Why it might not be a good idea to publish with Scribbulations
We want you to be successful.
Here are five points where authors can easily trip themselves up and become disappointed with the results.
1) Publishing is a business.
That may be obvious, but some authors are only comfortable dealing with the 'art' of writing and are unprepared think of their work as a product for sale.
2) You need to have a finished product.
Again, that may be obvious. It means in practice, that we don't accept proposals or unedited manuscripts. Be sure your work is ready to go before you submit it.
3) You will need to market your book.
Traditional publishers are selective about which books they publish (as are we), but they are also selective about how they spend their marketing budgets. They leave a lot for the authors to do themselves.
You will have to market the book and yourself as its author. If that thought fills you with dread, find a couple of the excellent books available on how authors can successfully do this, immerse yourself in them and get comfortable. Then submit your manuscript.
We can offer your book for sale by order through bookstores, or directly through our website and other online stores. We can include your book in our advertising and marketing efforts, but without your active engagement in the promotion of your book there will be few, if any, customers who will come looking for it. Don't put all your effort into creating a great book and then draw back from telling everyone about it!
4) You must obey the law.
Again, that's obvious. It means that you can't steal anyone else's work and present it as your own. You can't slander or libel anyone. You can't aid terrorists or give away national secrets. If you are doing any of these, or anything else illegal, in your manuscript, please don't send it to us.
5) We have to be comfortable working together and working with your material.
We're interested in printing and selling your book, not offering free counseling or therapy.
We don't publish erotica or pornography.
We're restrictive about what sort of religious works we'll publish.
We're restrictive about what sort of political works we'll publish.
If you find yourself saying "of course" and "that's fine..." to these points, please go ahead and
