How do I get my book published?

Understand that there are NO guarantees. If you don't have rhino skin, grow it now.

I'm going to assume that by "finished" you mean "I polished this thing to within an inch of its life after running it by people I trust to give me good advice."

You need a query letter. Go here to learn how to write an effective one: http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

You need a synopsis. I'm pants at those myself, but it's basically a summary of your book which reveals the end.

Go here: http://www.agentquery.com/search_advanced.aspx Fill out as much information as possible. It will spit out a list of agents. Go to their websites. Find out what they're actually looking for, what they want you to send them, and if you think they will ACTUALLY be suitable. Send them exactly what they ask for, no more, no less. Send ten. If you get a nibble, great. If you don't, then revise your query and send out ten more. Lather, rinse, repeat, until you either land an agent or run out of them.

If you don't land an agent, you can start querying publishers who take direct submissions.

In the meantime, start your next book. Good luck. :)

There is no guarantee you will get published because you want to. An Agent is necessary but not at this point.

You say you have just finished it, well then, it needs editing. Editing doesn't just mean fixing spelling mistakes and grammar. Grammar alone is far more complicated than you may think. Your MS must be nearly perfect before you start looking for representation - I also urge you NOT to self publish. Not because it's bad but because you don't know enough to make it work. Editing includes total re-writes of your story, it involves getting critiques, it involves looking for beta readers (should be one of the last things you do) and giving your MS time to rest before re-visiting it with fresh eyes. I went to an Agents conference last year and they said editing should take between 4-8 years to accomplice. Anything less and it hasn't been done right.

For Grammar: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/gr... This will give you an understanding of the basics you need to know and correct in your Ms (manuscript)

You can then progress to the more advanced side.

Editing: Write to be published by Nicola Morgan http://www.nicolamorgan.com/publishing-advice-book...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writers-Artists-Guide-How-... - this is a MUST read. This man knows his stuff. Harry has his own writer's forum that I am a member of, he's a good friend of mine and helped me to publish my first mystery novel, due out in 2014.

Go to this blog http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/

Emma Darwin is another friend of mine, she is on Harry's forum with me. Again Emma knows her stuff and you need to read this blog and apply what she says. I did take the advice I'm offering you.

That is where to start once you have read these, learned it and put it into practice in your own MS you can then go onto he books Harry suggest that are more advanced.

This is my advice to you, and if you try to cut corners you'll have even less than a 2% (that's your chance will a GOOD MS) chance of being accepted by an Agent. Don't cut corners you'll only regret it, you can either take this advice or not, I don't really mind. It's your life.

Forget Publishing for now. Fist get it right. You can start to learn about that several years down the line when your writing is ready for it.

All the best

Get and agent, that is the most likely way. Not often does a publisher handle a book that has not been through an agent.

"I have been writing since before I could read". This is an exrtaordinarily stupid statement. Here is a brief intro to the basic question. If you decide to go the traditional route, do not tell a literary agent in your query letter that you have been writing since efore you could read.

Had an answer prepared then I saw Evie's comment. I think that is the best advice anyone has ever given on here. It's the best advice from all the answers you've had tonight.

Editing it must come first.