Lots of people have asked me for information about getting published and basically there's no single formula for doing it. These are the steps I would recommend:
Finish writing your manuscript or book proposal. If you're writing your first work of fiction, agents and editors at publishing companies will expect you to submit the entire manuscript. If you're writing nonfiction, you can usually get away with writing a book proposal of 50 or so pages, including a sample chapter. Michael Larsen's book "How to Write A Book Proposal" is very helpful.
Have someone you trust edit your material with a critical eye. Don't be afraid to get some constructive criticism from your reader(s).
Identify literary agents from reading acknowledgments of books that are like your own or from lists of agents printed in books about writing (e.g., The Writers Digest Books). Keep in mind, however, that some good agents are oversubscribed and are not accepting any new clients unless the work is extraordinary (which is rare).
Contact agents to find one to represent you. Some people choose not to use an agent, but I recommend that first-time authors find an agent unless they (a) plan to self-publish or publish with a very small press, or (b) already have inside connections and knowledge of the literary world that an agent would typically have.
Submit the work (through an agent or not) to as many publishers as possible.
Don't forget about small publishers. The small press may not be able to pay you a big advance, but they can usually give you a lot more personal attention than you would get at a big NYC house. If you're looking for a black gay publisher, consider Ishai Books in Tampa (Ricc Rollins), Redbone Press (Lisa C. Moore), or Grapevine Press (Qevin Oji) for example. For a gay publisher, consider Alyson Books in Los Angeles.
You may also want to consider self-publishing options. The great advantage to self-publishing is control and money. You have control over the timing, process, and editorial content of what you write and you reap all the net profits. The disadvantage is also control and money. Because you control the whole process, you have to make all the decisions (right or wrong) and live with them. You also have to spend your own money to get it published. But believe me, a good first time writer with marketing skills can usually make a lot more money by self-publishing than by going to a publishing house.
Don't give up. It's not easy to find a publisher, and even if you do there's a lot of details to work through and work out. Many writers receive dozens of rejection letters before they ever receive an acceptance. The difference between a published writer and a wannabe writer is often not based on talent, but on tenacity.
My own books were published by Doubleday (One More River to Cross, 1996) and Avon (Respecting the Soul, 1999).
© 2001 by Keith Boykin
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