I get emails every day asking for advice on getting published or getting an agent. This is the post for people needing an entry-level introduction to publishing.
Dear Writer,
Congratulations on your decision to pursue publication. Before approaching literary agents, you’ll need to create the appropriate materials:
→ If you’re a non-fiction writer, you’ll need a full professional book proposal, with three sample chapters (this must include the FIRST chapter). (See How To Write a Book Proposal)
→ If you’re writing fiction, your manuscript must be complete, edited and polished; you also need a one-sentence hook and a one-paragraph pitch.
→ Do you need to know How to Find a Literary Agent?
→ A great title is an important aspect of attracting an agent’s or editor’s attention. Here’s how to create a perfect title for your book.
Once you have your manuscript and/or proposal ready, you need to prepare a query letter. You then begin sending your query to agents. (See How to Write a Query Letter. You may also want to Google it – there are hundreds of posts online about query letters.) Don’t attach your manuscript or proposal to the query; you’ll send that only if requested.
Please don’t contact literary agents with random questions, requests for advice, or asking for an education on how to get published. Approach literary agents with a query letter once you have a properly prepared manuscript and/or proposal. Don’t phone agents, or write them asking for a phone call.
*Resources To Help You*
An indispensable guide to publishing: Writer’s Market.
Magazines: I suggest subscribing to Writers Digest or The Writer.
Agent Directories:
Guide to Literary Agents by Chuck Sambuchino
Jeff Herman’s Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents by Jeff Herman
Websites:
These help you find the right agent and even keep track of your queries: Agent Query and Query Tracker.
These help you make sure you’re dealing with reputable people: Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors.
Consider attending a writers’ conference (or two):
This is one of the best ways to get a crash course in writing, publishing, and book marketing. Check out the Shaw Guide to Writers Conferences.
Resources for CHILDREN’S and ILLUSTRATED books:
Adventures in YA & Children’s Publishing
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Resources for Children’s Writers
Children’s Book Insider
The Purple Crayon
Books about children’s publishing
Resources for CHRISTIAN publishing:
Click here for a list of Christian literary agents.
The most comprehensive book for Christian publishing: Christian Writers Market Guide by Jerry Jenkins.
For Christian writers’ conferences, READ THIS.
*Are You Ready to Query?*
Wait! Most agents have a website (and/or blog) on which they list their Submission Guidelines. As you use the resources above to identify agents who might be right for your work, it’s important to read their individual guidelines and submit accordingly.
*Attention Non-fiction Authors*
→ Be aware that author platform and credentials are of primary importance. It may take years to build the kind of platform necessary to interest an agent or publisher. Read all my posts on platform HERE.
→ You also MUST thoroughly examine the comparable books already available on your topic, and be ruthlessly honest with yourself. Does your book say anything that is fresh, unique, and not already well-covered in books within the last five years? If not, go back to the drawing board. Find a fresh hook or angle.
→ Does your topic typically require credentials or degrees to be credible? If so, do you have them? If not, ask yourself what you DO have (besides personal experience) that overcomes your lack of credentials. Are you really funny? Do you have a blog that gets 5,000 hits a day? Have you won awards or major accolades in your subject area? Make sure you have something special to recommend you to a book-buying audience. If you don’t have it, go create it, or give up the idea of traditional publication.
*Attention Fiction Authors*
→ Please do not send the first draft of the first novel you’ve ever written. It’s important to study the craft of writing fiction, as well as getting outside help in editing and polishing your work before calling it ready. You may want to join a writers group or get a critique partner.
*The Final Word*
If you truly want to publish with a traditional publisher, all the resources are available and many of them are free of charge. Good luck!
The post How to Get Published appeared first on Rachelle Gardner.
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Brilliant advice and resources :) Invaluable to us aspiring writers. Thank you!
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
So simple but so true. I wish I'd read this when I was in my teens.
My advice for aspiring writers such as myself: try to write because you love writing, and not because you want to be published. If you love and enjoy writing, odds are that you'll eventually get published. If you are instead simply hunting your first book deal, odds are you'll end up bitter and burned out and quit.
This is a wealth of useful information. Thanks.
Lee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011
Agree with 99% and makes some great points abd reference suggestions to new writers.
I made the rookie mistake of sending out my novel before it was ready. My query was fine cuz I got plenty of request. It wasn't until all the rejections came in that I realized it wasn't ready. Now figuring out how to revise and re-submit a new & improved ms. is the hard part.
Great advice, especially the part about not sending out the first draft and making sure you have a really polished manuscript before you do. The publishing industry has very high standards. It took me 25 years to learn this, and it was only when I did that I managed to publish my first novel.
Bottom line- there are no short cuts! I tell myself this everyday. I must be willing to commit to the process, trust God's time, and work to strengthen my skills.
I don't love the timeline, but I respect it:)
Excellent, comprehensive advice as always. I would add that authors should be working on the next book while waiting on a decision for the first. And a healthy dose of optimism helps!
Where do you ever find the time for us? Haven't you got work of your own to do?
The message is the same over here, but the Amarican market is less conservative than the UK market. At least that is what I was led to believe on my MA, and of course it is also much bigger.
I am very grateful for the ability to explore all your useful links. Nobody in England is as helpfull as you are, at least nobody I've found yet.
Ta.
I think this is the best "in a nutshell" advice on the process I've seen. Concise with all the resources we need to educate ourselves further. Thanks, Rachelle!
As an aspiring Christian author working on a book proposal, I find your blog not only helpful but inspirational. Thanks for the list of Christian agents. While you encourage your readers "to get to work", you certainly help pave the way.
woot this is excellent...thank you...
Some great advice for the working writer! Thanks Rachelle!
Oh, how I wish I had read this post 3 years ago... it would've saved me a lot of time, stress and mistakes. That said, I forwarded this on to everyone I know who is interested in publishing... so many great ideas!
My only other idea for brand-new non-fiction writers is to actually READ the competitors. You touched on researching a comp list, but I think it's important to literally go to the library and check out every book that even remotely relates to your idea. Read them and see what you can offer that different or better. Just looking the book up on Amazon isn't sufficient.
Great advice. Writers should spend plenty of time reading agent and writer blogs to learn tips about the craft itself, as well as tricks of the trade. I've gleaned a wealth of information from them; from how to avoid cliche openings to query blunders.
Thank you for the links. I'll make good use of them. :)
Wonderful post. As membership officer of ACFW I just got a request from a person who did not have the means to pay for this infromation. I was glad to point her to this blog.
Great advice. Thank you so much. I will check out the links.
Thanks, Rachelle, for an elucidating entry.
Thank you so much for creating this. If it were a book, it would get yellow with use over on my end.
Doesn't get more clear than this.
What a resource!
~ Wendy
Ditto what Wendy said :)
Amazing. I'll be sending you virtual lemon drop martinis for this one. Thanks, Rachelle!
This will certainly be bookmarked. Thank you!
Thanks for posting this useful information. As a published author, and a writing teacher, I agree with everything you've said--especially in regards to not sending manuscripts until they are ready! Too many people (including myself, once upon a time) are in a great hurry to be published, rather than to learn their craft.
Agreeing with everyone else that you've provided excellent advice!
One practical way to avoid sending a manuscript that is not ready is to get involved with a critique group where you receive valuable, honest feedback, rather than just pat each other on the back.
Attending conferences, as you said, is important. The friends you make along the way can be invaluable. The publishing industry is one that involves networking (which is not the same thing as taking advantage of other people. But that's another topic altogether.)When you're at a conference, don't just think about who can help you, look for who you can encourage.
I have heard all of those things before, it is invaluable to have them in one document. I am continually encouraged and educated through your blog. Thank you!
Like Anonymous, I also made the mistake of sending out my M.S. before it was polished.
I'm still kicking myself for it (kicking oneself isn't easy. Have you ever tried it?)!
Great advice here. Thanks ever so much!
This is a brilliant post, which I have now shared. But it got me wondering about something, which I'm now willing to wager on....
I'm laying down the following bet -- Rachelle gets MORE e-mails about how to get published in light of this post than she did before....
I sincerely hope not, but it just seems that's the way of the world these days.
Rachelle,
I remember being a "newbie" in this business and not knowing where to go for advice and information.
You, and your blog post, are an excellent example of the wonderful people and available info in the publishing world. SO many agents, editors, and published writers are willing to share information and resources.
Joining a writer's group (or befriending an agent or an editor) is one of the best ways to get your hands on info and "how-tos." The next best thing is to haunt the places referenced here.
Super informative post, Rachelle! Appreciate all the links to previous posts and wonderful resources. Couldn't have been more timely. Exactly what I needed to read today. Thanks!
I would add to that list...join a ruthless critique group so that you can improve your manuscript. Also...make writer friends who are published, so they will refer you to their agent. Your chances of getting an agent's attention without a connection are slim to none.
Oh, but tomorrow you'll post the "shortcuts to success article", right? I'm tired of taking the long route. I want a shortcut!! Example: a friend (in another state where these things happen, apparently) just happened to be walking down the street and literally ran into one of the big-time agents. He got into a conversation with the agent, who requested his ms. Now he is represented by the same. All right, that wasn't really a shortcut, so much as a lightning bolt from heaven, but still, as long as I don't fried, I'll take it!
Over on the Books & Such blog Janet Kobobel Grant did a great "Before the Publisher" series that ran last week. She suggested that even before writing the query, you should go ahead and write the proposal. Which I think is awesome advice.
Of course, when I decided I was ready to think about querying, I wrote the letter first. I mean, who wouldn't rather write a one-page letter than a multi-page document that includes a synopsis? But having now written the proposal I know my book SO much better. Not only can I write a better query, it also helped me iron out some kinks in the story. I highly recommend writing your proposal as soon as you think your book is done. You'll likely realize it isn't!
I made just about every mistake possible: my ms was too long; I didn't polish it or edit it well enough; I didn't fork over the money (at first) for a professional editor; I didn't have ANY platform; and most of all, I tried to short-cut the process. Maybe that's why it took me two years? ;)
Excellent post, Rachelle -- and really convenient to have all the information and resources in one convenient place.
Good basic info. Thanks for posting.
Mary Vensel White -
I realize this is a very small sample size, but of the two writers I know personally who are agented, both got their agents without a connection. It can and does happen.
You're absolutely right about critique groups, though.
This is one of the most helpful posts I've ever read, thank you so much for the wonderful advice!
Oh, that dreaded "platform!" Learning how to build a "following" has become my new part time job. It's happening...very, very, very, very slowly. =0) Thanks for the info!
Rachelle,
Great post. I would also add - Do your homework of the genre you want to write for. Join the forums and read the publisher you want to target up-to-date guidelines because they change all the time.
Persevere in improving your craft - if you continually receive 'R' forms it is for a reason.
Find a genuine critique group who will tell you the truth. This takes time, but they are out there.
John in the U.K - check out Nicola Morgan's blog - http://helpineedapublisher.blogspot.com/ She calls herself the 'Crabbit Old Bat' because she tells it like it is, a bit like Rachelle, although I would never, ever call you such a thing Rachelle.
Phew, nothing like digging a great big hole and jumping in, is there?
Did I say this is a great post btw?
Christine
Bookmarking this one!
And I may be flaunting my ignorance here, but why is a platform only necessary in non-fiction? I am in the odd position of having a respectable platform, but I'm writing fiction! Would it be better for me to focus on non-fiction first (since I have a platform), then come back to fiction?
Flower Patch: Read my post called "A Million Screaming Fans" from January 26. If you're writing fiction and you already have a platform, it can only help you.
Rachelle - this is such a great compendium of advice and linkage. Thanks you!
In 2000, an agent read some of my lifestories in my weekly newsletter and contacted me. Interested in turning them into a book, she needed me to write a book proposal. She suggested that I get a copy of Michael Larsen's book, How To Write A Book Proposal, and "follow it to a tee." I did. Submitted. A few days later, the agent called and left a voicemail. Applauded my book proposal saying, "Not only did you také my advice, but you poured your heart and soul into this proposal. It's one of the best I've seen." Within days, I signed an agreement making her my first agent! About a month later, she landed me a book deal with Warner Books for my memoir, I SAY A PRAYER FOR ME: One Woman's Life of Faith and Triumph.
thank you Christine.
As good a summary I've seen of the topic, as as concise yet broad list of resources, since I began chasing publication eight years ago. Thank you.
Thank you for this. I'm going to keep it bookmarked. My blog is called "Miss Cole Seeks Publisher" after all!
I can use this to direct writers to when they ask me how to be published -thank you!