and hoping, right?

Thank you and may blessings follow you throughout your day tomorrow

love,

bill

Faith Reaper from southern USA on April 16, 2013:

Very insightful and real hub here Bill! I would not expect anything less of you. I would love to be published the old-fashioned way, but . . . but, but, but and but there are many who somehow do it?

Thanks for the great insight here as always.

Voted up +++ and sharing

Hugs, Faith Reaper

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Good luck, Deb!

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on April 16, 2013:

I just e-mailed the Perkins paper. That was suggested to me, too. Thanks, Billy.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Deb, that falls under the category that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Keep on them...explain to them how it benefits them to post your articles. Show them what kind of increase in readership they will receive. If all else fails, go to their competition. :) It is a great series of articles and there is a place for it.

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on April 16, 2013:

I was told locally by a number of people that the local paper doesn't print good material, like they used to. Numerous people stopped subscribing for that reason. I was also told that if the Stillwater News Press published "Life at Boomer Lake with Deb," these people would subscribe again. Wonder why the paper doesn't care about subscribers? I was told that it was lack of space in the paper.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

drbj, it does indeed make more sense to take that route. Still, we are left with marketing on our own, and that's a whole new ball of wax, yes? :) Thank you!

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Express, I don't have an answer for you on that question but I suspect you may be correct. I understand the logic used by the publishing companies, but that doesn't mean I like it. :)

Thank you for visiting!

drbj and sherry from south Florida on April 16, 2013:

Your thoughtful article underscores for me, Bill, how it is becoming more and more difficult for a new writer to get a printed book published by a genuine publisher. With all the online opportunities available, it makes more sense to go the PDF way with a self-published ebook.

H C Palting from East Coast on April 16, 2013:

This is useful information for those wanting to get published. Knowing what you're up against makes it easier to plan your work and work your plan. I wonder if wanting to go with established authors has also contributed to the declining circulation ( in addition to the internet) of printed books, magazines, and newspapers. Many readers are strong supporters of certain authors but also very open to new ones.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

LOL...Patriot, go grab them back again. Who knows when and where lightning will strike? It can just as easily happen to you as anyone.

As for golf....well, the pros get the pretty women, so I can see the attraction to the game. :)

Wayne Joel Bushong from America on April 16, 2013:

Great article, full of information............I just threw the 3 books I was working on in the trash...........heading to purchase golf clubs and take up new hobby............thanks again! voted up! PS I think I killed 3 trees in the process.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Thanks Lurana! I know how busy you are and I appreciate you stopping by again.

MrsBrownsParlour on April 16, 2013:

Very helpful! I appreciate the realistic advice and links for self-publishing.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Amy my dear, you are light years ahead of me regarding exposure and I am so happy for you. Who knows which one of those contacts will eventually pay off? Networking and paying your dues are the key in this business. I just remember that it took Steinbeck seven years to find a publisher, so I'm still five years from his standards. :)

You have the talent, Amy! It is now a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and you are taking care of being in the right places. Keep doing what you are doing and I'll say a prayer that it all pays off.

love from Oly

bill

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Art, there is no doubt about it....self-publishing is the way to go. It does not spell success but it is a foot in the door.

Thank you my friend.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

PS, if you found hope then my job is done! :) I hope you do publish again....if for no other reason than you owe it to yourself.

Blessings and a hug coming your way my friend,

bill

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Phoenix, I think that's a marvelous idea. We'll need a name of course, but it is definitely a possible bestseller. :) Thanks as always. Have a great day!

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

Gypsy, I hope you do my friend because you are a wonderful poet. Thank you and I hope you are having a great day.

Bill Holland (author) from Olympia, WA on April 16, 2013:

RonHawk, thank you and I'm very happy to know that these help someone. Good luck my friend.

Marvin Parke from Jamaica on April 16, 2013: