Collect the essays you want to publish. These essays should share a common theme or topic. Read recently published collections of essays on similar themes and topics to help you become familiar with what a publishing house may expect.
Find the contact information for literary agents that specialize in essay collections, or in the main topic of your collection. If you write political essays, find an agent that works with authors who write on political topics. You can find information on literary agents by getting recommendations from other authors, and in directories available online.
Compose a query letter to solicit the services of a literary agent. This query should contain a description of the essay collection and information about where your work has been published before. Include a cover letter with a brief biographical sketch, including details that might be relevant to the essay collection's theme. If you are writing about travel, any experience you have working in travel or tourism can be helpful to include.
Submit your queries to several literary agents, with at least one sample essay. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if submitting by postal mail. If an agent decides to work with you, the agent will present your work to editors and publishing companies so that they can offer to publish your work.
Discuss any offers to publish you receive with your agent. This will help you understand the offer's terms and negotiate for better ones. Accept the offer that best suits your interests.
Edit your work as required by the editor at the publishing house that you have agreed to work with. Your editor may make suggestions for changes in content within the essays, ask you to remove an essay, change the order that they appear in the book or request additional material. You will also be asked to review copies of your work to check for errors. The editor and other publishing house staff will handle the typesetting, cover art and other aspects of publishing the book.