Need Advice: I Just Wrote a Book

[Fan_in_Kettering]

Okay, the hard part is over: I just wrote a book. It's a good one, too, if I do say so. Within its pages are all sorts of racy paragraphs about curves, friction, forces, heat, chemistry, relaxations, and even stuff about all one can do with mirrors. There are even lots of pictures describing every detail I describe in the text.

You pervs!

I just wrote a calculus textbook. What were you thinking?

So, um, has anyone on here ever published a book? I want to do this without using a pricey agent. I've had some of my scientific papers printed in academic and professional journals before but this is the first time I've ever written an actual book. Usually I'm a good planner but when I started this project I concentrated on explaining calculus as simply as I could but I kind of put the "How do I get this book published?" question on the back burner.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated and yes, I am fully aware I'm a nerd.

[Benton]

Published, no. I've written a few and had some really bad luck with agents and publishers. So take my advice for what it's worth (very little) as it comes from a few friends who are published and from what I've experienced.

The good news is, you probably won't get an agent if you haven't published before. That's also the bad news. Agents take on some unpublished people, but it's not very often. They're sales people, essentially, and it's easier to sell a product that's got a track record. It's also the bad news because an agent expedites the process and normally gets you more money (granted, they take a portion of that).

There's a number of web sites you can use to get the info for who to contact at publishing houses specializing in text books. Go to their web site and follow how they want submissions. For every one it's gonna be different. Some want a synopsis, some will want a chapter by chapter outline, some will want the whole book, some will want just a few chapters. Find out how they want it and who to send it to. If you're sending it to the wrong editor, it's probly gonna get trashed.

Don't be bashful. In nonfiction, you've got to show why you're an authority by outlining work experience and any past publishing. Likewise, in any query letter, don't waste their time telling about how you once saved a man from choking on tofu or that you like to water ski.

Expect to make submissions and wait 1-6 months before hearing anything.

Good luck

[Mr.Stripes]

I'm not sure about textbook type books, but I write short fiction and a professor in college gave me a book guide to publishers. It is very detailed with full contact info and tips for getting your writing out there as well as some great reading about the business end of getting published. Mine has over 600 pages of publishers but is geared for fiction writers.

Anyway maybe the publisher of my book makes the same type book for your type of writing. The publisher I think is called Wtiter's Digest Books.

The website on my book is writersdigest.com. So maybe they have books on technical publications as well.

***EDIT** I just looked at their website and it looks like they have several books geared toward non-fiction but not sure about textbooks so maybe call them. http://www.writersdigestshop.com/nonfiction


My book is called Novel and Short Stories Writer's Market. So maybe searching with something with a similar name or call them. They might point you in the right direction.

Hope that helps. I have only had one story published to date but it won a minor award and I got some decent money for it. I'm working on more but have not been very disciplined lately. Anyway I have found my book invaluable.

[Shady]

I've published 9 books. You need to see who does Calc texts. Check their websites. See what they want in terms of a prospectus. Write it up and send it in along with a couple of sample chapters.

They'll have some profs review it for them, and they'll get back to you in about a year.

Seriously though. It takes 4-6 months typically to hear anything definitive back from them.

[Bengalzona]

Congrats on writing the book, Kettering! Good luck on getting published. I know little about it, but I suspect you will be able to get it published. You have the drive, persistence, intelligence and patience to get it done, bro!

[RumbleCat]

You guys are making me nervous with all this book writing talk!

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by Fan_in_Kettering

Okay, the hard part is over: I just wrote a book. It's a good one, too, if I do say so. Within its pages are all sorts of racy paragraphs about curves, friction, forces, heat, chemistry, relaxations, and even stuff about all one can do with mirrors. There are even lots of pictures describing every detail I describe in the text.

You pervs!

I just wrote a calculus textbook. What were you thinking?

So, um, has anyone on here ever published a book? I want to do this without using a pricey agent. I've had some of my scientific papers printed in academic and professional journals before but this is the first time I've ever written an actual book. Usually I'm a good planner but when I started this project I concentrated on explaining calculus as simply as I could but I kind of put the "How do I get this book published?" question on the back burner.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated and yes, I am fully aware I'm a nerd.

Calc Book? Awesome I took Advance calculus in High School... Do you need someone to check your work? lol just kidding.

So this a story about the Adventures of Tangents and Cosines with a surprise guest star Mr Derivative.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Shady

I've published 9 books. You need to see who does Calc texts. Check their websites. See what they want in terms of a prospectus. Write it up and send it in along with a couple of sample chapters.

They'll have some profs review it for them, and they'll get back to you in about a year.

Seriously though. It takes 4-6 months typically to hear anything definitive back from them.

What are the names so I can read them?

[oldschoolomen]

Good Luck!

I'm in the process of writing a fiction book, and I haven't seriously thought about the publishing process beyond my cousin being a free-lance writer and my managment prof owning a small publishing company (that only publishes his historical fiction books.)

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by Fan_in_Kettering

Okay, the hard part is over: I just wrote a book. It's a good one, too, if I do say so. Within its pages are all sorts of racy paragraphs about curves, friction, forces, heat, chemistry, relaxations, and even stuff about all one can do with mirrors. There are even lots of pictures describing every detail I describe in the text.

You pervs!

I just wrote a calculus textbook. What were you thinking?

So, um, has anyone on here ever published a book? I want to do this without using a pricey agent. I've had some of my scientific papers printed in academic and professional journals before but this is the first time I've ever written an actual book. Usually I'm a good planner but when I started this project I concentrated on explaining calculus as simply as I could but I kind of put the "How do I get this book published?" question on the back burner.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated and yes, I am fully aware I'm a nerd.

I am sure any book you write will be popular among people with poor vision.

[XenoMorph]

Originally Posted by oldschoolomen

Good Luck!

I'm in the process of writing a fiction book, and I haven't seriously thought about the publishing process beyond my cousin being a free-lance writer and my managment prof owning a small publishing company (that only publishes his historical fiction books.)

I have some great Ideas for a Book... But dont know if i can pull them off.. Ive done short stories... I just dont have the time to dedicate to such things at the moment.

[WeezyBengal]

None of you people have written books. Stop lying.

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by Fan_in_Kettering

Okay, the hard part is over: I just wrote a book. It's a good one, too, if I do say so. Within its pages are all sorts of racy paragraphs about curves, friction, forces, heat, chemistry, relaxations, and even stuff about all one can do with mirrors. There are even lots of pictures describing every detail I describe in the text.

You pervs!

I just wrote a calculus textbook. What were you thinking?

So, um, has anyone on here ever published a book? I want to do this without using a pricey agent. I've had some of my scientific papers printed in academic and professional journals before but this is the first time I've ever written an actual book. Usually I'm a good planner but when I started this project I concentrated on explaining calculus as simply as I could but I kind of put the "How do I get this book published?" question on the back burner.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated and yes, I am fully aware I'm a nerd.

Calculus? Seriously, dude? People don't need that any more. Why waste your time learning that stuff when you can just buy a calculator?

[duke0476]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Calculus? Seriously, dude? People don't need that any more. Why waste your time learning that stuff when you can just buy a calculator?

Was Calculus a Roman ruler or sumthin'?

[Danno]

With the advent of e-readers and other mobile devices reading books you could always look into self-publishing as a E-book.

[Jabberwocky]

Originally Posted by duke0476

Was Calculus a Roman ruler or sumthin'?

I think he was Greek. Then again, anything above Algebra 2 was all Greek to me.

Serially, though, Fan-congrats on finishing a textbook-like project. If you want it to be a textbook, checkout Thomson's Publishing (formerly Southwestern Publishing). Further, perusing F&W Publication's website might be beneficial. They have writing contests every once in a while. I do believe, though, an agent is the best possible avenue for you.

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by Danno

With the advent of e-readers and other mobile devices reading books you could always look into self-publishing as a E-book.

I am pretty sure that textbooks need publishers to sell them. There are lots of standards for school books and schools go to established publishers who they trust to supply them with books that meet these standards.

College texbooks are up to the professors choice as far as I know. Don't know how the marketing works for them.

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

I am pretty sure that textbooks need publishers to sell them. There are lots of standards for school books and schools go to established publishers who they trust to supply them with books that meet these standards.

College texbooks are up to the professors choice as far as I know. Don't know how the marketing works for them.

Marketing for college textbooks = being a prof and making your students buy you your buddies books

[Danno]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

I am pretty sure that textbooks need publishers to sell them. There are lots of standards for school books and schools go to established publishers who they trust to supply them with books that meet these standards.

College texbooks are up to the professors choice as far as I know. Don't know how the marketing works for them.

I mean, you are probably right about that.

However, you never know as things are going more mobile. Might be able to get a direct to teacher market. Also, figured he might be able to sell direct to students as a supplemental, too. I know my grad professors listed several supplemental books we didn't need but would help.


Anyway, just an idea.

[urinalcake]

Originally Posted by Danno

With the advent of e-readers and other mobile devices reading books you could always look into self-publishing as a E-book.

This. +1

[BengaliJack]

BIG congrats on not just writing a book but actually finishing it. I've started 3 books in my 47 years and would always stall around the 40-60% mark. I dont have any info on the next step I'm afraid, but you have alot to be proud of. I applaud you!!

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by Danno

I mean, you are probably right about that.

However, you never know as things are going more mobile. Might be able to get a direct to teacher market. Also, figured he might be able to sell direct to students as a supplemental, too. I know my grad professors listed several supplemental books we didn't need but would help.


Anyway, just an idea.

Shady will know. He is a professor and really has published books. He has even posted some of the stuff he wrote.

[Shady]

Originally Posted by RumbleCat

You guys are making me nervous with all this book writing talk!

LOL. It's ok, RC. Kettering said his has pictures.

[Shady]

Originally Posted by Bengalzona

Marketing for college textbooks = being a prof and making your students buy you your buddies books

I would NEVER do that.

[Shady]

Originally Posted by fredtoast
I am pretty sure that textbooks need publishers to sell them. There are lots of standards for school books and schools go to established publishers who they trust to supply them with books that meet these standards.

College texbooks are up to the professors choice as far as I know. Don't know how the marketing works for them.

I mean, you are probably right about that.

However, you never know as things are going more mobile. Might be able to get a direct to teacher market. Also, figured he might be able to sell direct to students as a supplemental, too. I know my grad professors listed several supplemental books we didn't need but would help.

Anyway, just an idea.

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Shady will know. He is a professor and really has published books. He has even posted some of the stuff he wrote.

1. Pitch the book to 3-4 different publishers. Work the best deal (royalties) you can.

If I was publishing a math text, I'd start with Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Harcourt, Prentice Hall, Houghton Mifflin. Aim High!!

2. As for marketing, the publisher markets the book for you, but they seek your assistance.