If you consider yourself a professional writer--whether published or not--it is expected that your manuscript reflect this professionalism.  Most writers are hoping to obtain a contract with a traditional trade publisher who will bear all  production costs, promote the book,  and pay the author a royalty of from 10 to 14 percent.  And, of course, there is the expected fat advance.  Since less than one percent of all manuscripts are going to be accepted by traditional publishers, writers need to be prepared to face the reality of their work being rejected. As an editor of Guidepost once told me, the difference between professional writers and non-professionals is how they handle rejection.  Assuming that  you believe in your work, consider the rejection slip to be a challenge.

Hopefully, before submitting your manuscript to an agent or a publisher, you have done your homework and followed their specific instructions or guidelines.  If not, you are wasting your time and theirs.  By the way it is just as difficult to find a reputable agent as it is to find a reputable publisher.  If you are targeting the big traditional publisher, you will most definitely need an agent; however, if you are are targeting smaller presses, an agent may not be necessary.  You may wish to purchase the  Guide to Literary Agents or a current edition of  Writer's Market to find  proper representation.  Writer's Market is available online and is a great investment for serious writers.

Be aware of Common Mistakes Made by Self-publishers or POD authors

If you haven't  read the article About POD Publishing that has been made available to you on this web site, do so now as it contains valuable information that you need to understand. 

With the ease of self-publishing and printing via POD, our reviewers see mistakes that instantly label the book as one that has been produced by someone unfamiliar with the publishing  process.  Or perhaps the writing itself shows lack of talent, an uncertainty when it comes to  technical skills, or just plain carelessness.  Please check the following before you go to print:

1.  Note the difference between a foreword and a preface.  The preface is written by the author; a foreword is written by someone other than the author.  Also note the spelling of the word foreword.  Over and over again, we see the word spelled forward.  Wrong!

2.  Do not have numbers on blank pages...no exceptions.

3.  Make sure curly quotes are used throughout the book and the back cover.

4.  Use the em properly.  See the following examples:

To most people it seemed Tommy was older than Melvin—not in stature
 but in valor.

There was one particular place—a deep water hole—where a woman was said to have drowned many years before. 

5.  Note how the front matter is displayed in other books; although you have some freedom, you should know where and how the copyright page is displayed, where the dedication should appear, etc.  Also check out the various ways of numbering the pages, especially in regard to the front matter.

6.  Be sure that your manuscript has been proofread by several people.  We see many POD books that have a good storyline but are peppered with spelling errors, improper punctuation, and flaws with sentence construction.  In regard to the writing itself, we see problems with characterization, shifting point of view, weak plot line, wordiness, irrelevant material, an obvious lack of research, etc.  Just as publishers and agents want to work with experts, your self-published or POD book should show your expertise in regard to the writing and  presentation.   If using a POD publisher, do not allow the book to be printed until you are satisfied that it is as perfect as possible. 

Download this Free English Handbook for Writers

In order to help you with your writing career, we have provided an e-book for you to download that will help you with your punctuation, sentence construction, etc. Punctuation and grammar count!  To receive your free e-book, click here.