Hi all! I'm almost done with the editing of my novelette and want to start looking into the publication of said piece. I have no idea where to start though! Should I get an agent? Is self publishing a good idea? How can I be sure I'm not being scammed? I want it to go right (I'm aware I may get knocked back before I get published and I am prepared for this) but am clueless as to how to go about it :( I appreciate any advice! Thank you!
Well, for a novelette you will probably find your agent search extremely limited. Most agents only represent novels (varies by genre, but 50-60K is the very bottom end).
If you did want an agent you do as follows:
1) Put your book in a drawer for 2 - 3 months. When that time has passed, read it to see if you are still confident it's ready for submission.
2) Go to a bookshop and find 5 - 10 books whose fans you intend to steal. Use google and the acknowledgements section to find out who their agents are. These are your top choices.
3) Go through Writers and Artists making a list of all the agents who rep your genre. Research them, make a shortlist of appropriate agents.
4) Send out your submissions following each agents instructions to the letter. Do not deviate from the instructions. Especially do not include gifts or glitter.
5) Buy gin. Drink it.
6) Watch your youth vanish.
7) Or maybe start work on your next book.
8) If requests come in, obey them. If they don't, never mind. Madness can be avoided by not trying to read anything into the rejections - they are form letters, everybody gets the same one. DO NOT RESPOND TO THE REJECTIONS.
9) 12 weeks is the usual timeframe - it is acceptable to send a polite nudge after this but bear in mind it's not unusual for 50% of your subs to be met with silence. Yes, it sucks. It's how it is.
Scams can be avoided through research. AbsoluteWrite and Writer Beware are good places to learn about scams, but the rule of thumb is avoid anybody who asks you for money.
Be leery of anybody who makes offers which sound too good to be true - such as offering without having read the whole thing, or saying they have publishers interested (they don't have the right to show your work to publishers unless you agree).
If you aren't sure, ask! Legit agents know there are scammers out there and - as long as you are polite - they shouldn't have a problem with you asking questions, to them or online.
Self-publishing can be a terrific idea, but it is a lot of work and not everybody has the skills for it. Consider if you are able to do the job of a publisher and if you have the money for the things you'll need: typesetting, cover design, editing etc.
Good luck!