It appears that today everyone is a writer and we all have the
same dream. We all hope to someday be published. So as writers,
where do we get started?
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 and see your work published for the first time the best
places to start are magazines and e-zines looking for calls for
submission. There are over 150 publishers listed on Today's
Woman 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 publishes are seeking. Each
publisher will have specific guidelines to follow. Offer your
short stories for publication in their magazines, be sure to
list your other publications, 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 a 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 submission. This will
differ from publisher to publisher and it is a very grey 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 made.
With out 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 8-10 weeks to 8-10 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. However 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 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 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" (dictionary) 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.todayswoman.net/article589.html
Remember self-publishing is 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
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