I don't know about you but getting in an editor or agents slushpile is one of my worse nightmares. I've heard that Harlequin's Mills and Boons gets over 50,000 submissions a year. They might accept 1 or 2 out of that number. I guess that would be better than any lottery out there, but still I get chills thinking of those numbers. Here's a top ten list of how to get out of that slush pile.
1. Join contests. Finaling in a contest will get your novel in front of an agent's or editor's nose. (I personally I'm a contest whore)
2. Conferences. They are soooo important. Meet an agent and editor at a conference. Many times they will ask for your submission. That way you can put the golden words --- "Requested Material". I really adore that two words.
3. Network, network, network. Did I say network? Get to know other writers in your area. Join writing groups. If you can't find one near you, there's always the internet.
4. Polish your query letter, synopsis and first three chapters until the sun literally glares off those pages. Make sure the basics are perfect, like grammer, sentence structure, formatting, etc.
5. Do research. Make sure you are submitting to the right agent or editor. Check out what they are looking for and what their favorite submissions are.
6. Professionalism. Don't tell an agent or editor why they have to have you, that you're the next Nora Roberts or Stephen King. Make sure there isn't loose hair stuck on those pages or for that matter the hint of a coffee stain on any of the pages. Yuck! :)
7. Know your agent or publisher. Do not submit a blind cover/query letter by using To Whom It May Concern. That's surely going to turn off the recipient.
8. Be persistant. Don't give up. Just because you've gotten a rejection doesn't mean that you'll never get published. It's subjective. One agent or editor my hate your writing while another may drool over it.
9. Dont' give up. Okay maybe I'm repeating myself here, but this is really important. How do you know if you'll ever get published if you decide to throw in that towel? Persistance is the name. Yeah, there are people out there that have more talent, but are they PERSISTANT?
10. Lastly just use some common sense. Period. If you think you can get away with it, you probably can't.
Now got out there and get that book published!
Carol Webb
Showing posts with label published. Show all posts
Showing posts with label published. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
GET HAPPILY PUBLISHED IN 2009
GET HAPPILY PUBLISHED IN 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
In the Northwest Valley, at Union Hills and 47th Avenue
(exact address and directions given upon registration)
Time for good resolutions, and what better way to start the year than to give your career a boost by getting published in 2009.
Whether you are finishing a book, or have written two or three, if you are still looking for a publisher, you are not alone. Or maybe you lost your publisher. But even in this tight economy, there is some good news... There has never been so many opportunities for a writer to get published. No kidding!
But some ways of getting published are more lucrative than others, and some can prove lethal to your career. Which one is best suited for your book? Which can endanger your future? What's the story about POD? And what about MP3 audiobooks? How far can you trust a small press? Where do you sell novellas? Are print books on the decline? Are e-books finally viable? And what can you expect from your publisher as far as marketing? Does self-publishing still carry a stigma? Should you be worried about the large publishers buying off the competition? And what's the deal with partnership publishing? Subsidy publishing? Do you really need an agent? How important is it to be on Amazon? And who controls the all important distribution?
Come and learn the pros and cons of each opportunity and make the right choice for your particular book, your particular field, your particular genre, considering where you are in your career right now, to get happily published in 2009.
Get all your questions answered. This is a small group, so space is limited, but everyone will get personal attention.
Registration fee: $70.00 (early bird $60.00 before February 1st, 2008)
includes morning coffee, rolls, working lunch, and professional critique.
Credit cards and payments accepted through Paypal.
More information at:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/seminar.html
Registration form and payment options:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/register.html
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
In the Northwest Valley, at Union Hills and 47th Avenue
(exact address and directions given upon registration)
Time for good resolutions, and what better way to start the year than to give your career a boost by getting published in 2009.
Whether you are finishing a book, or have written two or three, if you are still looking for a publisher, you are not alone. Or maybe you lost your publisher. But even in this tight economy, there is some good news... There has never been so many opportunities for a writer to get published. No kidding!
But some ways of getting published are more lucrative than others, and some can prove lethal to your career. Which one is best suited for your book? Which can endanger your future? What's the story about POD? And what about MP3 audiobooks? How far can you trust a small press? Where do you sell novellas? Are print books on the decline? Are e-books finally viable? And what can you expect from your publisher as far as marketing? Does self-publishing still carry a stigma? Should you be worried about the large publishers buying off the competition? And what's the deal with partnership publishing? Subsidy publishing? Do you really need an agent? How important is it to be on Amazon? And who controls the all important distribution?
Come and learn the pros and cons of each opportunity and make the right choice for your particular book, your particular field, your particular genre, considering where you are in your career right now, to get happily published in 2009.
Get all your questions answered. This is a small group, so space is limited, but everyone will get personal attention.
Registration fee: $70.00 (early bird $60.00 before February 1st, 2008)
includes morning coffee, rolls, working lunch, and professional critique.
Credit cards and payments accepted through Paypal.
More information at:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/seminar.html
Registration form and payment options:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/register.html
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