Here are some guidelines to help you get your work published.
Study the publications at a newsstand or your library. Check the acknowledgments pages of books like yours for the names of publishing house editors.
Always address your submission to a specific editor so it doesn't get lost or buried.
Don't ignore small or online publishers, since they are often most likely to welcome newcomers
You will find detailed instructions in the publications or online about how to submit work. Follow these instructions to the letter.
Don't be shy about asking to be introduced to anyone who might be able to help, and go to workshops, readings, and mix with fellow writers.
You may not need an agent for poetry or magazine writing but it helps in book publishing, without an agent your work is liable to end up in the dreaded slush pile-an agent can help you leap frog to the right editor.
Never- ever pay an agent to read your work; you want them to make money by selling your work, not reading it.
Ask writers and teachers to give you names of possible agents, and check these resources.
Keep sending out your writing so that you always have a finger in the pie. If you aren't getting rejections, you aren't sending your work out, and if you aren't sending your work out, you aren't going to be published.
Great advice Ruby. Also, check out "Publish America" as they claim they publish more new writers than any other publisher in the U.S. They also have the most authors whose stories become movies...
#2 by Nick Kenney, Feb 14, 2008
They don't charge authors any money for the publishing process either, not even for editing.
#3 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Feb 14, 2008
Nick, PublishAmerica only works with authors in the US
#4 by Lucy Lockett, Feb 14, 2008
Some interesting sites to look at thanks.
#5 by Liane Schmidt, Feb 15, 2008
Wonderful article Ruby. Keep your dreams alive now and always...they are coming true.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
#6 by Alexa Gates, Feb 15, 2008
great article!
#7 by IcyCucky, Feb 15, 2008
Good tips and advice, Ruby
#8 by Ruby Hawk, Feb 15, 2008
Thanks ladies for your encouragement. I appreciate you all so much. Good luck to you all.
#9 by Trish, Feb 19, 2008
Thanks for the tips. I for one will use this information and I can always hope my luck will change.
#10 by Nelson Doyle, Feb 23, 2008
Excellent article and truthful advice. Getting published by a traditional publisher is a very hard and long process usually, especially if you are an unknown author or a relatively new author.
Publishers are in business to make money and they usually choose to work with established authors with proven track records and an equally proven track record in regards to making money on the books that they write. Working online for example may help those unknown writers to get noticed and could help convince an editor that you are a bankable author and not some unknown want-to-be.
#11 by Ruby Hawk, Feb 27, 2008
Thanks to you all again ladies and gentlemen. I appreciate you more than I can say. I wish you one and all the very best luck in the world.
