Writers all have one thing in common:
They write!
That
said, I’ll offer what I know, for what it’s worth, and hope it helps!
Write about something that you feel
strongly about,
because this will come through in the writing, making it compelling for others
to read. (And even if it’s never
published, at least you will have enjoyed the process.)
What do you like to read? Mystery? Romance? Sci-fi?
You’re familiar with the feel of your favorite genre, so write something
along the same lines.
Use the all resources available. I can’t emphasize this enough.
Resources abound! Live in the
library, replace your credit cards with library cards, subscribe to writing
magazines. . . For anyone who’s serious
about writing well and getting it published, making use of resources is only
common sense.
Practice writing by writing. Don’t expect to sell your first piece, or even your second. Writing is about learning the craft,
perfecting the talent, art, skill -- whatever
poetic term you want to call it -- it still comes down to hard work! In the same way you can’t sit down at a
canvas and paint a masterpiece, don’t expect your first writing to be
published.
Follow guidelines. When you do start sending pieces out, don’t -- repeat don’t -- just
pick out a handful of publishers’ addresses and send your manuscript to
them! Besides wasting postage (it adds
up), stories sent to magazines that don’t publish fiction (no matter how
well-written) spotlights you as an amateur too lazy to do research. Also, make sure your material is formatted
correctly. This means no handwritten or
single-spaced manuscripts. Your work
deserves its best chance, so don’t screw up in easily avoidable ways. Don’t tie your manuscript in a fancy ribbon
(it happens!) or send scented stationary to catch an editor’s attention -- because
believe me, you’ll catch it -- just not in the way you want.
With common sense and research, you can both narrow and target potential markets considerably. The Writer’s Market provides basic guidelines as to what kinds of material publishers publish, how they want you to contact them (many require merely a query letter before they’ll even look at an unsolicited [un-requested] manuscript). You can also write directly to publishers for their guidelines.
Send it out and wait . . . yet don’t wait. Get busy with another project so you can
keep your work circulating -- thus increasing your output, skills, and chances of
being published. Function as a productive
writer.
Have hope! Writing
is a wonderfully enriching, fulfilling experience -- one worth striving for. Your chances of getting published increase
with your effort. Getting published
isn’t like winning the lottery (even if your “numbers” are finally
chosen, don’t count on the money being enough to buy your dream home!), and
most writers are content with that.
Sharing your words with the world, making a difference in some way,
provides a reward all its own.
Recommended Writing Resources:
Books:
Children’s
Writer’s and Illustrators Market by Writer’s Digest Books
First-Time
Authors by The Institute of Children’s Literature
Formatting
and Submitting Your Manuscript by Writer’s Digest Books
Plotting
and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith
Writing
and Selling Your Novel by Jack M. Bickham
Writer’s
Market by Writer’s Digest Books
Writing
for Young Adults by Sherry Garland
Magazines:
The
Writer
Writers
Digest
Writers’
Journal
Children’s
Writer (the newsletter of writing and publishing trends)
Websites:
www.scbwi.org
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
www.writermag.com essential resources for
writers
www.writersmarket.com markets for your
writing
"No one who bothers about originality will ever be original,
whereas if you try simply to tell the truth,
you will, nine times out of ten,
become original without ever having noticed it."
-- C.S. Lewis