There many writers who spend years honing their craft and produce plenty of good work, but unfortunately, very few of them become Published Writers. While writing ability is essential to success, getting published is a complicated process that requires persistence and savvy. If you are an aspiring writer, the following suggestions may help you in your journey.
The first step toward publication is determining your genre and your audience. Are you writing fiction or non-fiction? Does your writing fit easily into a major genre, like romance or suspense? Is your non-fiction writing research-based or personal? Are you writing for children, teens or adults? Knowing who you are and where you fit into the market will help you target the right publisher.
The next step is to consider what type of publisher might be interested in your work. The major publishing houses in New York, like HarperCollins or Penguin Random House, are only going to accept material that will be easy to sell. If you don’t have the kind of book that is typically best seller material, there are plenty of mid-size and small publishers to consider.
At this point, you might decide to submit your work directly to a publisher, or you might instead try to get an agent to represent you. You will need to submit your work to one or the other, and this will involve a query letter, a book proposal, and a few sample chapters. It is important to follow the submission guidelines to the letter. Bear in mind that the most successful writers did not succeed on the first try. Be persistent; keep writing and submitting.
One of the best things that you can do to market yourself and your work to potential publishers and readers is to develop a strong professional web presence. A web site or blog is a great way to introduce yourself and your voice. By posting to a blog or linking to other published work you have written, like articles and essays, you can start to cultivate and connect with your audience. More over, a personal web site along with a social media identity allow you to network with other writers, agents, and publishers. Published Writers like website use their web sites to share their passions and promote their work. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates.
