How do you get published? Any tips please?

caeler

My friend is an indie writer - http://chrisjames.cal24.pl/ He has recently self-published via lulu onto Amazon and Amazon kindle (US+UK). His books are great and really worth a read but trying to get the general public to read them is very hard. He uses social networking especially twitter where he has hundreds of followers including other indie writers. Being very honest it is hard work without a main stream publisher. Good luck!

belfastgirl23

I think the suggestion to join a writers group is a good one. I would suggest though looking around for one with a real writer as the facilitator - someone who has been published and has an agent. Often these groups are run by people who have read books on how to write rather than having gone through it all themselves. Use the group to start building links into the publishing world - go to book launches etc. Who you know is important in this world. Not that bad work will get published but you need to build some form of link with people so you can bring their work to your attention. Make sure that the person in the group knows that you are taking your writing seriously and listen carefully to their feedback as well. You want them to feel invested in your success too.

The other route is to look out for writers workshops. The BBC has an online writers room for example http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/ I know their focus is obviously on storytelling through TV and radio but you would still learn a lot if you were to get into some of their mentoring schemes. And really what is a radio script but a story anyway. If nothing else, submitting work through this route is a guarantee that it will get read since they actually ask for unsolicited scripts, which is very unusual.

Remember there are a lot of people out there with talent. But there are many more people who are arrogant about whatever little talent they have and are very focused on proving how good they are rather than on the craft itself and learning and developing themselves. Someone who has talent and who works hard, listens and learns, is the kind of person that other writers are likely to invest time and energy in supporting and championing.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious here, it's just that there is this kind of idea that writing is about sheer talent rather than bloodymindedness and hard work. And yes talent is important but so is a good work ethic!

BTW I know a few writers so this is based on my own observations of who has succeeded and who hasn't.

stsarina

Just to clarify from the off - I'm an author and an editor with an indie publishing company, so hopefully I can offer you a few useful tips.

The most important thing I'd like to point out to you is to steer well clear of the companies who charge you money to 'publish' your work. The fees they charge are extortionate and there's a good reason why they're known in the trade as vanity publishers. In publishing, the money should ALWAYS flow to the author, not from the author.

The major publishing houses won't even look at your work unless it's represented by an agent. Those that will want to see some evidence that you're not just another egotistical Tom, !!!!!! or Harry who's scribbled something down and convinced themselves that it'll be the next bestseller. I would recommend entering literary competitions and submitting short stories to anthologies to build your publishing CV, then you have something objective to back up your claim.

Another tip I can give is something called the fifteen second pitch. That's about how much time the publisher or agent will give you or your email when it comes in - and in those fifteen seconds, you need to grab their attention. Your synopsis has to be punchy, perfect and intriguing - but don't give away the storyline in the synopsis. Make it about the first third of your story; introduce the characters and the main point of conflict. Leave them wanting more.

And when you do get published? Well, that's when the hard work REALLY begins :rotfl:

No matter how good you think you are, there's always room for improvement.

Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions if there's anything I can help you with.

Hannah.

oulgu12

I completed a novel a few years ago and was extremely lucky to get an offer of representation from two London literary agents, both listed in the Writers & Artists yearbook. In the end though, the agent I signed with was unable to sell the book to a publisher. So....

Even snagging an agent is no guarantee (I was gutted to have fallen at the last hurdle, so to speak)

I would suggest that instead of worrying about how to get published that you actually finish writing your book first. Completing a whole novel is an achievement in itself. Polish it as best as you can ( edit, edit edit!) and only then start sending it out to agents.
Also join some writing forums on the net. Verla Kay is a good one (google it as I cant post links) with a lot of useful info for authors and wannabe writers of childrens books.

Good luck. Writing can be a lot of fun but there are so many highs and lows so make sure you develop a thick skin as well.

Oh and to add what has already been said, NEVER pay anyone promising to publish your work- EVER!