Mr Fong Hoe Fang, the founder of Ethos Books, shared tips on book publishing in Singapore. CLARICE TAN finds out more.
A 6-step guide to the Do’s and Don’ts to note when publishing a book. Infographic by Clarice Tan.
Mr Fong Hoe Fang, 67, the founder of Ethos Books, spoke to year 2 Mass Communication students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic on Nov 28, 2022, about book publishing in Singapore and gave tips on how authors can publish their books in Singapore.
Writing a book is hard, but getting your book published can be even more challenging. Many writers often desire to have their works published, but have no clue how to do so. Therefore, this is a collated, concise guide from Mr Fong’s speech on how you can kickstart your book publishing journey in Singapore.
1. Finding the right publisher for your book
The most important thing when publishing a book is finding out about the different publishers in Singapore so that the author may approach the appropriate ones with their pitch.
There are different types of publishers out there, including trade, literary, textbook, and academic publishers. You wouldn’t want to pitch your fiction book to a textbook publisher. Some authors may also choose to self-publish their book.
2. Understanding the work processes behind publishing a book
It takes more than printing a book and placing it in bookstores to publish a book. Understanding the processes involved in publishing, such as design, production, and marketing, will help you better understand what goes on in a publisher’s mind. This would help you when you are crafting or refining your pitch.
A publisher’s concern is whether your work is worth the publication.
3. Prepare your pitch to your publisher
Think about how you can help your publisher achieve a win-win situation, and how you can address your publisher’s consideration. Never undersell yourself, show the publisher that your story is worthy of publication.
“Can I sell it to enough people to cover my costs and make up my extra money?” Mr Fong said. A publisher’s concern is whether your work is worth the publication. Will your story's topic be likely to succeed? Has your story been written before? Taking these things into account can help you revise your story better.
4. An author’s attitude plays a big part
Don’t be egoistic, it puts publishers off. The publisher is there to help you improve. If you want your book to sell, you have to be willing to show your face, and promote your book. “If you are not willing to stand up for your own writing, why would publishers want to sell your book?” Mr Fong said.
“If you are not willing to stand up for your own writing, why would publishers want to sell your book?”
5. Say no to having spanner in the works
You have a good story, but your work is scurrilous or you are facing some legal issues. These factors become a tripping stone in your publishing journey.
For example, Mr Francis Thomas, the ex-principal of St Andrew's Secondary School, wrote some disparaging remarks about Singapore's former Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, in his story. The library initially rejected the story, but it was eventually published after it was noted that Mr Lee Kuan Yew himself had approved of its publication.
“You need to get approval, you don’t want to publish something that is scurrilous,” Mr Fong said.
Ensure that your work is not scurrilous so that it does not alienate a substantial number of the publisher’s authors and staff. Most importantly, ensure that you are not facing any legal issues that would affect the integrity of your work.
6. How to get started on your book publishing journey
“Keep reading so you know what people want and what the trends are like,” Mr Fong said. You can also start posting your works online, gain recognition, and then approach a publisher.
“I am trying to learn, I’m starting small with social media first by doing write-ups at Reddit and other internet formats,” Mr Graelon H. Salvador, 21, an aspiring writer, said. Since last year, Mr Graelon has started sharing his poems on social media. By publishing his works online, he received a lot of insightful comments and, occasionally, constructive criticism that helped him get better at writing.
“Hone your own skills, hone your writing, keep writing.”
“Hone your own skills, hone your writing, keep writing,” Mr Fong said. Publishing a book takes a lot of hard work. But when your hard work eventually pays off, you'll get to enjoy seeing your book displayed on bookstore shelves.
Comentários