What exactly do I do to get published?
I'm interested to know what the publishing process exactly entails for future reference. I'm in my last year of school and I recently finished my first substantial piece of creative writing (a subject I chose for an exam related project). I presented my novel to an audience of school faculty and English Literature teachers and I was encouraged to find a publisher for the work. The feedback for what I have written is generally very positive and after I'm finished with exams, I want to polish the work and attempt to get it published: For future reference, how would I go about this?
I appreciate answers from those well versed in the rigours of what I understand is a difficult and frustrating process.
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1 answer
There's a good essay by Malinda Lo on the process. One of many, I'm sure, but that's the first good one I found on a cursory browse.
I'd like to point out that knowing the general process is probably not enough; at every step along the way, you should read and research and learn as much as possible. Publishing is an arduous, difficult field, full of slush. If you're committed, you want to do everything you can to avoid being slush.
Here's individual steps along the way that I suggest you learn about as much as you can.
- Polishing and rewriting your book. Honing your craft, seeking out critiques and understanding what to take from them, and the painful art of revision.
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Finding an agent.
- You'll want an agent who's professional, capable, trustworthy, and whom you work well with.
- You'll want to avoid scams, ripoffs, and incompetents.
- You'll need to understand which agents do what and which is appropriate for your book (and possibly for a future writing career).
- You'll need to learn how to query an agent - both general guidelines for the field at large, and the specific requirements and preferences of each and every agent you query.
- The agent will probably suggest a lot of changes and revisions to your novel, so another rewrite here.
- Finding a publisher. By this point, you've got the agent to rely on, but the agent will need to find you a publisher, and you'll need to negotiate a contract. The editor will have further changes for the book.
That's the general outline. If you're serious about getting published, read everything you can about these steps, so that you know what you're getting into, how to present yourself and work with others, and what you're entitled to expect and demand.
Good luck to ye :D
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