Tips for Grown-Up Authors

That first letter from a publishor that says...We want to publish you. A contract is enclosed, and you're ready to sign on the dotted line. But how do you get there? Is this a dream, or does it really happen.
I've been writing for 15 years, starting with Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories and finding my niche in Children's Literature. Not until now have I felt I've had a story ready for publishing, and that's after 3 years of rewrites, and sharing it and using it for instruction with my classroom students.(Yeah, it compliments my day job too. Through a little teaching technique called Writer's Workshop and Young Author's Faire.) But does it really take ten years to get something? How can I get published? Is it like magic?

Where would you start ? One way is to ask yourself, where are you in your career in writing.
Relatives and friends might like your story, but who has looked at it seriously? Teachers, professors, editors, contest judges?
It depends on what you have done already.
I can list some of the things I've found in different writing books and how to get published books in my research on how to get started. Use which feels right for your stage of your writing career. Here's the start of the magic show.

  Trick #1:  Take writing workshops through your local adult education available near you. I have found Jr. college classes and university workshops are very helpful in developing my writing craft as well as using techniques from them to teach other younger writers. I've also found an on-line courses university called Suite 101.The university offers several on-line courses for writing and in a couple of genres as well.

Trick #2: Have you tried looking on the internet for support websites and organizations to join? Here are some recommended sites to try:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators'
For those starting out, I find that reading the information, newsletter, and posting on the message boards really are valuable. I got pointers about agents, tips on what kinds of stories where needed from the newletter, and endless support from other writers like me trying to make it through the message board.
The fee is 75 dollars to join, and well worth. The society also put on an annual writing convention.
Writer's Net
The Writer's Net gives info on areas that writer's need to know from publishors, agents, and to legitimate links of support.
Trick #3: Do you have a finished manuscript? Lots of time there are tons for great book ideas you might jot down. But have you written out the whole story and worked it through a few times. Maybe shut it away and started on something else for awhile. No, it really does help, so a few months later, you get a new perspective on things.
Ask yourself, what have I written that is a project that I can actually sell?
Trick #4: You think you have something, now what. Time to start sending that story out to see what happens. Can't play the lottery unless you buy a ticket. There are all kinds of books that list editors and publishers. Currently I'm using Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market 2007 .  It lists over 800 editors in publishing companies of children's books.

Which brings us to Trick #5:
What is the market for your story? Is it sci-fi? Is it a children's book? Romance? What market would it fit? What makes your book stand out more than other books that would be sitting next to it?
Trick #6
Attend writing conventions. This is a great way to share what you've written, get feed back, and network with other writers and possibly a few editors. This has been an incredible resource for me in making connections, finding other conferences and workshops, and just meeting and talking with others that are writing and trying.
PLEASE NOTE: Conventions and workshops vary in price. Some can be local and some far. I've been to LA and Idaho for conferences. Each one I learned a lot and made lots of friends I still get advice from.
Trick #7
Submit to Children's Magazines. Magazines are always a great way to get the first sell. So that way with a book manuscript you can add onto that cover letter the published articles or short stories already in print. I've already have submitted to several magazines, different stories. I'm finding that marketing yourself and finding the right match-up of magazine with story is the hardest so far. But I keep sending them. One will get published.

As with everything in writing, see where your efforts take you. Writing can come out of anything. And though I do have a journal, I tend to do something writing oriented everyday. Whether it's updating my writing website, prewriting ideas, researching on the internet for a story, or writing the text in a short story, keep doing something. If you've let something sit for a month or two, that's part of the process. My current novel has taken almost 3 years to get to a publishing point. Stories don't have to take that long, but I did work on others while I took a break on that one. Remember, keep at it, and trying until something happens. You may be surprised at what you can do.


Trick #8
When do you know when to self-publish? The publishing industry moves VERY SLOW! Be patient, an editor will eventually like your work. But there are other options out there as well. Ebooks are the way many writers are getting started, and self-publishing companies can help as well. With computers, self-publishing has dropped in cost dramatically. My self-publshing company, Trafford Publishing, is in Canada. They were writers that got frustrated with the slowness of thet publishing industry. So they set up a way to do print to order. Most of their sales are on-line through websites. With the internet these days, a new writer can start out with the internet as their market place. Creating some sales numbers for your book is always going to help sell your book to a bigger company. Check the contract if you E-Publish or self-publish. A lot of the companies let you retain the copyright, and then maybe you can be picked up later by another publishing company.
I'm personally at this step. I did have to be my own editor, find an artist, and proofread my manuscript with a fine tooth comb. So it is a lot more work, but rewarding in the end. I will update this Trick of the trade more as I see how my sales go with my first book.

Trick #9

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! It took about 3 years to get to a point where I have a published book, and that is after one year of being rejected and finding a self-publishing opportunity. Through it all everyone kept saying, keep writing, finish the manuscript, and don't give up. Now everyone is saying, write the second book. As the song goes by the band JOURNEY, don't stop believing.

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