Sadly, my life reminds me of OfficeSpace. I don't want to be stuck here forever. I really want to write and act. I'm in the process of writing a story. I need to know what to do with it when I'm done. How do I get an agent to look at it? How do I get published?
2006-07-14 08:17:13 · 7 answers · asked by Kalmi 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The first thing you must do when you complete a manuscript is to have it registered for copyright with the Library of Congress, in Washington, DC. This will give you sole legal ownership of your manuscript until it is sold to a publisher.
Once you receive your copyright registration confirmation, you will then have to shop your manuscript around to both literary agents and/or publishers. Some publishers accept submissions directly from the authors, but most of them will only accept submissions through a literary agent. You may seek out literary agents by going online and typing in the words "literary agents." Likewise, you may search out publishers in the same manner.
Whether you decide to send your manuscript to a literary agent or to a publisher, always send them a query letter first, do not send the manuscript without asking if they would like to read it first. Unsolicited manuscripts will be summarily returned without being read. A query letter is a a brief introduction of the story, its genre, and its plot. This information should not be any more than two or three paragraphs. Your query letter should also include your contact information, and a request by you if the agent or publisher would like you to send a hard copy of your manuscript, or an electronic copy that is protected by a "read only" setting.
Do not be offended if your request for submission has been denied. Writers receive more rejections than they do invitations to send their manuscripts. The challenge here is to persevere. Be determined, and keep sending out queries to literary agents and to publishers until one or the other is willing to read your manuscript. If a literary agent wishes to represent you, then they will do the work in shopping your manuscript to the publishers.
Good luck with your endeavors and I hope this helps.
2006-07-14 08:38:54 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Copywrite it before you do anything. There are a lot of thieves are there just waiting and before you know it, you'll up one day, and guess whose book is on the bestsellers shelf? Yours, only your name isn't on it.
Then, research some publishers if you want to. I would wait, because I am also a writer and what I like to do is, finish a book, then wait for a while and re-read it, catch any errors, fix any plots-tighten all loose ends. Then check out some publishers. It depends on what kind of book you are writing, I do fantasy so Iook into fantasy publishers. Real easy way to figure out what genre you want to go with, go to the bookstore and pick out books that are similar to yours and see who published them, and look up those companies online. Compare and contrast, see who has better offers, what each one requires as far as format goes. Then send your manuscript off and see what happens!
I'm not going to lie, as tame as it might be, writing is a cutthroat industry, you have to be exceptionally good to be recoginized. Anybody can be published, that's not the thing. It's who notices you and who buys your books that counts. That's what makes it such a rewarding career, for me anyway, when I can share my world with readers.
A website you can go to to get a copywrite:
http://www.copyright.gov/
Good luck in your search!
2006-07-14 15:47:33 · answer #2 · answered by Agent Double EL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you finish your manuscript set it aside for a month or so and then re read it with fresh eyes. You might see lots of things in it that you can correct yourself before submitting it to others. Find a writing group or college writing class and get advice from others who write. If your work is up to snuff someone there might be able to point you in the right direction to get published if that's you're goal.
2006-07-14 15:31:32 · answer #3 · answered by Melius 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to finish your book first and think about the logistics after. If you try to solve everything all at the same time, it might all come as half-cooked (your story, etc.) Just concentrate on one thing at a time. Right now, focus on your story, and make it better! Good luck!
2006-07-14 15:27:51 · answer #4 · answered by Joy RP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to a publishing company
2006-07-14 15:21:42 · answer #5 · answered by b89 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best place to start is at
Lulu.com
2006-07-14 15:31:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Burn it, then write another one. Better one.
2006-07-14 15:28:38 · answer #7 · answered by Solveiga 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋