The step to becoming a published writer involves more than simply sending off a manuscript you've written to a publisher or agent. You have to be able to function as an author. Ask yourself this question: "Am I ready for this?" It's not something that can be taken lightly. The life of an author is not all glamor, you have to possess certain skills in order to function properly.
An author has to be able to come up with a finished manuscript of a professional quality. When you approach a publisher with your first novel, you should be able to send them the very best quality work you are capable of. The manuscript you offer them not only reflects on your writing, it will be an indication of the type of author you are. Avoid submitting anything that is not edited to the optimum standard. You may only get one chance, so don't blow it.
Once you have created your manuscript and you are happy with the results. Put it to one side and take a well earned rest. Then, when you think you are ready, take some time to study it closely to check for any mistakes you might not have noticed. These might include typos and spelling errors, grammatical problems, variations in plotting and time-frame, problems with the characters, their relationships and so on. Don't bank on the computer's spell-checker to do all the work since these will not always produce completely accurate results. An unpublished author will be evaluated on the quality and look of that first manuscript. Do everything you can to make sure it is the very best you are capable of.
There are several different ways of getting your book taken on by a publishing company. The usual route is to simply submit it directly to your most suitable publisher. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it once was. Most publishing houses get masses of books every month. Being in competition with all these competing authors is very hard for a newbie. It is important that you give yourself an edge. I suggest you find a good agent.
The majority of published writers are represented by a literary agent. It is also true that most published books arrived via an agent. It's clearly a no-brainer to say that you ought to get yourself the services of a literary agent. Sadly, that's another "mission near-impossible" situation. At least it would be if I didn't have a really cool tip: find a recognized author who writes work that's in approximately the same field as your own and find out who they are represented by. Provided you don't opt for a very well-known author and, assuming your writing is good enough, an advance to them has a good chance of succeeding. If not, repeat the process until you find success.
Before you even start writing, it would be worth your time embarking on research to ensure that a market exists for the book you hope to write. A "market" is defined as people who would be willing to pay money for it. The best way to check is to see what there is available on Amazon. You should try and avoid duplication. Your book may be tons better than what's out there at the moment, but you'll find that publishers are looking for manuscripts that exploit a gap in the market - without being too "off the wall", of course.
An author has to be able to come up with a finished manuscript of a professional quality. When you approach a publisher with your first novel, you should be able to send them the very best quality work you are capable of. The manuscript you offer them not only reflects on your writing, it will be an indication of the type of author you are. Avoid submitting anything that is not edited to the optimum standard. You may only get one chance, so don't blow it.
Once you have created your manuscript and you are happy with the results. Put it to one side and take a well earned rest. Then, when you think you are ready, take some time to study it closely to check for any mistakes you might not have noticed. These might include typos and spelling errors, grammatical problems, variations in plotting and time-frame, problems with the characters, their relationships and so on. Don't bank on the computer's spell-checker to do all the work since these will not always produce completely accurate results. An unpublished author will be evaluated on the quality and look of that first manuscript. Do everything you can to make sure it is the very best you are capable of.
There are several different ways of getting your book taken on by a publishing company. The usual route is to simply submit it directly to your most suitable publisher. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it once was. Most publishing houses get masses of books every month. Being in competition with all these competing authors is very hard for a newbie. It is important that you give yourself an edge. I suggest you find a good agent.
The majority of published writers are represented by a literary agent. It is also true that most published books arrived via an agent. It's clearly a no-brainer to say that you ought to get yourself the services of a literary agent. Sadly, that's another "mission near-impossible" situation. At least it would be if I didn't have a really cool tip: find a recognized author who writes work that's in approximately the same field as your own and find out who they are represented by. Provided you don't opt for a very well-known author and, assuming your writing is good enough, an advance to them has a good chance of succeeding. If not, repeat the process until you find success.
Before you even start writing, it would be worth your time embarking on research to ensure that a market exists for the book you hope to write. A "market" is defined as people who would be willing to pay money for it. The best way to check is to see what there is available on Amazon. You should try and avoid duplication. Your book may be tons better than what's out there at the moment, but you'll find that publishers are looking for manuscripts that exploit a gap in the market - without being too "off the wall", of course.
About the Author:
Jenny Knight recommends these writers' resource sites: book plot and how not to write a novel.
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