Writing a book?

Question

I LOVE writing stories, but I feel as if my stories will never be published. How can I write a good story and get it published?

Answer 1

Keep writing. Check out your local library for 2006 Writer's Market and read Writer's Digest and The Writer (magazine) for other markets and good articles on how to improve.

Answer 2

I'm a fairly new writer but I got a short story published in an anthology barely five months after I decided to make writing a career.

What I did: read writer's magazines, looked up publications that matched my story's theme and followed all submission guidelines posted by the publication I was submitting to. I also enrolled in college creative writing classes and joined an online writing community. Feedback is key to knowing where your strength and weaknesses are. As for writing a good story -- read and read some more. Ask yourself what makes your favorite stories so intriguing -- is it that great tone, unusual structure? The more you read and write the more you will "hear" the sound of a good story in your own writing.

Also, don't publish your first piece. It's probably junk. Polish your style, then try to publish something you'll be proud of. Good luck.

Answer 3

Well, you really just have to plug away at it and keep writing, and keep trying. A good resource is The 2006 Novel and Short Story Writers' Market - it lists hundreds of publishers around the world with descriptions of what they're looking for. Also they have contests and other good info, also some interviews with published authors and editors.

Answer 4

I love to write too! I've written over 100's of storys and have even won a writing contest for the state! I hope my storys get published too! I've been showing my stories around to everyone and someday I hope one of these stories get published. I could publish my own but I wait till I am a little older. WHo knows. No one knows what is comeing in life. My advice is to wait till you have lost hope (not saying you should) and then you can publish your own. That way your stories can get around to people. Good Luck!

Answer 5

There's no way to answer that succinctly, but I'd say find a place in your mind and populate it with characters. These should be real people, maybe just a little quirkier than average, and see how they interact. When a few of them get into a situation that makes you uncomfortable, start writing about what happens, and be as honest as you can. Then hone it until it feels like it's moving on its own.

If you can do that, then getting it published shouldn't be too hard, especially if you're not particular about where your first publication is.

Answer 6

The writing life is a hard one. A "good story" is totally subjective, like a Van Gogh painting. When he was cranking them out, people couldn't stand them, but after his death, they sell for millions. Go figure.

If you want to be a writer, then write. The only way to get better is to crank out the stuff, and have anyone who can be badgered into submission read it and give you feedback. If there are any local papers around, see if they will print your stories or submissions. Small papers often need newswriters, columnists, or "stringers", newsrwriters who submit occasional pieces. Ask around and get on board. Local college or university papers frequently hire writers; that was my first publishing experience. Also, look for local fiction contests, essay contests, etc. where you can submit a work for consideration. Be prepared to be disappointed; it sucks when your "best effort" gets derided and ridiculed by some snobby editor. But get used to it; even great writers have had their works trampled and dismissed.

Finally, learn all you can about the business. It's like any business, full of good and bad, sacred and profane, but it can be learned. Go for it.

Answer 7

When you say stories, I assume you mean SHORT stories. A book is a very different kettle of fish.

As for getting the stories published, look for contests; I would suggest you go to the library and look at the Writers' Market; it will have all the regular contests, as well as other markets for stories.

Answer 8

Get the writers market it has alot of publishers and info in it. For writing heres something that helped me. It would probably help you with writing a book! Go to the website below. Good luck with it!

Answer 9

Persistence. Submit your stories to an editorial service. You will fine some in a copy of Writer Digest Magazine. If they tell you to make changes, make them. Join a writer group. A true writer neer gives up. But with the cost of postage, paper and ink, it's not easy to persist.

Answer 10

i am going to refer to the proclaimers song 500 miles for this one. the twins sing about doing anything to be with this woman, well use it for inspiration, i would walk 500 miles and i would walk 500 more just so i could be the man (or woman) to walk a thousand miles to fall down at your door. well just think of the door at success and you have finally reached it after years researching and proof reading your story, keep going, then you can take a break or keep writing whatever you choose keep it up, don't let go of the thing that seems to be slipping from today's youth, talent for writing and reading.