How to Get Published

Every writer’s dream is to have their work published, but unfortunately most never do. There are a countless number of writers out there that are all hoping to get their big break. Whether they want a book, an article, a poem or a short story published – most find that it is impossible to find a decent publisher. So how do they get around this? Should you just accept that you may not get published, or is there some way that it can be done? Here are several tips on the most effective way to get your work published:

�Presentation is Key

No publisher will even look at your work if you have not done everything that you can to make your work look presentable.There should be no grammar or spelling mistakes within the text; this is a turnoff for editors examining your work. Also, avoid binding your manuscript with anything such as a cardboard folder or anything other than a couple of elastic bands.

Typically publishers only want to review the first three chapters of your book, or if it is an article you would like published, they will require merely a small outline of what the article will be based around. When providing book chapters you should also create a 300-500 word outline which summarizes the main points of the text.

�Always Do Your Research

Researching your market is the most important thing you should do before sending any work off to a publisher. For example, if you have written a crime novel, you do not want to send it to a publisher who solely publishes romance novels. The publisher will simply discard the submission without reading it since it is a piece that they cannot use. So always research which market your work best fits into beforehand.

The best way to find out which publishers are best for your type of work is to get a copy of the writer’s handbook or a directory of publishers and agents. These are available in most book retailers or you may purchase them online.

�Decide Between a Publisher or an Agent

It is difficult to decide whether to first make contact with an agent or a publisher. If you feel your work is worth putting money into, then an agent may be the best place to start. An agent will look out for your best interests, while publishers will more than likely look after their own. Publishers know how to make the situation work for them and will view you as a mere potential profit maker. However, an agent knows exactly how to deal with publishers and will protect you from being offered an unfair deal. Additionally, publishers tend to take authors with agents more serious than those who do not have representation.

Furthermore, you may encounter publishers who will ask for money in order to publish your work. This is not normal practice and you should not sign anything or hand over any type of fee.

�Know What You Are Sending

Many agents and publishers will claim that they want ‘no unsolicited mms’. Many people take that to mean that the agent does not want any author that has not been previously published at all. However, what it usually signifies is that they do not want the full manuscript, but an outline and a sample of the work.

Many people are also unsure as to how many publishers they should send their work to. While publishers do prefer you to send one copy at a time, you can state in your cover letter that you have sent multiple copies to different publishers. Unless you have promised a publisher exclusive rights, it is unlikely that you will encounter a problem.

âÂ?¢Don’t Aim Too High and Be Ready for Rejection

The biggest mistake people make when sending out their manuscripts is that they have not yet prepared for rejection. Even bestselling authors have had to endure some rejection in their lives, some even being rejected for years before they are finally published. This is all part of being a writer. There are thousands of submissions each year and not all of them can be published, so it is important to keep writing and submitting your work despite rejection.

Another point to consider is that you should keep your expectations realistic. First time authors should not expect their work to be published by well known publishers. So, be prepared to submit your work to smaller and less known publishing houses. These companies are more likely to publish work by unknown writers and usually have a smaller pool of authors to choose from.

It is very possible that there is a publisher out there that will accept your book, article, story or poem. So, it is extremely important that you keep working at it and not give up. There may be a lot of heartache along the way, but if you do persevere it could pay off greatly in the long run.