NationStates Jolt Archive

I am putting the finishing touches on a book about anarchism I've been writing. How do I go about getting it published?

I am putting the finishing touches on a book about anarchism I've been writing. How do I go about getting it published?

You could do what I do; hold the finished version up in the air while screaming the titles of the chapters in the middle of a city centre shopping district and hope a publisher shows up.

P.S.

What's your book called in case it gets published and is worth the paper it's printed on? I want to have it before it's famous and re-issued with a snazzy new cover just so that I can be "prolier than thou" in front of everyone. w00t-age.

i dont know, send it to max and have him slap a eye with a barcode on the cover, maybe?

I don't know, but if I were you I'd search on the internet for a publisher or something. Maybe there is an article somewhere that tells people how to publish books. (I'm going to have to find out in a few years. A friend and I are writing a book)

I am putting the finishing touches on a book about anarchism I've been writing. How do I go about getting it published?

Look for publications or publishers that print your cup of tea, and send them the manuscript in a self addressed, stamped envelope. And stuff. There's more to it than that, but thats basically what you'll be wanting to do.

Of course, they will be privatized publishers... probably out to make a profit too. Are you sure you want to be exploited? ;)

add on to my previose thought send it to max and have him use the revenue from it to make ns2 free

a) get a gun
b) walk into harper & collins or like
c) ..actually straight into the ceo
d) gun on the head
e) publish or die :)

What's your book called in case it gets published and is worth the paper it's printed on? I want to have it before it's famous and re-issued with a snazzy new cover just so that I can be "prolier than thou" in front of everyone. w00t-age.

I'm calling it Anarcho-communism: A 21th Century Guide to the Principles of a Free Society.

Look into a magazine called "Writer's Digest". They have anything you could want to know about getting published, and lists of publishers and agents.

you can always do it the cool open source way.. start a chain email with the book as an attachment.. if it's any good the publisher's will contact you..

I'm calling it Anarcho-communism: A 21th Century Guide to the Principles of a Free Society.

Noted.

But that name sounds tedious. I suggest calling it "DELICIOUS BRAINS - AN ANARCHIST'S GUIDE".

make sure you send a copy to your self by regsterd mail and when you get it back dont open it(to prevent copycats)

I'm calling it Anarcho-communism: A 21th Century Guide to the Principles of a Free Society.

I think "21st" would be better than "21th" if you want any credibility. :D

I think "21st" would be better than "21th" if you want any credibility. :D
Giggles, yea I'd have to agree with that.

I think "21st" would be better than "21th" if you want any credibility.

Good point.

Look into a magazine called "Writer's Digest". They have anything you could want to know about getting published, and lists of publishers and agents.

Thank you. I too am looking for publication. Awesome!

by the way the chain mail thingy worked in finland.. some guy wrote a "scandal" book about this corporation called sonera and how they waisted billions of euros and so.. started a chain mail.. in the end the book was published..

That sounds neat. Writer's digest, eh? I shall need to look into that.

Although you won't get any advertising or store-distribution, http://www.cafepress.com/ will bind and sell a book over the internet for you. You just have to upload it and set a price.

So are there any publishers for anarchistic or radical books?

So are there any publishers for anarchistic or radical books?

How the hell can you write an entire book on a system based upon the idealistic rantings of a self-absorbed idiot.
Anarchism has failed(yes it has been tried, and don't give me the bullshit, "well it wasn't in it's true form")
I've written a manifesto, the true Bible of the left. You are a class-traitor, and as much of a capitalist pig as Neil Bortz.

How the hell can you write an entire book on a system based upon the idealistic rantings of a self-absorbed idiot.
Anarchism has failed(yes it has been tried, and don't give me the bullshit, "well it wasn't in it's true form")
I've written a manifesto, the true Bible of the left. You are a class-traitor, and as much of a capitalist pig as Neil Bortz

Did Lenin just possess you or are you always this sectarian. Authoritarian socialism is a contradiction in terms.

you can always do it the cool open source way.. start a chain email with the book as an attachment.. if it's any good the publisher's will contact you..

The entire book as an attachment? Wouldn't most people just read it on their computer and not bother buying the book?

Ever hear the right of free speach?
Of course there are publishers....dunno where you look for them, but there are a few anarchism books out there.....good luck with that!

Most cost effective way would be pamphlet form

Most cost effective way would be pamphlet form

How do I do that?

So are there any publishers for anarchistic or radical books?

More than you can possibly imagine: check out AK PRESS (http://www.akpress.org/) for examples.

I would suggest that the most practical way is probably to publish it yourself as a zine or zine-like object - after all, your primary interest in it is to get out what you believe, rather than to make money off it, after all, isn't it?

How do I do that?

Print it out, photocopy it, collate it, staple it, sell/trade it for similar publications. Be sure to secretly slip some copies between the covers of appropriate books in your local library, and to leave a few in random places like on buses - you never know who might pick them up.

Also have a look at Factsheet Five (www.factsheet5.com/) for connections to other zines.

So I should just print off pamphlets?

Well pamphlets are the best way of keeping your principle (point) away from the grubby(greedy) hands of others. Unless you own a publishing company your point of view is most defineitely going to get cut up by some dupe. Thomas paine did it with common sense, why can't you?

If you're in the bay area you could try City Lights at Broadway and Geary.

But for the most part to publish something like this without self-publishing (and if you where truly punk rock...) you need to establish authority on the subject. I know that that sounds a little contridictory, but the publishers are going to want a way to confirm that your view on the subject is somehow especially informed or something someone else might be willing to shell out money to read. Even anarchists would be reluctant to shell out dough for just 'some guys' take on anarchism. So you if you have established yourself as an authority on the subject then start tapping the publishers. If you haven't, start looking into self publication.

i didint know that there were so maney people wirting books here

I am putting the finishing touches on a book about anarchism I've been writing. How do I go about getting it published?

You write the bulk of one, have the professor put his name on it and get it published. Then sit back while he gets shitloads of money for your hard work.

it depends on what your purpose is in writing and publishing your work. if you just want to spread the word of anarchism then you should probably consider the pamphlet route and see if you can get it read by whoever is big in the anarchy world today. if the big boys like it, they may well be willing to help distribute it.

these days, why PUBLISH at all? why not put it on a web page and do what needs to be done to get it come up on the first page when anyone puts "anaracy" into google? it can reach many many more people online than it ever will by getting it published by some obscure publisher.'

another thought is that if its not very long, you might want to try getting it published in a journal. i have no idea how long your book is, but it might even be wise to consider cutting it down some in order for it to fit into a magazine/journal if its not as big as other books on anarchism currently in print (look up likely journals at the library and research their submission guidelines)

ok ok so you DO want it published. and you want it published not as a pamphlet (which you can make yourself on your puter) but by a reputable publisher.....

first, you are young, nothing wrong with that, but i recommend having someone you respect read it and let you know if it needs to be edited. almost ALL books that are ever published are edited. writers are too close to their work to be able to see all the flaws in them.

this requires great courage. it sucks to have someone you respect criticize your work even to a minor extent (like that 21st, 21th thing). you will also have to have the courage of your convictions to overcome suggestions that can gut the heart of what you intended to convey to people.

but in any case it HAS to be done. better to give it to someone you respect now so that when it gets to the publisher it has its optimal chance of success. small errors of grammar or spelling can doom an otherwise good piece of writing.

if you drop by the local library they will have books on publishers and agents. ask the librarian she'll know what you want. you have a choice of finding an agent to represent you or sending directly to the publishers. both options suck. nothing to be done about that, just understand that you will get many many rejections before you ever get anyone who wants to read the rest of your book.

read up on the guidelines for submissions. they are different for eveyone you send to. follow their requirements to the letter or they will just toss your packet away. if you want your work returned, you must have a pre-addressed/stamped envelope for them to send it in. they will NEVER pay to return your work. your submission should be utterly correct and in pristine condition. no errors, no coffee stains, number all the pages, have a good cover letter (all these things are discussed at length in the books at the library) send to an editor BY NAME. dont send just to the publisher or the department, find a real persons name and send to him/her. only send to publishers who publish books like yours.

it takes more than a year to get your book published once you find someone interested in it.

So are there any publishers for anarchistic or radical books?

Sure. How about Autonomedia or Left Bank Books?

You can self-publish. Check out iUniverse (http://www.iuniverse.com) . If you've enough money, they will...
~ publish your book in paperback
~ publish your book in hardcover
~ put as much of your book online as you like (you can put the entire thing on there, for people who don't have that much money, or for free publicity)
~ let you design your own cover
~ edit it for grammar and spelling, but let you retain artistic control
~ let you retain your rights
~ help you promote it in a variety of ways

Once again, this is only an option if you have the money for it. A traditional publisher will offer the same deal - but without as much input from you - for free. Chelsea Green Publishing (http://www.chelseagreen.com) is a company devoted to books about sustainable living and environmental issues. They are Derrick Jensen's publisher. If you're not familiar with Jensen's work, he's a well-known anarcho-primitivist (or green anarchist, whatever you'd like to call it) who writes eloquently and passionately about the horrors of civilization. Depending on how much your book focuses on ecological issues, it might fit in well among Chelsea Green's catalogue.

Incidentally, I'm both an anarchist and a grammar nut. I'd love to read your book, both out of curiosity and to edit it, if you feel you need an editor. Don't worry - I won't steal your book and publish it as my own, or publish portions of it as my own. I'm just curious about your ideas and political influences. :)