Writing a book is easy, but getting it published is the tricky part. Anybody, regardless of his/her age, can write a book. However, not all who write interesting topics get their work published. Most of the time, the literary pieces that writers create remain unread.

If, one day, you decide to take your writing skills to the next level and publish your own book, these guidelines will come handy.

When it comes to getting your book published, literary agents and self-publishing are your options. The traditional way that most first time authors use is to work with a literary agent. This option saves you time and eliminates the hassle involved in getting your book published. While self-publishing is becoming a popular option too, it’s less costly and produces results faster.

Literary Agents: There are many advantages if you choose to work with a literary agent. He/she will take care of everything from proofreading and polishing your book for presentation. He/she will make sure you get a favorable deal and contract. The agent will work with you from day one until your book is sold in bookstores.

The work of literary agents also involves the following: sending copies of your book to various editors whose line of interest matches your book; securing a contract from the publishing house; negotiating for your first pay check; and making sure that all legal matters involving your book and royalty fee are clear to you. They also ensure your book is published on time.

Literary agents are paid on a commission basis. They get 15% of your local sales and 20% for international sales. This is fair because they won’t charge you any fee until your book is out in the market. They will proofread and represent you unpaid until the publishing house gives you your paycheck.

Self-publishing: Some first-time authors opt for self-publishing. There are advantages and risks involved in self-publishing. If you do it right, it could save you hundreds of dollars but if you don’t carefully plan it, your book will suffer the consequences. So, how does self-publishing work?

Self-publishing is when the author directly sends a copy of the manuscript to a publishing company. One of the downsides of self-publishing is it takes a long time for editors to notice the works of new writers. Rejection is high among first-time authors.

However, with the advancements of technology, self-publishing became easier. Writers can now publish their work either as an e-book or as a print book. These days, writers only need to sign up for sites such as Amazon or Lulu to get their book published. These companies charge less and allow the writers to have full control over the book design and other details.

There are some risks involved in self-publishing:

It’s a do-it-on-your-own project; the publishing company will only give you instructions and software for editing.

The competition is high because a lot of people can instantly become writers.

There is also the possibility of a finished book of poor quality.

You decide: Deciding on getting your book published, whether through an agent or through self-publishing, should be carefully planned. You also need to be realistic with your budget and the time frame allotted for your book project. Either way, both methods are useful for writers.