How do I get published?

Question

I have been told that I am a very good author and that I should be published. But how do I get published? I've been published once before,but I want to have a book published by the time I am 25. Help!

Answer 1

Hi there. The biggest hurdle for a first time author is finding a bona fide agent to represent you. Most agencies have thousands of manuscripts sent to them every year and typically, they only select a few works that are worthy to represent. Submitting your work directly to publishers is almost a waste of time, as the slush pile for publishers is ten times what it is for most agencies.

DO NOT submit to anyone that requires up front money or "reading" fees. Most agencies will read your book for nothing if it's well presented and if they think it has merit. Reading fees are a rip off. You can check on legitimate agencies at the "Preditors & Editors" website. They keep an up to date list of current agents and any problems writers have had with them.

Now, once you find an agency, you need a great query letter to get their attention. Search the web for examples. If your query letter is sloppy or has misspelled words, you're TOAST. Get a qualified copy editor to help you, if you can afford one. Then, once the agency reads your query and agrees to look at your manuscript, MAKE SURE IT IS PERFECT before you send it off. Again, bad formatting, grammar problems or poor spelling will doom you from the start. Pay an editor to proof your work--it's worth a few hundred bucks to get your foot in the door with an agent.

After that, be prepared to wait up to 3 months for an answer from the agency. DO NOT submit to more than one agency at a time. If your work is good and the agency sees potential in it, they will offer you a contract. From there, it can be another 3 month wait for them to find you a publisher. Once you get a publisher, it takes about a year to actually see your book in print.

You can also go the eBook route, which is becoming more popular every day now that eBook readers and publishers are more readily available. I did that and it worked out very well for me. I went from a very small online eBook publisher to a major hard cover print publisher, but it took several years. These days, it's much more acceptable to start out with an electronic version and move into print. However, you should think about doing your own eBook instead of paying some company to throw it together for a fee. Most of those services could care less if your book looks good, has typos or whatever. They also OWN the ISBN's for their titles--you do not--so keep that in mind.

I hope this helps. If you're serious about getting published, you can make it happen. It takes time, patience and a lot of luck. And as a note of reality, of all the fiction books published in a given year, only about 13% ever sell more than 1,000 copies. Most (75%) sell fewer than 500. Contrary to popular belief, most authors don't get rich.

Jon Baxley, author, editor, proofreader and ghostwriter

THE SCYTHIAN STONE (a medieval fantasy eBook)
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY (a medieval fantasy epic in hard cover from Thomson Gale)

Answer 2

I feel that we can not simply be speakme approximately Teen's Getting Published right here, I feel we must introduce the subject of Bad Writers Getting Published generally. Of direction I agree that young adults by and large would not have adequate existence revel in to put in writing a correct guide. But there are lots of released authors (I use authors loosely) who're missing that existence experiance additionally (I do not care what you assert, a few youngsters pass via so much worse than such a lot adults do). There are young adults I understand (since I am an adolescent author - I use author loosely - myself) who desire to get released and are not able to style a correct sentence, however there also are adults who are not able to write safely both. Now, permit's suppose a teen does write a guide that's superb, even as an grownup writes one that is similarly superb. Both manuscripts are awarded to a writer, who can best pick one. Who do you feel gets released? The writer may have the impact that the Teen's is worse BECAUSE they're an adolescent. The writer will likely be biased over age and the Adult's guide will likely be in shops via the following month. This is a horny a long way fetched story, but if first-class IS regarded and the guide is exceptional, that is what's absolutely to occur. I'm absolutely agreeing with you that the majority Teen writers don't seem to be expert adequate to put in writing a first rate novel. Still, you're being biased via pronouncing that ONLY young adults are missing the existence experiance and don't seem to be expert adequate to be authors.

Answer 3

The first step in becoming a published author is understanding your options in publishing. I am a published author of 3 novels, some poetry and many articles. One article you may find helpful is titled 'The Publishing War' by Cheryl Kaye Tardif. It can be found at http://www.bookadz.com/pubwar.htm or on various sites online.

Prior to actually publishing your work, there are some proactive steps you can take. See http://cherylktardif.blogspot.com for a post titled 'Advice for an Aspiring Author'. Tips include: joining writers groups (locally and online), having your work critiqued by professional sources, taking courses on writing, learning how to perfect the dreaded query letter and more.

One of the best things you can do is find an author, preferably one who writes in your genre, and ask them via email for information, tips, suggestions or critiques. Some authors, like myself, love to help aspiring authors. Many charge for critiques though, as it takes time...and time is money...

Above all, you must write! Every week, if not every day. If you want a novel completed and ready for a publisher to view, give yourself a year. Many authors take far longer. My first novel took 3.5 months to be written, edited by 2 editors and into the publisher. I published it independently, but it was recently picked up by a traditional publisher and will be out in 2007 as a special edition. This goes to show that self-publishing CAN lead to bigger and better things--although it is not an option for everyone.

Writers write! Write what you know, what you are good at. Don't try to write in a genre you don't understand. Search online for tips, resources and even ideas. Search for publishers and follow their submission guidelines. Pick up a copy of Writer's Market.

Best of success to you! :)

Answer 4

Look for a publication called 'The Writer's Market'. It is a massive catalogue of industry contacts: agents, publishers, editors, magazines, publishing houses. That's a good place to start.
Also, start drafting letters to send to publishers that describe your book. If they're interested in the proposal, they'll contact you to see the entire manuscript. Also, submit your manuscript to agents; if they like your work, they'll represent you and do all the hard work communicating with publishers and negotiating contracts (for 10-15% of your profits, most often).

Answer 5

well, i have a friend, who is also been told tons of times by her teacher, that she is a very good author, and, i don't know if this will help, but, she did get published by a poetry contest thing, called creative communication, and if you go to www.poeticpower.com, then you could ask them how you can get published or something like that, my friend wants to be published too, she is writting like, 6 books, and even though she's not very far, she's still very good with words (even a fortune cookie thinks so!!!!!) but if this doesn't help, good luck with your book(s)!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Sleep with the publisher

Answer 7

If you have been published once before, you should know how it's done.

Answer 8

Go to Publish America at publishamerica.com
You will be able to submit your manuscript to them for them to review. I hope that you will be interested in reading my newly published book, "Boudreaux and His Buddies." Boudreaux is a whimsical, cartoon alligator from Honey Island Swamp in South Louisiana. He goes on different fun-filled adventures with his buddies. His biggest adventure is a more serious one. It is about Boudreaux's experience of going through Hurricane Katrina. With the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching in August, this book is sure to touch your heart. It teaches lessons about life, friendship and family through Boudreaux's wide-eyed innocence. it's full of cajun names, cajun places and cajun customs. Written for readers ages 9 or 10 years of age through adult, "Boudreaux and His Buddies" is a 100-page paperback. It is available for purchase now through amazon.com, barnes&noble.com and has distributors in Europe. It will be available through bookstores after August 7th. It is my wish that "Boudreaux and His Buddies" will bring a smile to the faces of the people of New Orleans and they will know that there is hope. If you decide to purchase this book, I hope you will enjoy it!!

Answer 9

write something thta will change the world...like how to jack off in a business meeting

Answer 10

start typeing