Information About PublishingHow do I get my book published?
The first step is to research the book publishing market. Some helpful books that can be easily found at the public library are The Canadian Writers' Guide, Writer's Market, and The Canadian Writer's Market. These books will help you find publishers that publish books like yours (if it is a book on gardening, you wouldn't want to send it to a publisher that specializes in cookbooks).
Once you have compiled a list of publishers, research those publishers' submissions guidelines. The guidelines are listed in the books above, and you can also find them on the publishers' websites. Most publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, but require a query letter or book proposal first. Be sure to check the submission guidelines for each publisher for their preference.
The Manitoba Writers' Guild has a good explanation of How to Write a Query Letter. The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia has a detailed explanations of how to write a book proposal for Fiction and for Non-Fiction.
The Saskatchewan Publishers Group also has good publishing information:
How Books Get Published;
How do I submit my manuscript;
Who accepts manuscripts.
What is the difference between self publishing and vanity publishing?
For a good explanation of the difference between these two, as well as commercial publishers and subsidy publishers, go here.
For more information on vanity and self publishing, go here. For helpful advice on how to self publish, go here.
Should I self publish?
When you self publish, you arrange and pay for a number of copies of your book in the paper, format, binding and design of your choice. The storage, marketing and distribution is your responsibility.
If your book will only have a small and specialized market, self publishing might be the best option. Here are some types of books suitable for self publishing: church, family, or regional histories; personal memoirs; and chapbooks.
Here are some books you might find helpful if you decide to self publish:
How to Self Publish and Make Money by Marion Crook and Nancy Wise,
The Self Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter,
The Complete Guide to Self Publishing by Tim and Marilyn Ross.
How do I get an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)?
Contact the National Library of Canada's Canadian ISBN Agency by phone at (819) 994-6872, fax at (819) 953-8508 or email at isbn@nlc-bnc.ca. | 
