How do I copyright my work?
Publishers usually take care of registering a copyright. You can post a small c in a circle on the title page along with the words, "copyright c by (your name) and the date." This effectively asserts your copyright.

Do I need an agent?
Most publishers prefer work that is represented by an agent and give it better attention. The exception is children's books, which may or may not be agented.

What do agents charge?
Expect to pay 10 to 15 percent of advances and subsidiary right sales that your agent negotiates. You should not have to pay any advance fees.

Should I send the whole manuscript?
Most agents prefer to see a query letter first. (See section "How to Write a Query Letter" in "Tips and Resources.")

What about multiple submissions?
You can submit your query or proposal to several publishers at once, but do inform the others as soon as you make a deal with a publisher or engage an agent.

The Agent wants an exclusive. What should I do?
Limit the time to a few weeks or a month. If an agent is interested, s/he should be able to give you a quick answer.

How long should a manuscript be?
There's no correct length for a novel or nonfiction work. Write until you have told the story or covered the topic fully.

What is the right format, font size, etc.?
The key is to make your work readable. Use a simple 12-point or larger font, double space, provide reasonable margins and type on one side of plain white paper. Don't bind the pages. Present them in a manuscript box or wrapped in large rubber bands with a simple cover page that includes your name, the title, your address and phone number and a copyright notice if you wish. Pages should be numbered and you may want to include your name and the title in a header or footer. The same font size, margins, page numbers and identifying information hold true for work submitted electronically.

I have a great idea. How do I keep someone from stealing it?
Most agents and publishers are reputable. And most ideas, no matter how original they may seem, have been explored in print. To have any chance at publication, you need to trust sending your work into the market.

What can I expect to earn as an advance?
While the occasional blockbuster or celebrity book make command a six or seven figure advance, the typical first novel or nonfiction book is more likely to earn five to ten thousand dollars. Subsidiary rights, such as foreign sales or magazine serial rights can add a bit. Of course, if the book sells well, you may look forward to receiving royalty checks and larger advances in the future.

A publisher asked for my work six months ago. I sent it right away, but I haven't heard a word. What should I do?
Follow up with a polite letter or phone call. Eight or ten weeks are a reasonable time to wait in this busy publishing market. Longer is not.

A publisher wants to print my book, but they say it will cost me seventy-five hundred dollars. It this reasonable?
Sounds like a so-called "vanity" press. If you pay to have your book printed, you are essentially publishing your own work. The expense and responsibility for distribution and promotion are yours. If you choose to go this route, be prepared if to assume these obligations.

How do I know if I'm any good?
The only way to find out if your work is publishable is to write the best book you can and approach the market with it. No one likes rejection, but if you don't take the risk, your chance of being published is zero.

If you have other questions or want to suggest your favorite bit of practical advice, e-mail me at jkelman@jkelman.com.