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I
suggest joining writing groups first and start seeking feedback that can help
your career as a writer. It is most likely that your closest friends and family
are telling you that your writing is the greatest thing since Steven King’s, and
maybe it is, but it doesn't hurt to get some feedback from your fellow
writers.
Once you are ready to take that plunge into the deep oceans of
writing to see your work published for the first time, the best places to start
are magazines and e-zines looking for calls for submission. For example, there
are over 150 publishers listed on the Today's Woman Writing Community website,
all looking for stories and poetry.
You are going to want to purchase a
copy of Writer's Market that is published annually. This is an essential book
for writers who are interested in publishing their work. You are also going to
want to research your market. You are going to want to see just what kind of
stories the magazine publishers are seeking. Each publisher will have specific
guidelines to follow.
Offer
your short stories for publication in their magazines, and be sure to list your
other published work if any, and thank the editor for considering your work. If
you are hoping to see your book published, some publishers will want you to send
them your entire manuscript, while others may only want a query letter outlining
your book proposal. Some may wish to see a few chapters from the book. If you're
sending a full manuscript or sample chapters, always include an S.A.S.E. (Self
Addressed Stamped Envelope) bearing sufficient postage with your submission.
Present a cover letter that is professional. I suggest doing a Google search for
query letter to give you some examples. If you are submitting by email, make
sure that you follow the guidelines on the publisher’s website.
Stories posted on websites - are they personal or
published?
In some cases, magazines will consider a story
posted on your website or in an open community to be published. Therefore, they
will not be able to claim first rights to it and most magazines, newspapers,
etc. will not accept it as a submission. This will differ from publisher to
publisher, and it is a very gray area. I suggest if you are submitting work that
has already appeared on the web for publication, mention in the cover letter the
forums or site where the story has been posted and let the editor make an
informed decision.
Simultaneous
Submissions?
There is a great debate in the writing community
regarding simultaneous submissions. I have had a few interesting discussions
myself. Some feel that it is the only way to get published quickly; others feel
that it could lead to a bad reputation for you as a writer. This is due to the
fact that publisher one will invest time in to reading your manuscript, only to
find later it has been accepted by another publisher. I do encourage writers who
wish to use simultaneous submission to advise the editors of it in their query
letters.
Look over the
contract:
Many first-time writers are so excited to just be
published that they sign their name on anything without fully reading the
contract. I can honestly say this is one mistake that I have made. Without
carefully reading over the contract, you could sign yourself into a contract
where for the next seven years you are bound to it and your publisher is reaping
the rewards. Do not get trapped into this loop hole. Make sure you do an
in-depth check into the background of any publisher. Once you send off your
manuscript, now the fun comes. You sit and wait.
How long does it take?
It could take
from 8 to 10 weeks to 8 to 10 months. Don't be discouraged by
rejections; every writer gets rejected. Even Steven King was rejected. One
published author says every story, on average, must be submitted to 100 markets
before it is accepted.
You are going to want to know about rights, like
first serial rights, etc. On Today's Woman under ‘writing lessons,’ there are
some great articles that cover rights. Please be sure to check them
out.
Getting published isn't easy. The editors get thousands of
unsolicited Manuscripts a year. Don't give up. Start at the bottom and work up.
I know some very talented writers who still aren't published. They've been
trying for years. Writing is all about creating a name for yourself and that
takes time.
If you are really eager about having your book published, you
may wish to consider self-publishing or POD (print on demand) publishing. If you
are considering this, I suggest developing a budget for publishing and
advertising costs. You are going to want to shop around and look at the
different prices of POD publishers or printing companies.
If you are going to go the self-publishing route
you are going to need your own ISBN Number and cover designer. In
Canada you can get an ISBN number through http://www.collectionscanada.ca/isbn/s11-202-e.html. If you're
looking for a print on demand publisher, I suggest starting at the Today's Woman
Writing Community database of POD Publishers http://www.todays-woman.net/link-49.html. Be sure to consider
factors such as set-up costs, royalty payments, control over your book,
distribution, cover price, advertising and the publisher's reputation. The
Internet can be a very useful tool as it allows you to investigate the company's
name to see if other writers have had trouble with the company. Another approach
to learning about the reputation of a publishing company might be to post
questions within the different writing groups.
Todays-Woman.net also
hosts a ‘Warning Writers’ page http://www.todays-woman.net/poetry-scams.html. Be sure to do
your homework and never just take the publisher’s word.
If you write
poetry, why not consider making a chapbook of your poetry. A chapbook is "a
small book or pamphlet containing poems, ballads, stories, or religious tracts"
(MIT) the term is still used today to refer to short,
inexpensive booklets. Be sure to read my article "Make a Chapbook of Your
Poetry". http://www.todays-woman.net/article805.html
Remember self-publishing means just what it says- self-publishing- you
do the editing, the marketing, advertising, distribution, and sales.
It
might be good to get some writing credits under your name before you think big.
Whatever you decide to do, I wish you much success and hope you never give up on
your dreams.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream
it, you can become it.” -William Arthur Ward
About the
Author
Rose DesRochers is a published poet and freelance
writer. Rose has been writing poetry for more than 20 years. She is also the
founder of http://www.todays-woman.net, a supportive
online writing community for men and women over 18. She is also the Assistant
Administrator of http://www.invision-graphics.com.
Rose DesRochers's blog: http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
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