Into the Fire, by Tornado Day

INTO THE FIRE
by Tornado Day

I am often asked, "How do you go about getting published?"

I wish there were an easy answer to that question. I compare publishing to looking for a job. If you knew who would offer you the right opportunity, you could send out one resume and be done. Getting published isn’t any easier, but with the right attitude and perseverance, you can get published.

The competition is fierce. Even small publishers receive thousands of manuscripts every year and most of them are woefully inept. So much so, that increasingly, publishers are closing their doors to unsolicited manuscripts and are only looking at work represented by agents. This work has been "pre-screened" and meets at least their minimum standards.

Also, keep in mind that a lot depends on the work you want to have published. Publishers typically specialize with certain types of books. Unfortunately, the majority of publishers do not publish poetry, so if you are a poet, the odds are against you to begin with.

The most important thing I can tell you is to not give up. Keep writing and keep submitting, especially when you begin to receive rejections. It’s easier to weather rejections if you know that you still have some work out there. On the other hand, if you’ve been at it awhile and find yourself growing bitter, take a break and concentrate on writing.

But don’t stop writing – no matter what. I personally have never experienced writer’s block and the reason is simple. What I write today may not be the best thing I’ve ever written. It may not be the most eloquent or even come close to being ‘good’. But that is irrelevant. The only thing it has to be is – you got it – the next thing I write. I write every single day, and whether it’s good or bad is truly second in importance to the fact that I make writing a habit.

Illustration

Most people think that they need to provide illustrations with their story. This is a very bad idea, as it limits your prospects. The publisher might see the manuscript and illustrations as a package deal and might reject it as a package when they might have accepted it as a stand-alone manuscript. Many authors refrain from illustration, and only do so after three or four successful illustrations. Unless you're a professional artist, never provide any illustrations for the story. Doing so is actually the mark of an amateur. The publisher has their own art department and if they want your story they prefer to choose their own artist for the job.

The only exception would be a children’s book where the story comes alive with the right illustration. In that case, only include illustration as point of reference for the "telling of the tale".

Since I’ve mentioned children’s books, let me say that although children’s books may look easy to write because they tend to be short and simple, they are not. Many people look at children’s publishing as a stepping stone to adult publishing because they assume it’s easier to break into. This is absolutely not the case. As with most other types of published material, the author of a children’s book is not likely to be an author of adult books as well. The majority of authors are either one or the other.

Agents & Self Publishing

Many novice writers think that getting an agent is the key to breaking into writing. This perception is both true and false. Despite the dwindling number of publishers willing to accept unsolicited manuscripts - for the new writer, getting a contract directly from a publisher is often the best approach. This is because getting a good agent can be just as tough or even more so than getting published. If it is your first time getting published, and depending on the type of item you are wanting to publish, this may be a good 'waste of space’. Agents are important depending on your personal situation and what you wish to accomplish by getting published.

For me, with my first book, I was inexperienced, but the most important thing was getting published. As with many writers, my first book was self-published. There are many self-publishers with a wide variety of services and price structures. Regardless of your long-term objective to be published, there is nothing wrong with self-publishing as it gets your work out ‘there’ with the reading public. Anything that gets your work read is a step in the right direction. Many authors are looking to have a body of works published for purposes of sharing with family and friends. Self-publishing fills this niche and provides assurance that your work will not be stolen. For self-publishing, there is no need for an agent as the primary objective is finding one you like and can afford. The cost is higher when the publishing includes some level of marketing and promotion.

Agents are so inundated (especially the good ones) with unsolicited manuscripts that they also tend to have slush piles and be so back-logged that they’re effectively taking no new clients.

I say this not to discourage anyone from pursuing publication, but rather to realistically portray the current publishing situation. (Besides if such negative information could so easily dissuade you - you really don’t belong in this business). As a writer, you will face rejection at every corner. And there are no guarantees of success. This is something I learned the hard way. You have to really do your research in this career field as in any other -- that means staying abreast of what’s getting published. Read….read and read. Even before I started seriously writing with the thought of ever being published, I devoured every book I could find. There’s a saying "Read a hundred books in the genre you want to write in - then go write your own." I think this is excellent advice.

The thing to beware of regarding agent representation is that having no agent is better than having a bad agent. If you sell a piece of work through an agent, that agent will be connected to you for as long as that piece of work is in print. All the money for the work goes to the agent- not you- and the agent sends you your money.

Consider the writer/agent relationship akin to marriage. It’s more than casual relationship so be mindful of your concerns on the front end. There are many disreputable agents out there. There are even agents out there who prey on the desperation of people who want to be published and charge fees for even reading and considering their work. Beware of anyone who asks for money to read your work! No reputable agent would do this as it would blacken their name and might even mean expulsion from the AAR (Association of Artist Representation). Make sure your agent is a member in good standing!

There are a number of books that list agents and their individual requirements. I have used Guide to Literary Agents published by Writer’s digest books. That said, it is possible to succeed in this business without agent representation and there are a number of very successful authors who negotiate their contracts themselves. But they have taken the trouble of familiarizing themselves with these aspects of the business.

What most novice writers fail to realize is that even with a very good agent- you still have to produce a quality piece of writing. Writing does not sell on an agent’s reputation alone, and many agents only represent work they feel passionate about. It is often harder to find a good agent than it is to find a good publisher. And I strongly advise you to get a sale (commitment from a publisher) before approaching an agent. I have found that a book’s success often comes down to marketing and distribution. That is where a good agent can make all the difference. You can write the best book in the world but if it gets no marketing and distribution, nobody will know about it to buy it.

Finding A Publisher

There are a number of organizations that have regularly updated lists of publishers who are accepting unsolicited manuscripts. In Canada, for a nominal fee, you can receive a whole package with useful information on manuscript presentation as well as the nuts and bolts on getting published. Visit the website - http://www.publishers.ca to find out more.

In the US, unfortunately, I’ve yet to find a similar vat of information (that is not associated with a specific publisher). A good reference for children’s books is http://www.cbcbooks.org.

I also recommend Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market for those looking to publish short stories or novels.

As I mentioned before, most publishers do not accept books of poetry, but there are publishers who do – finding the publishers who are open to your specific type of writing is just as important as the format of your submitted work. Shop around and don’t be afraid to ask those who’ve been published. When I was looking to be published, I visited a bookstore and made note of the publishers who had books on the shelves.

Make sure you have the tools to succeed, whether that is a good printer or a good friend who’s willing to edit and provide feedback. Be sure to format your work before submitting to any publisher. Take the time to develop a good cover letter and track your submissions (a spreadsheet works well).

Ultimately getting published and being successful depends on so many factors beyond your control. The only thing you can control is your own attention to the output of your talents. Become the best writer you can by writing what moves you, what you feel passionate about, and let publishing come afterwards. This is the attitude I’ve tried to live by, and one that promotes peace of mind. What better for writing than peace of mind!

Publishing can be incredibly stressful. Keeping your serenity is one way to weather the storm.

Good luck and keep writing!


Tornado Day

© Copyright 2009 Tornado Day (UN: tornadoday at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.