Publish your book — before it’s too late. I’m not kidding. You might not realize it (until you read this article), but there’s actually a “ticking clock” working against your publishing dreams.
Think of it as your book’s biological clock…
Yes, you only have a limited amount of time to publish your book, and it’s possibly a lot less time than you think. If you don’t get a literary agent and a publisher soon, you might not get another chance.
Really.
See the evidence below…
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Publish Your Book
What in the world does the picture of me below have to do with you publishing your book? Quite a bit, although you’ll have to trust me and bear with me for a moment. This is one of those articles that has a bit of a build-up (like all good stories do).
So, keep reading…
It was a typical Friday night out on the town for dinner. That’s Ingrid below, on our way out of the house, kissing one of our two cats… Fudge.
We went to one of our favorite places, a seafood restaurant where teh food is excellent and the service is even better. On this particular night the hostess greeted us by name and gave us our favorite table (business as usual).
Bread. Calamari. Salad. Crab legs. Gumbo.
A couple glasses of wine…
And lots of conversation about books and business.
Finally… some chocolaty dessert, a shared glass of cognac, and coffee.
Then we left…
That’s when things got “interesting.” We walked out of the restaurant hand-in-hand, browsing the shops and boutiques downtown.
And we entered Urban Outfitters.
If you’ve never been to Urban Outfitters, they sell clothing, accessories, and some household stuff. The one we went to caters mostly to the college crowd.
And…
They have one of the coolest book selections anywhere.
Kudos to you, Urban Outfitters book buyer.
It’s not serious literature.
Nor is it particularly intelligent.
Mostly gift books.
That is…
Humorous, clever, quirky, and sometimes off-color books that have zero value except for the fact that they’re entertaining and probably make the authors lots of money.
For example:
All My Friends Are Dead
The Field Guide to Meat
And…
A Cat’s Life
Now I didn’t buy any of the books above, although I now regret not taking a closer look at A Cat’s Life (Fudge is glaring at me as I write this).
No…
On this night my heart was snared
by a little red book
called Me Without You.
It wasn’t because the book was bright red. It was the fact that it was a romantic gift book. And I happen to be a sappy love poet and romantic gift book author.
Plus, there was something very familiar about the book.
But I couldn’t quite put my finger on it…
Then it hit me.
Like a solid kick to the groin.
My body started getting warm as I picked up the book (and it wasn’t because of the cute little illustrations on the cover). It was the fact that the book was virtually identical to one that I had written many years earlier… but never submitted to publishers.
The gumbo started gurgling in my stomach.
How had the authors gotten a hold of my manuscript? I quietly muttered obscenities to myself. Then I checked the copyright date.
2011.
Ingrid asked me what was wrong, and I told her that I was an idiot.
Then I realized… it was was highly unlikely the authors had broken into our home or hacked my computer and stolen my little romantic gift book idea. Besides, after closer inspection, it was obvious that my book was ten times better than theirs. Only problem is, I wasn’t holding my book in my hands.
This little book had been penned by somebody else.
At this point Ingrid was smart enough to leave me to my misery, and go look at some glittery eye makeup. That’s when I started thinking bad thoughts about the authors. You know, those dark thoughts that sometimes creep into your consciousness even though you don’t like to admit it. Then I realized… the only person that I had a right to be mad at was myself.
Why hadn’t I gotten my book out there?
A million excuses flashed through my mind… like the childhood memories of someone having a near-death experience.
You can’t publish your book, it needs editing.
You can’t publish your book, your platform isn’t big enough.
You can’t publish your book, you have so many other things to do first.
But, at that moment in Urban Outfitters, all of those excuses seemed silly. How long does it really take to finish revising your book? How long does it take write a query letter, so you can submit it to agents — at least give yourself a chance? How much of a platform do you really need to publish your book (especially a gift book)? It’s not like I’d written a legal guide or come up with a cure for cancer.
Publish your book? Not me.
It stung.
But then I had an epiphany…
I realized that I probably wasn’t the only author this had happened to. Actually, I knew for a fact that I wasn’t the only author that this had happened to. That’s when I decided to write this article, to motivate you to publish your book. Together, we’ll turn my proverbial lemons into your lemonade.
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Publish Your Book – The Moral of the Story
I bought a copy of Me Without You that night.
Yes…
As Ingrid purchased her glittery eye makeup, I literally put money in the pockets of my well-intentioned (I’m sure), but woefully inferior “competitors.” That’s right. My copy of their little book is sitting next to me right now. It’s in my office, on my bookshelf, mocking me.
But it was worth every penny.
Now I have a permanent reminder in my office: telling me how short life is; telling me that if I don’t use my ideas, someone else will; telling me that I better tell you… the same thing.
Publish your book.
So, I hope you’re not hoping your life is going to get a little hectic… waiting for the publishing gods to come knocking on your door, and beg permission to publish your book… waiting for… well, you know what your excuses are better than I do.
You fill in the blank.
Then decide,
right now,
to…
Publish Your Book
Decide to take action NOW and finish writing (or marketing) that book you keep saying is so important to you. I assure you, you don’t want to go to some store this coming weekend and see your book (or something similar) on a table.
It sucks.
Sorry, there’s no other way to say it.
Yes, I know. I can still publish my book. It’s never too late and all that. Blah, blah, blah. I’m sorry. Of course, you’re right. And I really do appreciate your support.
But…
My chances of being successful with my book now are going to be much slimmer.
And I’m going to look like a copycat.
Man, that burns me up.
So…
Learn from my mistake and publish your book. Commit (or recommit) right now, to your writing (and marketing your writing) efforts. But first, before you go, tell me what you think about this article (below). And feel free to post a question about anything so I can help you with your books.
Then get back to your writing.
See, I said you’d learn a lot by simply joining me for dinner…
For more information about how to publish your book, click here and get my free 15-part Guide to Finding a Literary Agent. Then click here to learn about the 3 different ways that you can get 1-on-1 help from me (free to fee) as your Book Marketing Coach. You can ask questions on my blog, schedule an introductory consulting call with me, or join one of my longer-term coaching programs.
Either way, I look forward to getting to know you better.
And helping you publish your book,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
Your “Undercover” Agent
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MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Know how you feel, Mark. Twenty odd years ago I wrote a longline for a screenplay about two blokes (i.e. guys) who gate crashed weddings in order to get fee meals and hopefully score a night in bed with a beautiful woman – only to have one of them actually fall in love with his ‘prey’ and foul up their longstanding buddy relationship. Never went further than that as there was always something else to do… Thanks a lot Steve Faber and Bob Fisher!
Yikes, here’s to hoping that was just an innocent coincidence.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Man, if I were in your shoes I could have punched me in the face for that. Geez, it was a gift book, for the love of Steve! How could you have delayed, Mark, you’re a publishing guru?
Anyways, you’re forgiven for that because this article is quite timely : )
Back to business. Everything you said is right, if writers don’t start making the right decision and taking the needed action, somebody else will for us. But coming to think of it, while most of us stay querying billions of agents daily, there’s a fat chance someone else is taking our idea down the indie route. And then six months later, we’ll brows through Amazon and see the book sitting there on the bestseller list and we begin to wonder, then get mad, because when we’re supposed to suck up the fear of indie failure and get in the armour of risk, we didn’t. Somebody else did. End of story.
So maybe it’s time to branch out of the generation of waiting ages for one agent to take pity on us and kick up the dust of entrepreneurship into our nostrils.
Hi Tessa, you always make me laugh… and yes… you can have fun with me. I poke fun at myself so as long you do so in a kindhearted way… I’m always game. And read this article if you haven’t already, in reply to some of what you talked about here: https://literary-agents.com/nondisclosure-agreement-nda/. But there’s also nothing wrong with going indie if it’s really right for you. Getting your work out there is what counts. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark – I think the publishing industry is “broken” but I don’t have any idea as to how to “fix it.” You can make a career out of contacting agents and waiting and waiting and waiting. So, how do you manage the frustration and acquire this bizarre kind of “patience” while hoping nobody else beats you to the punch? Just askin’
Hi Janis, the best prescription I know for that malady is working on your next book while waiting to hear back from agents. That, and anything else you can do to distract yourself from the deafening silence of waiting… and waiting… and waiting. 😉
Stay positive, and have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Ha! You don’t know how right you are. There are several times where I’ve been watching a show and at a usually pivotal point, I’ll be like, “Crap! They stole my idea! There is a scene in my book that is virtually identical to this!” It definitely does, um, tweak the nerves. My only comfort is that they all usually belong to very different series from different points in history… but still. *sweat sweat*
Hi Nikki!
You are too funny, glad you’re getting your work out there now then. 😉
Keep being patient, it will come.
And have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Clever article Mark. Myself I’ve been working on your questionnaires and presently working on the book proposal part…. as you said it is better to add to much and for you to guide me in what to remove… than writing too little for you having to guide me in what to add. Therefore I’ve been working on the book proposal everyday for an hour(due to my schedule) since the first week of Feb. and we are now almost mid April. I’m making sure that I cover everything but getting a little on edge. 🙂
Hi Marie!
Glad you enjoyed the article and yes… more is better.
Take your time and enjoy the process.
And have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I know to publish my book NOW. But realistically, it is impossible unless a literary agent seeks you out after submitting a query letter to him/her. It is because of the time waiting between submitting the query and the literary agent calling. Another thing is celebrities get first dibs in signing a contract with a publisher through a literary agent? Isn’t it like unfair to all the people who really want to publish but cannot except for self-publishing?
Hi Paul,
You can often get a drastically different response by tweaking or changing your pitch materials (query letter, book proposal, manuscript, etc.).
My favorite example of this is one of my coaching clients who’d pitched her favorite “dream” agent three times over the course of two years. Rejections every time. After I helped her rewrite her query letter, she approached the same agent a fourth time and he requested the full manuscript. So don’t get too discouraged. You might just be a few changes away from getting what you want.
As a next step (if you haven’t already done so) click here to access to all the resources I have about getting an agent in my private, members-only area (no charge): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Once you’ve entered your name and email address there, click on the link that says, “Audio Training Library”. Then you’ll see my main audio training (and text transcript), which reveals the 7 Insider Secrets You Need to Know to Get a Top Literary Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal.
That might have what you need…
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark,
Thank you so much for the article. During the past 6 years of writing my novel I have read dozens of novels and while reading them I will see it—someone stole my idea. They crept into my brain and stole what I thought was a fantastic plot (and in fact it is fantastic) but they used it first. I was devastated. Back to the MS for a rewrite. What I take from this is that my ideas are not as bad as I thought they might be and I can still come up with another. Thanks again.
Hi Calvin, I love it… thanks for sharing that… and thanks for having a sense of humor. Keep the good ideas coming… keep writing… and keep me posted on your progress.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark, great introspection here. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. No agent has so far even asked for my manuscript and rejections have poured in. Two of my University teachers tell me to skimp on adverbs and adjectives and two young readers think I’ve got too many sub plots and characters. I’ve read quite s bit on the to dos and know changes are required. My heart tells me to rewrite;my head to edit . Any suggestions ? Else, I too , might fall into the rut .
Hi Mahmudur,
Sounds like your query has issues if you’re not getting any requests to even read your manuscript. The good news is that you can often get a drastically different response by tweaking or changing your pitch materials (query letter, book proposal, manuscript, etc.).
My favorite example of this is one of my coaching clients who’d pitched her favorite “dream” agent three times over the course of two years. Rejections every time. After I helped her rewrite her query letter, she approached the same agent a fourth time and he requested the full manuscript. So don’t get too discouraged. You might just be a few changes away from getting what you want.
Also…
I’m a big fan of getting editing support, and that’s another possibility, but it’s not always necessary. You might be further along than you realize, so it could be worthwhile to have someone look briefly at your work before investing the time and money that working with a decent editor will require. Good agents will give you some feedback about how to improve your work, if you can get them reading. And sometimes that’s all you need.
As a next step (if you haven’t already done so) click here to access to all the resources I have about getting an agent in my private, members-only area (no charge): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Once you’ve entered your name and email address there, click on the link that says, “Audio Training Library”. Then you’ll see my main audio training (and text transcript), which reveals the 7 Insider Secrets You Need to Know to Get a Top Literary Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. You can also (if you haven’t done so already) get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/.
Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark – So sorry you delayed in taking your book seriously. Thank you for sharing your story to inspire the rest of us.
Hi Pat, thank you and have a great week!
Thinking of you,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Great article, Mark. Remember when you were moving and how hectic that was…well that’s me right now. But, isn’t that just one of “those” excuses. I am writing,in between packing, seems like one sentence at a time. At this rate…well, you know. Anyway, I would have loved to read your version of “Me Without You.” Sorry, just a little fuel to the fire. Thanks for reminding me to keep working. None of us are truly unique with our ideas, not this day in time. About 5000 more words now. Vickie
Hi Vickie!
I certainly do remember that, although I do try to forget. 😉
And one of these days I’ll get that book out there. The problem is that I have the only good excuse for not writing more or marketing my own writing… and that is the fact that I’m helping my coaching clients write and market THEIRS.
LOL
Glad you’re making progress and just keep taking one step at a time… and before you know it you will have reached the goal.
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Thanks. This is just the kick in the butt I needed to re-dedicate myself. I just finished looking at my list of submissions, and was dwelling on the fact that 27% of them had rejected my story (although, two were what I would consider “soft rejections”). Now, I will get back to work and focus on the 73% who haven’t said yes yet.
Thanks, Mark!
-Tim Robinson.
Thank you Tim, I love it… that’s EXACTLY what I would have said… get back to the 73%. 😉
Have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark, So, after I read that story I just had to ask “whats your other cat’s name?” (We have 2 Cats and 4 dogs)
By the way the story is a good one and the point you’re making is so true. It’s happened with many other products too. People have “great ideas” but they don’t do anything about them, and then they see the product on the shelves a year or two later.
Hi Greg, our two babies are Fudge and Ginger… and I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Life is short, right? Let’s make this your year. Looking forward to our upcoming call. 😉
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Very interesting article and I can relate to the story! The biggest challenge is that the agents keep saying no, because you live in another country (one of the reasons). Some say no before they have seen your work. That gap between publishers and authors is getting wider and wider. Is there an easier bridge to cross? Thanks Mark for the initiative.
Hi Pamela, happy Friday… and I’m glad you found the article interesting. Don’t let you being international get you down though. Click on this link and look at what I just helped author Miri Leshem-Pelly do. She lives in Israel and we got 3 agents in the United States offering to represent her in a very short period of time.
Most literary agents in the United States will consider any book if it has appeal for the American market. In other words, the primary focus and value of the work needs to include a plot, characters, and themes, that an American reader can relate to. As long as you do that, you can write about anything, anyone, and anyplace.
If you want help with anything else, you can post questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/ask/. If you haven’t already done so, you can also get access (no cost) to all the valuable resources in our private, members-only area here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. And you can register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/. Either way, I’m looking forward to learning more about you and your work.
Have a great day, and weekend,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author
http://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I am really a songwriter, never had the ambition to be a book writer, takes too long to write a book, I can write a song in minutes to a few hours, but I’ve had this idea that’s been bugging me for years. It’s something I see happening around me almost every day, should be pointed out to the buying public. I have no proof it’s happening by design, but it is happening. I would classify my book (if I ever write it) as true fiction. A book along the lines of Big Brother is Watching.
Hi Everett, start writing it and you might find you like it as much as songwriting. You never know! Mark
I self-published a book in 2001 and it never had a chance as I was force by fate to stop marketing it. Now I want to find an agent and publish by the traditional route. Will an agent represent a previously self published book? Yes I did write to several agents recently and ask that question. Agents today do not seem to know how to answer letters. What’s your opinion. Input my name on Amazon and the book and reviews will still come up.
Hi William, getting an agent and publisher for a previously self-published book can be tricky. Check this out: https://literary-agents.com/its-not-what-you-say/. And, if you haven’t already done so, I suggest you become a member of my online community now here (it’s fr*ee): http://thebestsellingauthor.com/membership/. Then listen to the FIRST audio training recording in my online audio library (once you’re in the members only area, look for the link the says “Audio Training Library”). You can also post more questions for me online here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/how-to-be-a-bestselling-author/ask/. And, if/when you’re able, register for an introductory coaching call with me here: http://thebestsellingauthor.com/coaching/intro-call/. All my best. Mark
Wow, I feel the same way as this author. I began writing in 1997 then along came 9/11 and all the agents and publishers seemed to shut down. This “slow down” in the industry along with a change of station (I was in the Coast Guard at the time) I dropped the ball.
Five books later and I’m ready to start the hunt for an agent again.
Thanks.
Hi Ron, glad you’re getting back in the game. It’s never too late. Mark
I’ve been out of touch for a while and now I’m kicking myself. I’ve let business challenges and health issues completely sideline me and after reading several of your articles, I feel poked in all the right places to get me moving again. I left off with getting ready to send out letters to other authors, commenting on their work and asking for possible testimonials when….
I want when to be this year and I need to get back in touch with you for more coaching. Thanks for your inspiration
Hi Laurie, I love it… and thank you for sharing that here. Consider me your “Professional Poker”. 😉 Glad to be part of your journey and I’m looking forward to our next steps together. It’s not important how quickly you get there, just that you keep going. And I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got your back. Have a great weekend. Mark
This article is the kick in the pants I need. I’m so worried that it’s not ready that I miss the chance to try. This year I’m focusing on just querying what I’ve got and polishing the rest later.
Hi Jen, one day it’s a kick in the pants… the next it’s [hmm… insert something more nurturing and soothing here, will you please?]. Laughter. Here’s to getting it done and having fun along the way. Mark