When a book idea grabs you and won't let go — you might be undergoing the birth of a book. How do you get an idea?
Fiction has, some say, five or seven basic plot-lines. But if I were an acquisitions editor, I'd look for a story that hasn't been told.
Non-fiction, whether informative or persuasive, calls for clarity and structure.
Poets are a special case; they shape language to create works to treasure and even to memorize. I predict that paper editions will continue to be prized.
Grad students and profs follow guidelines for dissertations or articles (Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations). Publishers rely on the venerable Chicago Manual of Style. However, to reach a wider audience is a different proposition.
Editing: Once you have a first draft in hand, what are the steps forward? I personally recommend letting a MS (manuscript) sit overnight, perhaps longer. When you pick it up again, you are no longer the writer, you are the editor. Assume that someone else wrote this — in other words, free yourself to slash paragraphs, revise, rearrange, rewrite, toss out whole chapters (well, put them aside to see if it flows better without that subplot diversion).
To an editor, the words are not golden. The editor takes a loftier view — what is the arc of the story or narrative? Does the piece flow from beginning to end? Does it pull you along, anxious to find out what happens next, or how an argument rounds out? Do you hear a voice in the writing, a consistent surefooted presence? If there are characters, can you tell one from another by the tone? Do you see the setting, or understand the premise? And the Perlongo test: if you pick it up at any random passage, do you immediately know what is happening?
Acquire: When you produce an original work, you are legally the author even before publication. With your permission, publishers may acquire the right to publish your piece. You may want to distribute your work for free; I would recommend that you require anyone using it or downloading it to continue to identify it as your work. If you don't, then anyone can claim it.
Critique/Edit: A critique is really a second pair of eyes on your manuscript. You may say, "Blind spot? I don't see any blind spot!?"
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Creating an ebook … may re-introduce art and audio into the book experience.… (READ MORE)
Publish: The only requirement to publishing is to MAKE IT HAPPEN. The rest are all details. If you do paper editions, seek out a short-run book printer. Or consider POD publishing, such as that offered by CreateSpace.com. Ebooks is wide open, with ezines as well. If you get to this point, consider getting ISBN numbers to secure your rights.
Format/Typography: Good design is finding the best fit for the message. Traditional? Casual? Quirky? Academic? Ironic? Illustrated? Notes? Audio? Virtual? Genre?
Publish/Produce: At this point, farming out the work pays off, unless you intend to become an inhouse publisher/printer.
Market: You're on your own here. I'm no expert, but here are links.
Used books for sale, useful, steampunk, and literary. You'll find them on Amazon, ABE, and Biblio.com. Audio pieces also available.