Finish your book. There are a couple of schools of thought concerning if you should have your book finished before you start the publishing process. Many agents only want to see a proposal, while others will want to see whole chapters or the entire book. It’s safer to have your book completed before starting the publishing process.
Write an agent query. An agent query is a one-page letter to a potential agent. It includes a summary of your book and a bit about yourself as a writer. Agent queries are no longer than one page. They should start with a hook (what you put on a book jacket) and then go on to a mini-synopsis. Finally, you should wrap it up with your personal writing experience.
Write a proposal. As a rule of thumb, proposals are for nonfiction or already-published fiction writers; however, it’s a good idea for any book author to have a proposal ready in case an agent asks for it. Proposals consist of a two- to three-page overview, a two- to three-page market analysis of potential readers, a one-page biography of yourself, a list of chapters with summaries or samples and one to three sample chapters.
Contact agents. The AgentQuery website lists hundreds of agents and points to other helpful websites. It’s important to pick an agent that works in the same genre of your book. Send your query letter (and whatever else the agent requires) to your selected agents. Interested agents will contact you and ask for your proposal, sample chapters or the entire book.
Choose your agent and sign a contract. You may hear back from several agents interested in helping you get your book published. Talk to each of them and choose whom you think would be the best fit. Then, sign a contract with your chosen agent.
Your agent will handle the rest. Your agent will send your book to publishing houses, and those publishers will either accept or reject your book. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to an entire year before your agent finds a publisher that is a good fit for your book. Once a publisher accepts the book, it will be edited and then published.
Alternatively, you can self-publish. If you have no luck with agents or you just don’t want to go the traditional route, you can self-publish. Some self-publishers release only e-books, while others use websites to promote printed works. Lulu and Create Space are two well-known websites that help writers self-publish.