There is no magic answer I'm afraid. Certainly there are no guarantees. Hard work and a commitment to keep trying are two important ingredients. Just as important is knowing about the publishing industry. The saying "knowledge is power" may be so old and dusty that it has whiskers, but it's still true. So what do you need to know? Here is a short but critical list:

  • Know which publishers buy the kind of book you have written or want to write. Never use a scatter shot approach and send out your manuscript without doing market research. Always send your work to a specific editor and spell her or his name right!

  • Know what kind of book you're writing. Might sound obvious, but many writers get a blank puzzled look when I ask. But editors and agents will want to know. Not to mention that you'll likely send your book to the wrong publishing house or agent if you don't really think about what you're writing. Is it a mystery? Historical saga? Romance? Women's fiction? Literary fiction? Think about it.

  • Know something about contracts and have a general idea of what contact clauses mean. The best way to learn about contracts is to read magazines for professional writers like Writers Digest www.writersdigest.com, The Writer www.writermag.com, or Poets and Writers www.pw.org. Or join a writers group such as Romance Writers of America www.rwanational.com and Sisters In Crime www.sistersincrime.org . There are a host of online writing communities such as www.sormag.com, www.rawsistaz.com, www.coffeehouse4writers.com and www.blackwriters.org . It's all about knowing what you don't know and then finding out the 411.

  • Go to writers conferences to increase your chance of meeting editors who want to buy books and agents who want to work for you and sell your book. Getting published is tough. Networking and meeting the players is a good way to get your work in front of the people who can make it happen. Choose one that is right for you, that is, offers workshops on the topics you need. To find out about writers conferences go to www.shawguides.com/writing/.

  • Be open to other avenues, but again do your homework! Many prominent authors started off self-publishing, but learn the ins and outs of this route. There are a host of other alternatives these days, e-publishing, print-on-demand, small boutique publishers. Just don't jump in without knowing the advantages and the disadvantages.


Self-publishing, or vanity publishing as it is sometimes called, had a tarnished image in the past, but no more. The number of best-selling popular authors who ended up with major book deals with traditional publishers took a lot of the tarnish off. The pitfalls? First and foremost make sure you get your book edited well, by someone else preferably. The main complaint about self-published novels is the quality. Also, many bookstores won't carry self-published books. Distribution can be a big problem. You can't gain a readership if people can't find your books, which means you won't make sales -- no $$$$$ to make up for the money you spent on the books. Getting a quality cover with good artwork might cost a lot, but people do judge a book by its cover! Do be aware that you'll work hard because not only will you be the author, but the sales force, the marketing department and everything else. To find out more about self-publishing visit www.parapublishing.com and www.iuniverse.com as a start.



Having an agent is strictly an author's decision. Agents charge a commission, generally 15%, of any sales they make on your behalf. Some authors would prefer not to pay and opt to negotiate their own deals. This is fine if you have the know how. Again, find out about contracts or you could make major mistakes that cost you big bucks. Some use literary attorneys who charge a fee to negotiate the terms of a contract only. These attorneys don't charge a percentage of royalties you earn on sales.

I prefer having an agent. It allows me to concentrate on writing while a professional negotiates the best deal for me. A good agent keeps up with the lightning-quick changes in the publishing industry, has her pulse on which editors are buying, which editors have clout and trends in the business. If you have the time and desire to keep up on the latest news, go for it. But remember, you must still be knowledgeable about the business, understand contracts and make your own decisions. No one has more of a stake in your career than you do. It is hard to get an agent, but get a good agent. Don't fall prey to a scam artist in your rush to sell your book.

Check out these sites to get more info on finding reputable agents:
www.agentresearch.com
http://literaryagents.org
www.publishersweekly.com/AAR/homepage.html.



I hear from veteran authors that it has always been tough to get published. Networking and knowing about the business are the best tools you can have.



First time advances range from a low of $2000 and can go as high as six figures. The average advance for most first time writers is around $5000 for mass market paperback and $10,000 to $20,000 for a hardcover deal. Royalty rates range from 6% to 10% of the cover price. What you get offered depends on the format, paperback or hardcover, and the kind of book you've written. Every author's dream is to find an editor who is convinced she's written a blockbuster, shells out a big advance and throws the marketing department into high gear. These deals do happen and get lots of attention in the media, but they are exceptions. But hey, dream big because it can and does happen!



Depends! No, I'm not being a smart-aleck. The answer goes back to doing your homework. Writers conferences are the perfect place to find out what editors want from the editors themselves. Writers magazines frequently have interviews with editors. Check it out. However, in general editors want a manuscript that is professionally presented, free of errors and well written. They want characters that jump off the page and a compelling plot.



Don't do it is the short answer. The point is for you to get paid. Those offers to include your work in anthologies have all proven to be big time scams. What you generally get is a photocopied, poorly produced "book" that isn't sold to anyone but the authors. Guess who makes a lot of money? Right, the people who "publish' the anthologies. To find out about these and other scams perpetrated against authors go to www.sfwa.org/News/scamcom.htm and http://windpub.org/literary.scams/yudkin.htm



Disclaimer -- these books were helpful to me, but each writer is different. Some books that my fellow authors raved about didn't appeal to me at all. Go to any bookstore, online or bricks and mortar, and head for the non-fiction section on writing. These are my favorites:

Writing To Sell by Scott Meredith
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
The Career Novelist by Donald Maass
Beginnings, Middles and Ends by Nancy Kress
Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham
The 38 Most Common Writing Mistakes by Jack Bickham



Work on writing the best book you can. Study characterization, how to write great dialogue, hone your plotting skills and keep writing. Don't forget to read.


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