Anyone published a book?

tres · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:25

Hello all,

Has anyone published a book of any sorts here?
Self published, or company published?

Von Smallhausen · 20 Sep 2010 at 10:32

No, although I have started a project for a book of short stories.

tres · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:10

How will you go about getting it published, when the time comes?

I'm surprised - I thought the collective intellectual prowess that is OCUK would contain several published authors!

nydryl · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:13

I've not published a book but I'd imagine you send your draft to publishing houses, perhaps via an agent, and hope they pick your book up or you contact a vanity publisher and pay for the privilege of seeing your book published.

arc@css · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:30

lulu.com

Just another idea.

Edrof · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:48

Agent is a must. Most publishers don't even read unsolicited work. Agents will also help edit your work and give out advice.

arc@css · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:53

^^Important. Yes, an agent is a very good idea. Apart from being knowledgable they can also be supportive too.

Zogger · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:07

You can also publish as an eBook for free for the amazon kindle via Amazon DTP. I think google will also be starting something similar at some point not too far away.

GSXRMovistar · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:08

Never published a book but had something I created published in a book once.

cork-spotters · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:22

After I'd finished final year in school last year, they employed me to produce a 50th anniversary book (350 page publication). We put the book together ourselves, and got it printed by a publisher. It was then just sold in local book shops and privately within the school. Around 2500 copies were printed. It took a big marketing effort by a few other staff members who worked voluntarily. So it is certainly possible to do it privately. Causes a few grey hairs though!!

It really depends on how big a project you're undertaking. If it's a speciality book being sold to a small local target market then self publishing might be the most cost effective way. If you're trying to make it a major publication (novel etc) then you're probably better off getting an agent.

Theophany · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:40

You can now publish your books directly to iTunes in the ePub format. IIRC Apple released a patch for iWork that allows you to export in ePub and it's fairly simple to do it on Windows too.

I once published a book about my exploits one weekend many years ago in Weston-Super-Mare. The names and species of the female characters were changed, but that book is today known as the Kama Sutra. True story.

Mat · 20 Sep 2010 at 16:00

I know an agent if you need one.