Has anyone ever published a piece of writing?

Question

How did you do it exactly? Did you get some type of agent that represented you to a publishing company? I would really like to know?

Answer 1

Are you looking to publish poetry, short stories, or a book?

I suggest taking a look at the book Writer's Market, or (what I use), their website found at www.writersmarket.com. I also suggest a book by the same company called Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript for help with the technical aspect of what a submission should contain. It is a very valuable resource to find outlets that may be suitable for the kind of story that you have written.

If you have written a novel, you should probably attempt to find an agent first. This will really help in getting you through the slush pile and having publishers actually read your manuscript. Plus, if you do ever recieve an offer, you really want someone to negotiate the contract for you so you can retain as many rights as possible.

Check out the following website to help you make sure that the publishers and agents you are interested in are legitimate:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

You have to do your research as well. Gather some names of magazines, journals, websites, etc and then take a look at them! Don't just read their submission guidelines but take a look at what kinds of stories they contain. Spend time at your local public library, they normally have a vast collection of magazines that can help you do this research.

And you will get rejected. Possibly quite a bit. It has happened to every great writer (and musician, artist, etc). Have patience and keep submitting to appropriate publications, and your stories will find homes!

Answer 2

What kind of writing? I have published scientific articles in scientific journals. You submit them according to the submission procedures listed at the back of the journal.

I suspect that you mean literature. If it were me, I would try this approach. Find periodicals that publish short stories. You don't need a literary agent to publish in these periodicals. You can submit directly (buy the magazine or go to its website and it will tell you how to submit). They pay 5-10 cents a word, usually. Once you have been published a few times, then try to find a literary agent who will use your previous publications to attract a publisher and a contract.

Answer 3

I have! I submitted my best poems online, and now they are in an anthology.
I will someday be a Newbery Author...you see if I'm not! Watch for Whitney Hales in the next 20 yrs.