Hmmm, what to do with this finished Manuscript...Decisions...decisions...

[Dresdenus Prime]

Okay, so you have finally finished your first ever novel! You have read it. You've asked someone with remarkable editting skills to look for any problems, and you've had a small number of beta readers try it out. Your book recieves high marks, and people feel confident you may have a future in the business. Of course now in this day and age, you have options. eBooks are taking off, and self publishing is easier than it's ever been. Maybe you go to Amazon frequently, and you have researched not only their opportunities on publishing through the Kindle, but also have noticed an affiliate of theirs, CreateSpace, which allows you to self-publish a physical copy of your book to put on sale.

Of course if you can succeed in signing an Agent and a Publisher chooses your work, then marketing, distributing and more are covered without anything additional needed from you. Maybe you're the next big thing, and your publisher sends you to book signings, cons, and who knows what else?

I personally can't answer this question. I am one of the new guys, and my work is not finished yet, but will be in the next few months, but I think this scenario is something to talk about. What do you think? If you're in the same boat as me, then what direction are you considering taking? Let's not see any comments about "The book industry is tough, and more people don't make it than do". We all know that already. Don't give up and keep that glass half full!

[trboturtle]

I really suggest you go over to Kristine Kathryn Rusch's website and read as many of her "The Business Rusch" Blogs as you can. http://kriswrites.com/.

Before you do anything with the completed manuscript, I really think you should read her column. She talks about the shifting publishing business and how writers are getting into trouble with contracts with agents and publishers.

The days of an author just writing and letting his/her agent handle the business end of things are gone. If a writer is going to survive and prosper, they are going to have to take on the business end of things......

Craig

[Beefstew]

The book industry is tough, and more people don't make it than do.

Kidding.

I had a friend that went the self-publishing route.  I think I was the only one that ever bought his book.  Sure, the self-publishing company helped him get his book on all the big sites (ebooks weren't popular yet.)  But they don't really care if you succeed.  One of the self-publishing companies actually said something along the lines of it being better for them to have a million authors selling one book each rather than one author that sells a million books.  It makes sense when you consider they make money on the front end (you pay for their editing, book printing, etc) and regular publishers make it on the back end when people actually buy your book.  I'm by no means a expert on the publishing industry (there are people on here that are) but I'm not aware of any famous authors that started out self-publishing.

Agents (typically) know the business.  They may even have contacts in the publishing industry to help get your book into the hands of publishers.  Publishers have marketing departments.  Agents and publishers both only make money when your book sells.  They have incentive to make your book do well.  They have the resources to put your physical book all over, as well as your ebook.

Personally I'd only resort to self-publishing if I'd sent my book to every agent and publisher in the world.

[AdamPepper]

I dont want to bore you with my life story.  But I've been circling the periphery of the publishing business for about a decade.  I've had two agents, written five novels and accumulated hundreds of rejections.  I did have some success in the small press and built up a grassroots following.  Breaking into the industry is tough, and the search is deflating and downright debilitating.  I'm from the old school.  I always thought self publishing was for wannabes without the talent to make it.  But times have changed quickly.  I've come to believe that authors dont need agents or publishers, what an author needs is an audience.  The internet and digital technology is the great equalizer.  You can connect directly with an audience.  Once you do that, people will want to do business with you.

That's my opinion.  And that's the road I've chosen.  We'll see how it works out for me.  Best of luck to you and most importantly, keep at it.

[meg_evonne]

Whatever you do, start charting the next book and dig in as soon as you 'finish'. Take the old one and dump it into a drawer and let it mellow for several months. Then bring it out and decide.

After writing 30 years of completed novels for my own enjoyment (read as--I let No One read my work), I wrote something that wasn't half bad in a 'public' sense. Challenge time. I started classes, I learned, I read, I matured, my writing improved. My first REAL novel didn't get revised so much as it simply had to be re-written to my new levels of professionalism. I thought the first completed one was done...  I think we all have that bliss-filled moment somewhere in our writing that we think we have arrived. I didn't believe all the people that said you'll hit that mark many, many times if you persevere and if you continue to improve on your craft, but they are right--thank god. What is a passion if you don't continue to cultivate and grow it?

Enjoy completing your novel! It is a milestone! Just keep plugging and working.

At the same time, start reading about the business end of publication. That time will never be wasted if you intend to stick to this wild passion of writing.

[AdamPepper]

Whatever you do, start charting the next book and dig in as soon as you 'finish'. Take the old one and dump it into a drawer and let it mellow for several months. Then bring it out and decide.

At the same time, start reading about the business end of publication. That time will never be wasted if you intend to stick to this wild passion of writing.

I agree.  Keep working on new material and keep trying to improve.  Also keep up to date on the business side of things, which currently is changing on a daily basis!