The truth is, despite the many billions of hardbound and paperback books there are present on the shelf today, still even more unread manuscripts are waiting to be published. Publishers and agents receive incredible loads of unsolicited manuscripts on a day-to-day basis. If the company does not entertain unsolicited work, none of them are ever even read. But if by any chance one or two of these packages gets through, they would have to pass yet another long-winded process to finally make it out into the world alive. However, like any other goal and process there are other ways, backdoors, to getting a book published.

Before getting there, one must be able to write well. This means having gone through the long and tedious process of writing “barely tolerable” manuscripts and of receiving painfully honest critiques. To judge the quality of a piece of literature is not the job of the author who wrote it; most written work sound spectacular to the ears of those who made them but could not, by any possible means, be endured by common readers. Before making the first attempt at getting a book published, it is necessary for that book go have gone through serious, unbiased, and critical editing.

Getting there the traditional way

Persistence is a key ingredient in this business. A constant delivery of manuscripts to publishers and agents, although seemingly futile, is bound to get some attention. Although rejections may be expected, these must not become a hindrance to the possibility of publication. It is, however, truly important not to harass people by forcing unsolicited manuscripts or unwanted personal contact. Doing so will burn the chances of authoring a book altogether.

Making a name first

It is not uncommon that a book by a virtually anonymous, first-time author cannot get the attention it deserves. However, if that virtually anonymous first-time author makes his way to Hollywood by sheer luck or talent, then any book that would come out from beneath his pen would attract mind-blowing sales and readership. If the material can’t come first, then the author can — by making front-page news.

Going solo

When all else fails, there is always the option to self-publish a manuscript. This way, the author is not at the mercy of publishers and agents who will determine whether or not his book is worthy of making it to the shelves; he can make it happen himself. One very important prerequisite to self-publication is rigorous editing, since nobody else will take charge of this task but the author himself — unless he chooses to hire a personal editor. Also, a considerable sum of money needs to be set aside for printing, distribution, marketing, and advertising, all of which will be covered by the writer for the sale of his book.

Book publishing has accelerated as an industry in the last few decades with the steady growth of computer technology and new publishing techniques like digital information systems and the Internet. According to figures released by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), net sales for the entire United States publishing industry are estimated to have increased by 1.3 percent from 2003 to 2004 to a grand total of $23.72 billion. This clearly indicates the publishers or the book publishing companies are reaping the benefits of the trade.

Most of the publishers or the book publishing companies usually control the advertising and marketing tasks and sub-contract the editorial and production process to small businesses, as book publishers rarely own printing presses and binderies. This trend, known as “book packaging,” is gaining momentum as retail book chains and supermarkets have centralized their buying.