How to Get Your E-Book Published

For some writers, electronic publishing is a far-out idea that comes straight from science fiction. For others, it''s an easy—and profitable—way to get published and reach a wider audience of readers. If you want to be in the latter group who uses all the amazing new technologies to get their books published in a wide variety of formats, to network with writers all over the world, and to increase the number of their promotional strategies, then How to Get Your E-Book Published is a must-have resource for your library.

We spoke with the authors Richard Curtis, literary agent at Richard Curtis Associates, Inc. and owner of the e-publishing company e-reads, and William Thomas Quick, author and e-publishing expert, on the various opportunities available for writers in the world of electronic publishing.

Is the future of publishing really on the Web?

The present of publishing is on the Web. Not only is a growing number of users downloading e-books, but countless numbers of customers order print books on the Web, including books printed on demand. And, as we say in our book, print on demand is definitely a form of electronic book.

Why does a writer need to know about e-publishing?

A writer needs to know enough about the current and future status of e-publishing to make a reasonably informed decision about e-publishing his or her work. At the very least, a writer should be able to distinguish among the basic e-book formats, learn how customers order e-books online, and understand how the compensation works.

Why should a writer consider the e-publishing option?

Traditional publishing has become harder and harder to break into, so self-publishing electronically or publishing through an e-book publisher is a viable alternative these days. One day the compensation will be on a par with that of traditional publishing. And at some point, there may not be any other options!

While currently not the primary means of publication, e-publishing will eventually become the major method of publishing, promoting, and distributing the written word. There is at least some small advantage—and perhaps a very large one—in being an early adapter of any new technology that eventually becomes successful. E-publishing shows every sign of doing just that.

Are there businesses on the Web that writers should be wary of? How can a writer recognize these groups?

The first thing to watch out for is "publishers" that want a lot of your money to "publish" your work. We discuss how to spot these types of businesses thoroughly in our book. Writers have always been vulnerable to scam artists preying on their vanity and vulnerability.

It really shouldn''t cost you a lot, if anything, to publish your work online. If someone offers to do it for you for an exorbitant amount of money, beware. There are a host of so-called "vanity" operations that prey on the inexperienced writer by offering to "publish" their work for what turns out to be a substantial fee.

How is your book different from others on e-publishing?

It is concise and practical. Writers will be able to read this book, make an informed decision as to whether e-publishing is a good option for them, and if they decide it is, proceed to e-publish and promote their work.

We tried to concentrate on issues that are both timeless and general, so that our book won''t be completely obsolete the moment it is released—an outcome that afflicts many of the more specific how-to books that deal with the rapidly changing world of the Internet and the World Wide Web. We both have unparalleled experience in writing for the Web and publishing for it, and Richard is also a leading literary agent as well as the publisher of an e-book firm.