How to Write and Publish a Book in Pakistan

Writing and publishing a book is no doubt a challenging task. But with the right guidance, it is possible. Both writing and publishing a book takes a lot of research, dedication and patience. However, it will be a big achievement to see your work get published online or in print form. So, if you want to know how to write and publish a book in Pakistan then just read the steps given in this article.

Also Read: How to publish your own book

Step 1 – Find a Good Story Idea | How to Write and Publish a Book in Pakistan

Choosing a compelling story idea is the first step towards publishing a book. Write down some of the ideas and select the one which you think is best. Start by deciding what type of book you like to write. Is it going to be fictional or maybe an educational book covering topics like mathematics, science or business? Once you have the idea for your book, start writing it.

Step – 2 Don’t Worry about Errors While Writing

The best writers don’t worry about the errors when they are writing. Because if you start correcting every little mistake when you are writing then chances are you won’t be able to write the best story. In the start, you just try to build a world or get an idea on paper or screen. You will be creating a lot of drafts for your books so you will be making a lot of changes to your story. Focus more on your characters or creating a plot which will be compelling for readers.

Tip: For writing any book, you need to do some research before you start drafting. Once you have all the information you need then you can start writing your story.

While writing, focus on Who, When, Where, What, Why and How. These five Ws and one H can help you in moving the story forward. It’s the characters or moments in the book that sells.

Step – 3 Set Daily Writing Plan

You should set a daily writing goal that how much you can write in a day. Whether you can write 500 words or write for 1 hour, it is entirely up to you set your minimum daily writing goal. If you set a harder goal then it will be quite tough for you to achieve your goal. Choose a time when you don’t have any distractions and you can clearly focus on your story. As you move along with the story, try to increase the daily limit of your writing.

Also, set a manageable deadline for your book because when you have the deadline in front of you then you start to push yourself further and try to do the work in the set time. Many writers get bored and distracted with time. So, setting daily goals and deadline helps you stay on course and convert your dream into reality.

Step – 4 Revise and Edit the Story

Going over the story again can be a difficult process but it is important as well. Look for the mistakes in the text and check the story for any improvement. See if the sentences are structured properly and are easy to follow. Check if it is clear that which character is speaking and narrating. Once you have reviewed your story it’s time to move on to the next step.

 Step – 5 Get Feedback

Ask your friend or family member to review your story and ask them about their opinion. This early feedback from your close circle can help you to improve your story. Consider their feedback and make changes accordingly. If you know any writers then you can get feedback from them and can help you to flash out some new ideas.

After getting feedback, revise your book again and re-edit it according to the suggestions given to you. Try to give as much attention as you can to this editing process because as an editor you have to look for all the errors and make changes accordingly.

Step – 6 Find an Editor to Look over your Book

After editing the book yourself, it’s time to take it to the real editor. You have to find someone who knows how to deconstruct a book, find issues and give you advice on how to put it back together. Hiring a professional editor is better because the last thing you want is spelling and grammatical errors in your book. A professional editor can give clarity and bring a flow to your voice without changing it.

Step – 7 Final Check

Once you and your editor have revised the book then it’s time to make sure that everything in order and ready to get published. Try to select a good title and book cover. You can hire a graphic designer if you’re self-publishing the book.

Step – 8 Find a Publishing House

Research different publishers by checking their websites and see if they accept query letters or they only accept solicitations from literary agents. There are a lot of publishing houses that only accept work which has been brought through agents. Once you have narrowed down publishers, start researching the publishers more in-depth. So, find the publishers who work in your genre and see how well their books are selling in the market.

Once you have found the right publisher then write a query letter to them and send a manuscript if they are interested in your book. All the information will be given on their website or you can ask them how they want the manuscript to be. Also, don’t send the original or last copy of your work because you won’t be getting back your materials.

It is better to hire a literary agent because they have connections in the industry and can take your work to the publishing houses. Contact different literary agents and take your work to them and provide the manuscripts according to the agent mentioned guidelines.

If you’re going for the self-publishing route then some publishers in Pakistan like Daastan, Auraq, Parestan etc. can help you self-publish your book. You just need to send them the manuscript, they will upload your work after reviewing it.

There you have it! This is all about how to write and publish a book in Pakistan. If you have any queries then feel free to ask in the comments section and keep following this space for more guides.