Wriging

I think John Baker has a book or two published. I don't, and am not really able to give much advice.

I looked into POD (print on demand) stuff, and came away possibly more confused than before I started research.

Hi Katundu, I've just finished writing a novel -- a process that took me three years. In a few months, after I've edited my draft, I'll send out query letters to agents. Lots and lots of them, is my guess.

If you're curious about this whole process http://misssnark.com is as good a place as any to get some ideas about how to go about selling your work. But my advice is not to worry about selling your writing. Learn your craft, write something you're proud of and something that holds your attention. You're going to spend a lot of time writing. Make sure it's a story you love because you're going to be living with it for quite a while. THEN, when you finish, worry about getting it out into the world. Good luck to you!

Oh -- and Katundu, I meant to say that those query letters will be accompanied by major bribes: high end chocolates, good scotch, tickets to sold out Broadway shows. Things like that.

At the stage - just starting out - it might be a good idea not to work on anyone's advice. You have to develop a unique voice, say whatever you have to say in the way that only you could ever say it.
Other people will tell you exactly how they would do it. But what you need to discover is exactly how you will do it.
It's a lonely business. Most good writers are people who like their own company.

Lulu.com - they do one-off prints of books you submit.

So you write a book, save it as an ebook pdf and submit it to them, they'll print it for you, assign it an ISBN number and deliver it to you. Then it remains in their store for people to purchase and you get like 70-80% of the revenue from your book.

It's like £20 for a one off printing of your own book and you supply the artwork, content etc.

Hope that's of some use :)

I'd recommend Lulu, also, unless you are a fabulous writer with some very marketable idea. If you want to go with a regular publisher, you'll have to do a detailed proposal, negotiate a contract, stick to deadlines. I've done it, it's a hassle.

I was thinking of doing more of a reference book not a novel. Something I know about and can draw upon. It looks like doing this can take a couple of years. I have been gathering thoughts for a time when I feel I can start writing it.

Reference books fall under the same process...you still have to send out query letters to publishers, etc. You need to do your research on publishers, what they accept, what their requirements are for submission, and how long they take to reply to your submission. And, that is just the beginning, and doesn't include proposals, contracts, etc. Getting your work accepted is not easy, and you really need to map out a plan, of say, who you are going to submit to, etc. Also, many publishers do not permit simultaneous submitting (meaning you can only submit to them, until they either say, "yay, or nay", and then you can submit it to another publisher.

Yes, lulu.com is a good self-publishing entity, publishing on demand.

Oh, I haven't published a book, but have had quite a few poems published over the years, in small magazines and literary presses, and do know the process.