i am almost done planning out my manuscript.  then i start the long task of actually writing the book.  i need to know where i can send it, and is there a place to send it online.  also, can i copy file to writable cd and mail it that way or do i have to print up a bunch of copies? 

does anyone know of a good publishing company for new writers that wont screw u over? 

What publisher(s) you want to submit to will depend largely on what kind of manuscript you've written.  Most will want a complete manuscript, although depending on the publisher and what kind of book it is, some may accept an outline and sample chapters, along with a description of how long the book is expected to be (usually this is just for non-fiction or established writers though).  One good way to start looking for who to send to is if you read that kind of book (which, really you should anyway to see what is out there), you can look at who published the book and go to their website to see what their submission guidelines are.  Some you will have to print out your manuscript (which you can mail media mail and save some money) but some may accept e-submissions.  A great reference book to look at publishers you may not have considered is The Writer's Market.  You'll want to make sure to get the latest edition (probably available at your library) since the information in this book can go out of date fairly quickly.  It is also a good idea to verify that the publishers you find in there haven't changed anything important by checking out their websites as well.  Some publishers won't accept anything by an unagented new writer, but there are agent listings in The Writer's Market as well, if you want to explore that option.

I hope this is enough information to get you started, but there are also great articles in The Writer's Market that can help you.

Hi Erin,

I'm not sure if you're writing fiction or a non-fiction book but here's my advice for both.

If you're writing a novel, you have to have it absolutely perfect before sending it off to an agent. There are a number of resources out there to find literary agents at your local library. Publisher's Weekly is another great resource. Another tip would be to look for books in the genre in which you're writing and find out who their agents are.

Once you've found a list of agents find out what their guidelines are (this can be found online or in reference material). Generally agents do not want you to send a manuscript to them until they request it (and very few want it sent online). The preferred method is to send a letter with a brief synopsis of your novel (once again, there are lots of references to assist with this). If an agent likes it they'll request the manuscript, then it's just a matter of keeping your fingers crossed.

Writing a non-fiction book is a bit different (unless it's a memoir and then it follows the same rules as a novel). Here you need to find agents that work with non-fiction books and your letter must map out the book precisely (giving them info on the experts you'll be using, research, etc.). You may not need to have a completed manuscript but you should have at least a couple of chapters ready to show them.

With non-fiction books your background is very important to getting the book published. A publishing company is going to want to know why you are qualified to write this book and they also want to know that you have a platform ( followers who are going to buy your book- this could be through a newsletter, website, lecturing, etc.).

I hope this helps. If you need any other advice check out The Writer  or Writer's Digest  magazine. Good Luck!