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<h1>Getting Published: Publishing Tips and Advice</h1>

It appears that today everyone is a writer, and we all have the
same dream. We all hope to someday be published. So as writers,
where do we get started?
I suggest joining writing groups first and start seeking
feedback that can help your career as a writer. It is most likely
that your closest friends and family are telling you that your
writing is the greatest thing since Steven King&#8217;s, and maybe
it is, but it doesn't hurt to get some feedback from your fellow
writers.
Once you are ready to take that plunge into the deep oceans of
writing to see your work published for the first time, the best
places to start are magazines and e-zines looking for calls for
submission. For example, there are over 150 publishers listed on
the Today's Woman Writing Community website, all looking for
stories and poetry.
You are going to want to purchase a copy of Writer's Market that
is published annually. This is an essential book for writers who
are interested in publishing their work. You are also going to want
to research your market. You are going to want to see just what
kind of stories the magazine publishers are seeking. Each publisher
will have specific guidelines to follow.
Offer your short stories for publication in their magazines, and
be sure to list your other published work if any, and thank the
editor for considering your work. If you are hoping to see your
book published, some publishers will want you to send them your
entire manuscript, while others may only want a query letter
outlining your book proposal. Some may wish to see a few chapters
from the book. If you're sending a full manuscript or sample
chapters, always include an S.A.S.E. (Self Addressed Stamped
Envelope) bearing sufficient postage with your submission. Present
a cover letter that is professional. I suggest doing a Google
search for query letter to give you some examples. If you are
submitting by email, make sure that you follow the guidelines on
the publisher&#8217;s website.
Stories posted on websites - are they personal or published?
In some cases, magazines will consider a story posted on your
website or in an open community to be published. Therefore, they
will not be able to claim first rights to it and most magazines,
newspapers, etc. will not accept it as a submission. This will
differ from publisher to publisher, and it is a very gray area. I
suggest if you are submitting work that has already appeared on the
web for publication, mention in the cover letter the forums or site
where the story has been posted and let the editor make an informed
decision.
Simultaneous Submissions?
There is a great debate in the writing community regarding
simultaneous submissions. I have had a few interesting discussions
myself. Some feel that it is the only way to get published quickly;
others feel that it could lead to a bad reputation for you as a
writer. This is due to the fact that publisher one will invest time
in to reading your manuscript, only to find later it has been
accepted by another publisher. I do encourage writers who wish to
use simultaneous submission to advise the editors of it in their
query letters.
Look over the contract:
Many first-time writers are so excited to just be published that
they sign their name on anything without fully reading the
contract. I can honestly say this is one mistake that I have made.
Without carefully reading over the contract, you could sign
yourself into a contract where for the next seven years you are
bound to it and your publisher is reaping the rewards. Do not get
trapped into this loop hole. Make sure you do an in-depth check
into the background of any publisher. Once you send off your
manuscript, now the fun comes. You sit and wait.
How long does it take?
It could take from 8 to 10 weeks to 8 to 10 months. Don't be
discouraged by rejections; every writer gets rejected. Even Steven
King was rejected. One published author says every story, on
average, must be submitted to 100 markets before it is
accepted.
You are going to want to know about rights, like first serial
rights, etc. On Today's Woman under &#8216;writing lessons,&#8217;
there are some great articles that cover rights. Please be sure to
check them out.
Getting published isn't easy. The editors get thousands of
unsolicited Manuscripts a year. Don't give up. Start at the bottom
and work up. I know some very talented writers who still aren't
published. They've been trying for years. Writing is all about
creating a name for yourself and that takes time.
If you are really eager about having your book published, you
may wish to consider self-publishing or POD (print on demand)
publishing. If you are considering this, I suggest developing a
budget for publishing and advertising costs. You are going to want
to shop around and look at the different prices of POD publishers
or printing companies.
If you are going to go the self-publishing route you are going
to need your own ISBN number and cover designer. In Canada you can
get an ISBN number through
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/isbn/s11-202-e.html. If you're
looking for a print on demand publisher, I suggest starting at the
Today's Woman Writing Community database of POD Publishers
http://www.todays-woman.net/link-49.html. Be sure to consider
factors such as set-up costs, royalty payments, control over your
book, distribution, cover price, advertising and the publisher's
reputation. The Internet can be a very useful tool as it allows you
to investigate the company's name to see if other writers have had
trouble with the company. Another approach to learning about the
reputation of a publishing company might be to post questions
within the different writing groups.
Todays-Woman.net also hosts a &#8216;Warning Writers&#8217; page
http://www.todays-woman.net/poetry-scams.html. Be sure to do your
homework and never just take the publisher&#8217;s word.
If you write poetry, why not consider making a chapbook of your
poetry. A chapbook is "a small book or pamphlet containing poems,
ballads, stories, or religious tracts" (MIT) the term is still used
today to refer to short, inexpensive booklets. Be sure to read my
article "Make a Chapbook of Your Poetry".
http://www.todays-woman.net/article805.html
Remember self-publishing means just what it says-
self-publishing- you do the editing, the marketing, advertising,
distribution, and sales.
It might be good to get some writing credits under your name
before you think big. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you much
success and hope you never give up on your dreams.
&#8220;If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can
dream it, you can become it.&#8221; -William Arthur Ward

<div>Author Info 
Rose DesRochers is the founder of Blogger Talk Blog Community 
<a target="_new" href="http://www.bloggertalk.net">http://www.bloggertalk.net</a>, a
friendly fast growing blogging portal, offering bloggers support,
advice, tools, tips and information about blogs and blogging. She
is also the administrator of Today's Woman Writing Community 
<a target="_new" href="http://www.todays-woman.net">http://www.todays-woman.net</a>,
a supportive online writing community for men and women over
18.
</div>

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