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Loading...I regularly get emails from people who want to break into publishing for the first time, who ask me “How can I get my book published?” As I indicated in my previous posts, almost always what they have in mind is not a work of scholarship for scholars but a trade book for a general audience. And so here is a weird fact about me: even though I have been publishing trade books for eighteen years, I’m not completely sure of the answer. But I know some things, and in this post I’ll indicate what those things are.
I absolutely know how one gets his or her first scholarly book published. I help my graduate students, and other scholars just starting their careers, do that all the time. There I’m an expert. But a first trade book? That’s a trickier proposition. The reason is one I’ve intimated before. Most scholars who publish a trade book do so after they have already published serious scholarship and so are to some extent a “known quantity.” In my case, when I published Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium (my first trade book) I had already written and published three scholarly books, edited a fourth, and published a textbook and two anthologies of ancient texts. The publisher who asked me to write the trade book (Oxford) already had a pretty good idea of what they were getting.
It often happens that a publisher will ask a scholar to write a trade book. And often it is on a particular topic. So the publisher has an idea of a book and they approach someone to see if they want to write it. The other scenario that happens a lot is that a scholar who has already produced a scholarly book or two asks a publisher if they would be interested in a particular trade book. When *that* happens, the publisher typically will ask for a written prospectus – say 10-15 pages – explaining what the book is to be about, how the author will approach the topic, why it is the sort of thing that a general audience would want to read about, and so on. On the basis of that prospectus they decide whether they want to publish it or not.
In both cases, the publisher offers the author a contract. The contract can be…
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Fun fact: I was told the relevant editorial board will be considering my first monograph manuscript and readers reports at a meeting today. Needless to say, I’m drawn to my computer more than I probably should be in order to be productive.
For people who don’t care about money, but just want to see their ideas in print and *available* for sale, there are all sorts of ways to “self-publish,” right?
A woman I’d met through an online fandom self-published a book of her poetry and essays (mostly religious, and all very shallow). She even set up a website, where she expected to discuss it with interested readers. But the whole scheme was a mess…most of the “discussion” was people (a mere handful of them) asking where the heck they could find the *price*. I think I was the only person who politely said a few positive things about her writing (hard to do, when I thought it was really juvenile!).
Attending writing/publishing conferences and making connections there is a great way as well. Also, self-publishing on a site such as Smashwords and essentially giving your first book away for free may work. That’s what I did, then a literary agent contacted me because of its online sales. Be aware, however, that you will most likely not make any money on the first book, as most publishers aren’t keen on publishing a book that has already been self-published. From my experience, it’s years of work before you can expect to get your first book published and make any money, and it is likely it will not be very much money.
I heard two million copies of Misquoting Jesus was sold. Is that true? If you don’t disclose this type information, feel free to delete this comment 🙂
Ha!! I *wish* it were true. But alas, it is not….
Getting a first trade book published sounds less likely than getting that first hole in one.
You have mentioned twice recently that your book entitled “Did Jesus Exist?” did not sell as well as some of your other trade books. Hence, I would like to say something very positive about this book. Many, through the centuries, have wondered whether Confucius and Buddha were legendary or historical characters. Thus, to me, it seems reasonable to ask whether Jesus was legendary or historical. In “Did Jesus Exist?” you give a clear, concise and convincing argument about this matter which I found to be quite helpful.
Bart: In this post you say that you “absolutely know how one gets his or her first scholarly book published,” and I believe you. Can you write more about that or point me toward some other resources? As much as I enjoy reading your blog about new testament history, I am a complete amateur in your field. But I’m an expert (Ph.D. and a lot of experience) in another field (medical technology) and I’ve been told I’m a pretty good writer (for an engineer). I have written lots of journal articles, a few book chapters, and one sort-of-a-book technical manual. I want to write an entire book and get it published somehow (through a professional association? self-published? e-book? really extended blog? other?). I’ve been given a lot of advice, most of it conflicting and seemingly uninformed. So I’m writing to you to as a thoughtful and very successful author who is in a completely different field. Any words of advice? Thanks!
Good idea. I’ll try to post on this.
Thanks for sharing this info with us. I had always wondered how people get books published (not that I intend to try to get a book published).
Dr. Ehrman, not sure if this has been asked already, but what are your thoughts on bloggers and YouTube “stars” who already have, say, several hundred thousand longstanding readers or subscribers? Would these people have an easier track to landing a trade book deal (even without a Ph.D.), or would they likely hit the same publishing roadblocks that a complete unknown would?
I doubt it, but don’t really know for sure.
off topic question: what would you say to someone who is scared of going to hell
Think through it carefully. Can your mind exist if your brain does not? And is God worse than the worse Nazi torturer who ever lived? I’ll add your question to my weekly mailbag.
thanks
I’d suggest telling the person about the true *origins* of the concepts of “Heaven” and “Hell.” That there’s no good reason for believing in them!
And if the person is equally frightened at the thought of just “ceasing to exist,” mention – even if you don’t believe in it – that a great many people believe in some type of reincarnation. (With, perhaps, the significance of a number of incarnations being remembered at the end of a “cycle.”)
Just want to say Bart! No! I won’t give up on the blog ! If you won’t give up either will I ! Me and you both know God loves us ! Me and you ! We both love God me and you and God loves us, will finish strong with my physique competition!
Will always support the blog. It doesn’t take much intelligence to love God! I have been hurt by God ! But I still love God! Not my position to question or be angry no matter what’s going on ! It sits naturally in my mind and heart that God is real and God loves me, it’s like the Adam reaching God painting ! I don’t need confirmation from anyone … Most high hopes with your new book brother ! Best, Joseph
Professor Ehrman,
Have you ever seen the form “Isous” for the name of Jesus in Greek manuscripts as opposed to “Iesous”?
(I ask because there are some old Egyptian place-names in which “Isous” appears; yet they always seem to use “Iesous” in Coptic texts, so I am puzzled.)
Thanks!
No, I don’t believe I have.
I had a publisher interested in the book I am writing on the history of the British Monarchy. They showed interest and I was looking forward to working with the. I received a message recently that they are going out of business! One question, do publisher’s look at the amount of education you have in your subject area? I have a Bachelor’s Degree in European history (my Master’s Degree is in another field) but I have been doing serious study of the topic since I was in high school.
Usually not. They want to know that you have the training, and after that they really want to see if the book is worth publishing, in their opinion.
Hi, Bart!
I was under the false assumption that distorted memories were more prone to the senior population. However, I recently witnessed a conversation between my daughter and my niece, both are in their twenties, where each had different memories of the same day they spent with their grandpa fifteen years ago. Im half way through your new book and I feel like someone who buys a new car and then starts seeing that same car everywhere. Previously I had never thought too much about false, or distorted memories, but now Im observing them all over the place with my own memories as well. I remember seeing Bob Dylan on Saturday Night Live some time around 1980, and I could have sworn he was wearing a black leather jacket. A few years ago I saw footage of that same show in which he was wearing a blue windbreaker type jacket. And even with that evidence the image that I originally had is still a strong impression. Im really enjoying your book so far even though it’s a bit disconcerting to realize how many personal memories can be distorted . Thanks for all you do, Paul.
Speaking of scholars,
I am deeply interested in the Occult. In particular in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and it’s most prominent figures.
Does anybody know who would be an authority on such subjects? Not necessarily names but what degrees should they hold to be accountable? PhD in what?
Looks like all books on the occult out there (apart from the classics) are written by amateurs and not real historians.
Any ideas?
Not me!
baukman said Ignatius, Clement and others did not have to mention the titles because the listeners already knew who the authors were. he said jews quote the 10 commandments without telling the book which they came out of. is it not the case that the fathers mentioned do name the books of the ot?
Yes, they do mention books of the OT. But I don’t see how that proves they knew who wrote them!
point was if they could name the books of ot how come they didn’t name the nt?
They don’t *name* the other books; they quote them.
yeah, that’s what i meant.
It is hard to argue against the view that popular books on any matter should be written by qualified experts. A couple of exceptions: Some top experts are simply bad writers and it happens that mediocre professionals are very talented for writing topical introductions for beginners.
But could you say something from the opposite angle, that of the reader: as an amateur, I buy a lot of books on early Christianity. And all the experts disagree! For instance comparing your views in your latest book (chapter on distorted memories and the death of Jesus/Gist memories of Jesus’s Death) with Géza Vermes “The Passion” reveals common conclusions, but also that Vermes accepted a lot more details as historical, including Joseph of Arimathea. It is hard being an amateur.
Yes, I’m certainly not saying that scholars are always (or usually!) good writers/communicators!
are christians assuming “sinless nature” of jesus from belief?
they don’t know any sin of john the baptist , so they will be assuming john the baptist “sinful nature” by belief again, right?
according to the old story adam was made without mum and dad yet still sinned.
so jesus’ “sinless nature” is just something they believe
i mean for the 33 years , do they know of every nook and cranny of this man and what was in his heart?
what they have is belief and belief alone, right?
I take these to be rhetorical questions.