Writing a manuscript takes time, but we often underestimate the work that goes into finding a publishing house, before sending a text, in the hope of obtaining a publication contract for it. book. How to choose the best publisher for your work? It can be difficult to navigate the list of all the publishing houses out there, especially if this is your first novel. In this blog article, you will discover all our tips for finding the perfect editor for your book.

Writing a manuscript takes time, but we often underestimate the work that goes into finding a publishing house , before sending a text, in the hope of obtaining a publication contract for it. book. How to choose the best publisher for your work? It can be difficult to navigate the list of all the publishing houses out there, especially if this is your first novel. In this blog article, you will discover all our tips for finding the perfect editor for your book.

SUBMIT A FINISHED TEXT TO PUBLISHING HOUSES

A publishable manuscript is, above all, a completed manuscript . This does not simply mean that the writing of the book must be completed , it is also necessary that the author perfect the content and form of his work in order to present it to the editors – who receive very numerous manuscripts, not all of which will not be able to become books – a novel that they will want to publish.

PERFECT THE CONTENT OF THE MANUSCRIPT

As an author, it is sometimes difficult to have perspective on the work you have just written, which is why it is crucial to have your book corrected and proofread before sending it to the publishing houses of your choice. To do this, you can select a few beta readers from among your loved ones, other authors around you, or turn to book professionals . On Édith & Nous, entrusting your manuscript to the Proofreading workshop will allow you to have it read, annotated and analyzed from the first to the last page by a professional editor. This service, which has become a reference for authors , aims to support you in the work of correcting and rewriting your novel by generating a list of several areas for improvement, and it is particularly useful for publication projects. .

PERFECT THE FORM OF THE MANUSCRIPT

It is also important to take care of the formatting of your book before submitting it to publishing houses. Indeed, editors are used to reading manuscripts in “Times New Roman” font, size 12, line spacing 1.5, so this layout is recommended to facilitate their reading comfort . Of course, you must organize the writing of your manuscript into chapters, give it a title page, number the pages and ventilate the text by arranging paragraphs, which must always begin with a paragraph indent. But above all, the typography , syntax and spelling of your text must be careful, to make reading the book enjoyable. To do this, you can use a spelling checker like Antidote or Cordial (be careful about the correction suggestions made to you), or call on a professional proofreader. THE . On Édith & Nous, we also offer a correction service , made up of professional proofreaders who will correct spelling , typography , grammar and syntax errors in your manuscript, freeing it from its heaviness and repetition .

CONTACT THE RIGHT PUBLISHING HOUSES

FIND OUT ABOUT THE EDITORIAL LINE OF THE PUBLISHING HOUSE

Before sending your manuscript to all the publishing houses you know, take the time to ask yourself if your work corresponds to their editorial line. First of all, what literary genre does your book belong to? Is it a general literature novel, a novel in imaginative literature, a short story, a novel intended for young adults? It is by answering this question that you will be able to target publishing houses likely to be interested in your project. Then take the time to consult the website of the editions concerned and look for two pieces of information: the editorial line of the publishing house as it has been formulated by its editors (which generally appears in the “Who are we” section). us?"), and the list of novels or other books recently published by the publishing house. This way, you will have a clear idea of ​​the books that this publishing house wants to publish , which will allow you to determine if your manuscript is likely to be of interest to them.

FIND OUT ABOUT THE PUBLISHING HOUSE

If the editions you are targeting are not a recognized publishing house, it may be wise to find opinions , advice and feedback from authors whose books have been published by this house on the Internet before send your manuscript. Indeed, certain “publishing houses” do not hesitate to take advantage of the hopes of authors to offer them a publication contract, without accompanying their book as required, which is why some Authors then make the default choice to turn to self-publishing, or refuse to transfer their copyright to a publisher.

BE PATIENT

Editors receive a huge amount of writing every day, so it can be difficult as an author to stand out and land a publishing deal, or even get a response. Indeed, the manuscript departments of all publishing houses are saturated. Editors have more and more difficulty identifying, among all these works, the novel which stands out from other novels, which will find its place in the hearts of readers and will generate sales in bookstores. Authors must therefore be patient and accept that reading and response times are often long after sending a manuscript, sometimes up to a year or even more. The world of publishing and the challenges of literature are not easy to grasp, but the experience is worth it, so you should not be discouraged, especially if you believe in the project you have just written and want to publish it!

CREATE YOUR AUTHOR ACCOUNT ON EDITH & NOUS

Édith & Nous offers you the opportunity to save time , save on the costs of printing and shipping dozens of copies of your manuscript, and to increase your chances of finding a publisher for your texts. On Édith & Nous, your procedures are simple and secure and your manuscripts are visible to more than 100 verified editors.

By creating your Author account, you can replace your manuscripts and adjust their presentation as many times as you want. You follow the progress of your manuscript in real time thanks to notifications, and increase your visibility by specifying your project, your experience and your personal history related to writing, very important information for editors. You can also specify the genesis of your writing work and whether you won a literary award or resorted to self-publishing. Thus, all the key information about your journey as an author is finally gathered in the same place, facilitating your efforts and those of editors who, in one click, have access to all the information necessary to know, the first time take a look, if your work could be their next publication.