From idea to published, need publishing help?

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Question:

Hi, i write quite alot in my free time, i also read alot so i know how writing works!. I was wondering where i should go from here, i want to become published, and i know its hard, i looked at self publishing but the Numbers looked far too high for me!. How could i make my manuscript stand out from others the agents/publishers get sent!?

Any help at all would me much aprechiatedWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

First off, you need to write and rewrite the book a plethora of times!. Publishing has gotten a lot tighter nowadays, so a lot of people are vying for the very position you want!.

Look on my profile!. I recommend plenty of books on writing for aspiring authors that you should take a look at!.

Once you got all that jazz out of the way, it's wise to find a literary agent because they will help you negotiate contracts, get more money, and get with better publishing companies!. You have to write a query letter to them, however, which is the pitch for your book, so you need to study those!. I recommend absolutewrite!.com and writersdigest!.com for that kind of stuff!. also, you need to learn how to write a decent synopsis!. Again, those two sites are your ticket!. And writing a cover letter wouldn't hurt either!.

Now, for agents!. There are a plethora of advantages to searching for a literary agent!. More and more publishing companies are requiring them because more and mor people are submitting slush for publishing!. Publishers are getting so overloaded with garbage now that they'll only accept something that has been looked at before by professional eyes, which is exactly what a literary agent does!. Now, getting one isn't necessarily easy!. Remember, your query letter has to be able to hook the agent within the first sentence because they get about 400 query letters a month and may only accept one out of the entire thing depending on how busy they are!.

And once you get an agent, don't assume it will be easier from there!. There have been plenty of people rejected through literary agents before!. You just have to keep strong with them!. And just because you get an agent does not meant that that agent is right for you!. You may have to go through several agents before you find the right one!. Get yourself a copy of Agent's Market!. It contains a list of reputable publishers!. also, use Preditors and Editors!. There are literary agents out there who will rip you off!. If they ask for money of any sorts, do not accept them!. They are frauds!. Trying to get published should not cost any money unless you self-publishing, and I recommend self-publishing as a last resort!.

Now, onto self-publishing!. Although it should be a last resort, several books have been successfully sold, and actually published!. The Celestine Prophecy is one such book, but the author had to go around on a tour selling it, and he had to sell 100,000 of those puppies before a publishing company took him on!.

Now, if you can't find an agent or get one, you can put your foot in the door and send your novel to a company that accepts unsolicted, but the rate of publishing for unsolicited is smaller for those companies that if you had a literary agent!. Get yourself a copy of Writer's Market, too!. It contains a list of irreputable publishers!.

Get accounts on absolutewrite!.com and writersdigest!.com!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

To make your manuscript stand out, it has to be original, very well constructed/written AND you need to be able to sell it!. With that I mean, write a compelling letter to accompany your book when you send it (or parts of it, depending on the agent's/publisher's requirements) out!. For more detailed info on how to get an agent or publisher, do a search on "how to get my book published" on Y!A!.

But first you'll need to write it!.

If you like reading that doesn't necessarily mean you know how writing works!. If you eat great food, do you know how to prepare it!? Nevertheless, it's a good start!. Give yourself some exercises, for instance, try to rewrite some of your favourite scenes in books you really liked, add a chapter, write a new story with characters you really liked, etc!. On writer's forums and the internet you can find a lot of these exercises!.

If you're comfortable writing and have a great idea, start writing!. Everybody has a different approach to writing a book!. Some write a page a day, others write all at once and then spend months editing!. This is up to you!. Make sure you edit it thoroughly though before you send it in to an agent/publisher!. Although they will do the same when they pick your book, they will also be influenced by nasty typos in your original!.

Good luckWww@QuestionHome@Com

Here is a link to one of the best novel writing resources on the web: http://www!.absolutewrite!.com/forums/show!.!.!.
Read it, read all of it!. I know it is long, but it is full of info from a published author!.

First thing, before you worry about agents/publishers, you must finish your book!. Get it all written!. Outline if you like, some writers do, some don't!. But don't become a slave to your outline!. An outline is like a road map!. Some of the best things are found off the map!.

When your book is completed, put it in a drawer for 3-6 months to let it "cool off"!. During that time, write something else!. Then take out the manuscript and rewrite it!. Rinse repeat, until you believe it is perfect!. Then do it again!.

Remember, writing is a long process!. Publishing moves at a glacial speed!.

When you are done with the manuscript, post another question!.Www@QuestionHome@Com