Getting Published
Some basic advice on learning how to get published/become a writer -
So, you’ve finished a novel and you want to know what’s next.
This is going to be some basic advice on what to do after you’ve finished a novel. These are all things that I have picked up over the years the same way you are doing now, going to writers’ websites and all the other places.
I would just link to all the places I have been, but some of the knowledge has come from conferences and workshops as well. Plus I don’t remember all of the places. I’ m a memory person. I take horrible notes. So, here’s what my brain has processed as what to do after you have finished a novel. There’s no one way to do this, so you will hear conflicting information(though you can assume that I am right. It saves time). Process it all and use what works for you.
Step 1: Start your next novel.
Very few people write one novel and make a living off of it. Harper Lee comes to mind. There are others, but write your next book. There’s a myth that it takes five to ten years to get published. Well, yes. It probably takes five to ten years of writing to get to a professional level. It definitely does take a couple of years between when you sell your book and when it goes into print. It doesn’t mean write one book and then run around trying to sell it, making minor changes and thinking the next change will sell it, for ten years. Move on. Write your next book. You learned a lot by writing your first book. Put that to use in your second book and then your third book. It’s quite possible your first book is a turd. Don’t spend five years polishing a turd.
Step 2. Learn the business of publishing. Find your local Professional Writer Organizations SCBWI, RWA, SFWA, HWA, MWA, ITW and suck them dry of knowledge. Attend conferences and workshops. You don’t need college to be a writer, but you need to understand what happens when you’ve finished a book. I find that SCBWI and RWA are welcoming to new writers, but the other organizations leave the new writers to the efforts of individual writers going out of their way. Those individual writers are amzing resources, though. Some do individual workshops and things. You find them on the web and speaking at conferences.
Step 3. Be Professional: Sales!!!
The things you will learn about the business are queries, proposals and rejections. Once you have finished your book, you become a sales rep.
A simple explanation is - you send a query to an editor describing your book. If they are interested they ask to see either a partial(3 chapters 50-75 pages) or full manuscript. If they like that, they will make an offer on your book.
Otherwise, the term used is REJECTION. It really isn’t. It’s a way of saying no thanks. It’s ok. You are not being rejected. Everyone still loves you. It is simply a way of saying - I am not going to buy this book today. Do not get discouraged. Someone else may want to buy it. Send it to the next person. You can find places to send it in Writer’s Market. Publisher’s Marketplace is a good resource to see who is buying what, as well.
This is another reason why Step 1 is so important, because now your book is just product to sell. Many writers write 8-10 complete novels before they sell one. Think of it as going to college. If you write two books per year, that’s four years of college. What you want to avoid is being that person who was at college for four years and paid their dues, yet failed to graduate. Write your next book.
Step 4. Be Professional: The Hired Help!!!
An agent is someone YOU HIRE to be your sales rep. They work for you. They work on commission. You can sell this yourself and you should know the basics of how and what they do before you hire an agent. You do not need an agent and they are not magical beings. Well, some are, but still… In the same way you hire an agent, you are the client of the agent. Treat them professionally and you will be treated professionally. If you aren’t, simply move on. There’s no reason to get mad about it. Think of your landscaper(ok, maybe you don’t have a landscaper, go with me here.) You expect them to cut your lawn. They expect you to move the hose, kids toys, and junk. If one of you is not doing the right thing, just move on. There are other lawns and other landscapers. Always keep this in mind.
You hire agents the same way you sell your book. Excite them about the book and they will likely want you as a client. Of course, they have other lawns to mow, so keep that in mind, too. They may want you as a client but can’t take you on at the moment.
A great agent is the best thing in the world. A bad one is beyond the worst thing in the world.
Step 5. Be Professional: The Money!!!
Here’s the way of watching your money. Money, in regards to a book, always flows to the writer. DO NOT hire an editor to ‘polish’ your manuscript. Go back to Step 2. and find a professional level critique group. Those editors that you can hire will polish your story, but, again, what if it is a turd? A critique group(or partner) should help you learn your strengths and weaknesses as a writer so your NEXT book will be better.
Real Agents will never charge a reading fee. Again, this is money flowing to the writer in regards to a book. Agents work on commission. They shouldn’t be charging you fees.
You will spend your money on workshops and conferences. This is like paying for school and is different than paying an agent or editor. At conferences, you might pay for an agent or editor appointment. This is normal and a good thing. If you do this, remember to breath. They are not magical people.
There may be times when there are exceptions to this. It’s your money. It’s your business. You make the call…
Step 6. Be Professional: Copyright!!!
Learn what you are selling. You sell rights to copy your book. If you sell your book, you won’t get royalties, etc. Nolo is a great place to start on understanding Copyright. It will help you if you understand this. Know what it means when you post your story on the internet for feedback. Know what rights your social networking site has over your work. When you get a book contract, it’s your fault if you don’t understand what you are signing. Your agent should also help you with understanding this, but you are the one signing it…
If you sign a bad contract, it’s your fault, not your publishers. Publishers are trying to make money. They try to get as much for as little as possible. Sorry. That’s buisness. They’ll even smile while they do it.
Step 7. Do Not Be Discouraged!!!
That’s it. Keep going. That’s the secret. As with any job in sales, which is what this is, the more product you have and the more sales calls you do, the better your sales will be.
