<p>Hi, I am writing a novel. I hope it will be completed before December so it can become a "hook" to add onto my weak credentials. Does anyone know how to publish a book? How long does it take? Which publisher should I use? How much does it cost to print X copies?</p>
<p>Thanks very much!</p>
<p>Hahaha. This made my day. I think when one poster said "published" they meant books like "Eragon," etc... a bestselling published author who has been accepted and read by thousands would have a hook.</p>
<p>Sadly, I doubt that writing a book and SELF-PUBLISHING would be a great hook. It's more like something anyone can pull a let's-not-and-say-I-did.</p>
<p>It would, however, make a fascinating essay. =)</p>
<p>Lackadaisy I don't really understand your response. Eragon? "let'snotandsayidid? Please explain.</p>
<p>Anyone has any information on the logistics of publishing a book?</p>
<p>Eragon = published by Christopher Paulini @ age 15. Bestseller. Recently followed with "Eldest" - I believe the author is now about 20.</p>
<p>I mean that anyone can claim to have written a novel if it's unpublished and not shown to the adcom... self-publishing isn't quite an amazing "hook."</p>
<p>Nonetheless. I know that local publishers or self-publishing will usually cost the least; Kinko's has good enough supplies. It shouldn't cost more than a hundred dollars or so for printing 5-10 copies in reasonable quality/binding.</p>
<p>Wow, only a hundred dollars? I was expecting about at least a thousand. I want to have a standard binding-like the books you would find at a library. Would that cost a lot more?
I mean to have a book published in book form, and I will mail one to each of the schools I am applying to. Would that be a hook?</p>
<p>Also, if hypothetically a publisher likes the book anjd feels that it can make money, I wouldn't need to spend money to publish it, right?</p>
<p>There is a debate as to whether or not a self-published bek constitutesd a literary credit. Most would say "no".</p>
<p>However, there are many levels of self publication: From just printing up a book at KINKO's to using a publishing/printer to design a real book, etc. The latter looks better, nmore like a real book, and can cost several thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>As to wwhether or not this helps in the college process, it could if the book is well written and is submitted as supplemental material. If it stinks, and is referred to a lit writing or teacher to review by the adcom, it could hurt. However, I think in balance, it would help.</p>
<p>I would suggest, if you have self-published, that you talk about the porcess, what you learned by doing it, why you worote it, etc. This could be the subject of an essay. In the end, not many 17 or 18 year olds have written a book-length work, and if it is decent in terms of the quality of the writing, I think it could help. But, if you play it up for the experience of having written it, as opposed top being a published author, that may be viewed as a positive.</p>
<p>Spectrum,</p>
<p>Depending on the school you mail your book to, you may find out that they just toss it in the "special filing bin." (read: la basura)</p>
<p>Doing this just for the sake of college admission?
----Sorry, but I don't agree.</p>
<p>Sophy, I would never say to do that just for the sake of college admission, but if a young, aspiring author has written a book-lenght piece that just has not gotten publ;ished yet (or will never be) and is of meritorious quality, then I think it is an accomplishment that if used properly csn be a plus.</p>
<p>I would think that if someone tried to do this just to get a hook on an application, that would fail (it probably wouldn't be written good enough to help, and could hurt).</p>
<p>I also think that a writer who does this would also have other writing credits (school newspaper at the least) that would be additive. Many young writers have also been published in magazines and other forums as well.</p>
<p>So, no, it would not be prudent to spend the hundreds (or thousands) of hours necessary to write a book lenght manuscript just to list it on your apps, but if you've done it, I would certainly use it.</p>
<p>First, a thank you to the repliers. </p>
<p>I am writing the book for the following reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>Around me I observe many follies of the society (as observed in a high school). I want to point them out.</li>
<li>Adults don't seem to understand teenagers. I'd like to expose that.</li>
<li>I like to write.</li>
<li>Writing a book improves my writing.</li>
<li>MOST IMPORTANTLY, I feel that by having something written by the person printed, the person is in fact leaving ineluctable footprints on the sand of time. If I completed my novel, died the next day, I would have no regret.</li>
<li>Now that I am well into a third, being able to put the publication on my apps is an enticing prospect.</li>
</ol>
<p>My questions stand:
1. Assuming that I am an excellent writer for a fifteen-year-old, would a published book be a hook?
2. Anyone knows the process and cost of publishing a book in formal standards (i.e. to be purchased by consumers and libraries)? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>lol is this a joke or something?</p>
<p>id suggest not even to try to write a book because most likely you will fail.</p>
<p>lmao, writing a book to impress colleges..........................................................................................................</p>
<p>i pity you</p>
<p>If you are smart enough (or at least ambitious enough) to attempt to write a novel while in high school, then you are certainly capable of doing a little research. And no, posting on a forum for college-bound students inquiring as to what YOU need to do to achieve YOUR goal is not research. If your ultimate goal is to have this book in libraries and bookstores my December, that almost surely will not happen, so you can forget the "hook" business. It isn't one anyway. What you will need to do is contact publishers, send a manuscript, and look up any literary agents in your area. Published books are bought by publishers, and they often sit on desks with other manuscripts for a VERY long time unless you have an awesome literary agent, which you more than likely won't get at your age and experience level. However, if your book is truly top-notch, then it is possible, of course. After a publisher is interested, you'll go into negotiations, see how many of these books will be published, where, etc. and you'll be asked to work out any kinks in the story or something your publisher is concerned about. After this lengthy process, your book will go into editing, by a book editor, for another few months. After that, design of the cover, book jacket, dedications, blurbs, etc. will happen. So assuming you have not even finished your book, you, as a first-time writer, probably have another few YEARS to get your book published and complete. Perhaps you can consider this as a hook for grad school? :]</p>
<p>Remember, this is a basic outline of how a book would make it into bookstores and libraries, which you inquired about. However, I'm sure there is a print shop, however, in your area, that can bind one and make it look rather snazzy for you. Doctoral students do this for their dissertations. Good luck.</p>
<p>we are back to that definition of a hook.</p>
<p>read through this thread for info on what is a hook.</p>
<p>I would have to say that publishing a book is going to help somewhat in one of two ways:</p>
<p>If you write a book and it is picked up by a major publisher (NOT self-published) then that will be looked upon favorably</p>
<p>If you self-publish a book (which is what you have been talking about) then it will only benefit you if you can write an excellent essay about the experience -- in my opinion, a self-published book will be of no help in college admissions otherwise. (anyone with $ can self-publish a book)</p>
<p>Neither of these things (either self-publish with good essay or book published by commercial press) will overcome poor stats, do don't count on the "hook" you have planned.</p>
<p>sorry -- forgot to post the link to the topic of hooks <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=144779&highlight=hook%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=144779&highlight=hook</a></p>
<p>I am NOT writing BECAUSE so that I can have a hook. In any circumstances I was not asking to see if I should write a book. My question is, what is the publishing process?</p>
<p>Three posts ago, I posted the publishing process. Read the whole thread before you get defensive.</p>
<p>sorry -- that is not what you wrote in your original post: </p>
<p>"Hi, I am writing a novel. I hope it will be completed before December so it can become a "hook" to add onto my weak credentials"</p>
<p>My guess is that this is the wrong forum to ask your question, most people have not self-published a book. do a google search on self-publishing and see if you can find a forum and a few sites.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Arg, I feel childish having to justify my actions---I wish to know the publishing process, so that I could publish the book promptly, and hopefully before December. Hook is not the reason I started or even continued writing, but rather a incentive to finsih writing promptly.</p>
<p>Why before December? If you were writing a book out of true interest and not just trying to impress colleges you would not be preoccupied with publishing it before college applications.</p>
<p>Regardless, I think most of us see through your mentality that you will most likely fail anyways, so it really does not matter.</p>