How to Get Published

By Al Kalar

Publishing suffered through one of its worst years ever in 2008.

October through December showed a 7% drop in sales compared to 2007 and all of the major houses cut back on staff drastically.

The publishing industry is also being convulsed by longer-term trends, including a shift toward digital reading (eBooks). (more…)

by Al Kalar

I was re-reading a great “how to” book from Ben Bova called The Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells*.  This book was a great help to me when I was getting started as a writer.

In the book, Mr. Bova gives us the following list of tips that can be applied to just about any good fiction: (more…)

By Al Kalar

Write something every day

You’ve found a publishing house and they’ve agreed to publish your book. The editing/re-writing process is over. All the decisions about cover, dedication, and such have been made. It’s time to celebrate!

Maybe a trip to the Bahamas? A cruise? Why not? You’re gonna get rich off your book. Right?

Weeellllll, maybe. (more…)

By Al Kalar

All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was. If you can get so that you can give that to people, then you are a writer.       -Ernest Hemingway

If your publisher handles all packaging decisions, you can skip this section. However, if you will be called on to be part of the final publication process, you might get some ideas here.

Formats:

Books have many sections, which vary depending upon the type of book and often by books within a type. A book consists of one or more of the following: (more…)