I need advice on publishing?

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Question:

I'm a writer!. I've written three novels(non of which are published) I've written at least twenty(perhaps even more than thirty) short stories!. I've been writing poetry and songs since I was seven!. I've written one movie also(currently working on a second)!. There's one certain story that I want to publish but I'm not sure how!. What do I do!? How do I get it published!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

There are A LOT Of things that you need to do before you submit for publication!.

also, Lulu (which someone mentioned) and other self publishers are not real publishers!. Publishing with Lulu doesn't mean ANYTHING!. Anyone can publish anything there!. And it isn't sold to any main stream book stores!.

Editing!.!.!. You need to make your novel(s) top notch before you submit!. Despite what other people have said, your work DOES need to be perfect!. An agent is MUCH more likely to pick you up if your work is as close to perfect as you can make it!. Yes, they do have editors on hand, but the editors are VERY busy and have other things to do!. You need to edit it yourself before you have someone else look at it!. First, let your novel sit for about a month after you finish it, so you can look at it with fresh eyes!. Open a blank MS Word document, and copy the first sentence into it!. Read it!. Consider how you can make it better!. Is it catchy!? If it were someone elses book, would you want to keep reading it!? Now make as many changes as you can!. Next, copy the second sentence onto the same MS Word Document!. Do the same thing to it!. Keep doing this, until you have your entire book edited!. It will take a long time, but, as an author, you also need to learn how to rewrite!. Be patient!. Don't get mad if it sucks!. If you think your writing from a month ago is bad, then go onto fictionpress!.com and read stuff in the young adult section to prove that your writing ISN'T the worst in the world!. Yes, you will think it is bad writing!. I am serious about that!.

Next, you need someone else to read it!. Make a list of people who you know who might be able to help you!. Your English teacher might come to mind!. If you're lucky, they might give you extra credit!. If you have other friends who are writers, have them read over it!. There are online places where you can get feedback!. Though the feedback is really great, I don't suggest this, seeing that a lot of people can read it, and they might steal your work!. A reliable site that I use is the nanowrimo website!. They have a section where you can request people to read your work, but you email it to them, so only they can read it!. Have A LOT of people read it and edit it!. Have people read it until you're ABSOLUTELY SURE that it's at the best quality it can be!. So editors really don't cost anything!.

Now that you've edited it, you need to query agents!. You need to write a letter to the agent that includes a sumary of your work, the genre, how long it is (word count), and who you think would read it!. You also need to include a SASE and the first chapter!.

If the agent likes your work, they'll ask to read more!. Once they've done that, they will decide if they want to sell your work!. If they do, they'll take 15% of everything you earn off of your book!. The agent will sell your book to an editor!.

DOn't sign with an agent who charges upfront costs!. Make sure they have a clear track record!. You might want to (but don't have to) make sure they're listed as AAR certified!.

Now, if you don't get an agent for this project, don't be disapointed!. There's always the next project, which will most likely be better than the previous project!.

Good luck! I look forward to seeing your name in print!Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you want big-name publishing house's to pick you up, you're going to need an agent!. Try this website, it has over 400 agents listed!.

http://www!.writers-free-reference!.com/ag!.!.!.

It all depends on what you've written, fiction, non-fiction, romance, fantasy, different agents accept different things!.

You'll also need a query letter and a synopsis of your book to send it into an agent!.

Query's are a MUST, unless otherwise stated!.
They should be one to five page's ( If your unsure just ask the editor how long they want it!.

Your synopsis should include, the main points of the book including the end!.

Proof-read it before you send, it doesn't have to be perfect because they do have editors on hand unless you self-publish!. Your on your on with that!.

Research the agent's before you submit to them, ask questions but ALWAYS wait until they reply with a acceptance letter, or it can be annoying to talk about buisness stuff before they even read your book, let alone a synopsis of it!.

Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I worked as an intern for a literary publicist this summer and our firm was connected with a publisher!. All I know is that they won;t even read your story if the title is misspelled or stupid!. One guy submitted a book in which every page had smiley faces across the top and was written completely in caps lock!. They threw it away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There are publishers you can send the manuscripts to, I would copyright first though!. You can look all of that up online!. The copyright has it's own site!. I would just type it in the search engine!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Go to borders book store *a big one* because they have a self publisher!.!.!. You can also visit www!.lulu!.com to publish!. It does cost money though!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Try quality over quantityWww@QuestionHome@Com