How to get published

In this article I want to show you how to go about getting published, and also how real publishing works. (Not the article you wanted? Check the index for more)

I'm not going to gloss over the facts - it's very hard for a new writer to break into print with a reputable commercial publisher. It took me five years, three books and countless setbacks, and at times I really considered taking up something less taxing - like bullfighting.

There are three ways to get a book published: The first is to keep sending your manuscript to publishers or agents, one after another, non-stop. Never harass them, because they won't appreciate phone calls about unsolicited manuscripts, and you will drive an agent or publisher away quicker than you can burn a sheet of paper.

Remember: money flows to the author. If your publisher wants money for something - anything - you're not being published, you're being printed.

To get into print (with fiction, at least) you need to write well, you need to tell a fresh story and you have to be able to put together a logical plot and believable characters. If you're missing one or more of those pre-requisites I would suggest joining a writers group. Critters (free) or the Online Writing Workshop (modest fee) are good for science fiction and fantasy writers, and there are similar groups for other genres.

Before you start submitting to publishers you should consider getting an agent. However, if you want to go it alone you should bear in mind that most publishers receive thousands of unsolicited manuscripts a year, and of those they might buy one or two. Increase your chances by researching your market before submitting. A publisher's web page will give you an idea of the type of books on their list, so don't submit a horror novel to a romance publisher or you're just wasting your time.

Worth a read: Alerts for Writers and how publishing works

Warning! Before you send ANYWHERE do a Google search on the name of the publisher plus the words 'vanity' or 'scam'. If you don't know what a vanity press is, you're prime target for an approach by one and you shouldn't be sending manuscripts anywhere until you've done a lot more research.

If your prospective publisher offers you a contract with a one dollar advance, run like hell.

This bears repeating: In the publishing industry, money flows TO the author. You should NEVER pay your agent or publisher, whether it's for book doctoring, editing, printing, buying copies of your book, cover art, advertising or fees of any kind. A reputable publisher will offer a first time author an advance, and will pay you a percentage on every copy sold.

Having checked out your publisher, make sure you submit in a professional manner. I've just added a short article on writing a query letter which you might find useful, and you can always search Google for manuscript formatting guidelines. Don't print on a wheezy old dot matrix, and don't send out a tatty old manuscript which has already done the rounds umpteen times.

Responding to rejection letters is unprofessional and a waste of time. Check SlushKiller for an analysis of rejection letters and authors' responses to them.

When your manuscript comes back there will usually be a brief 'no thanks' letter. This can be anything from 'Doesn't fit our list' to 'Not for us', and while you might disagree there is absolutely NO point firing off a letter telling them just how wrong they were to reject your masterpiece and how you'll prove yourself to the world and make them feel two inches tall and... and... Don't laugh, it happens.

Here's why making a fuss won't make a blind bit of difference: When your manuscript arrives at the publisher's premises it goes into a (big) pile. If it's a publisher who doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts they'll be paying someone to pack them up and send them right back again (assuming you included return postage) If they do accept unsolicited manuscripts they will usually have a junior editor who scans the first page or so of each submission. If the writing is shaky, back it goes. If the characters have been cribbed from the movies or popular TV shows, ditto. Only if the first few pages pass muster will that first reader move the manuscript into a (small) pile destined for a higher authority.

To help your manuscript past the first stage, see 'The first five pages' on my books-for-writers page.

For every hundred manuscripts received at the publisher, perhaps one or two reach this stage. They will now be read more fully, to see whether the author has a story to tell. And whether the book fits with the publisher's offerings (which is why you researched this first.) And whether it's similar to another title the publisher is bringing to market. And whether it's a blue moon and pigs are flying. (The last one isn't necessarily true, it just seems that way from time to time.) Of 100 manuscripts which make it to this stage, perhaps two or three make it through to possible acquisition. That's one out of every five thousand received. Because so few make it, many people assume publishers don't want new writers. Incorrect - they need new writers to replace those lost to other publishing houses and to natural (and unnatural) causes. It's just that there are a lot more writers than there are places for them to be published.

Over 95% of all manuscripts submitted to publishers and agents aren't of a publishable standard. See my article on rejection for more on this topic.

Now, some people have asked me what their chances are of getting published, as if the novels you see in bookstores were selected by pulling names out of a hat. The truth is, if you've honed your craft and written something publishable, your chances of getting published just improved by a huge margin. And how do you know whether it's publishable? Send it to publishers! (Alternatively, seek honest peer review.)

Unfortunately, writing is like driving, because everyone believes they're good at it and nobody wants to be criticised. It's important to be honest with yourself, though, otherwise you could spend years and hundreds of dollars submitting something which will never get past the first round. That's why it's important to keep writing, because practice does make perfect.

So, I don't believe there are any shortcuts... which leads into my next point.

While it's definitely worthwhile getting to know people in the field, all the fantastic networking in the world will not get a lousy manuscript published as a friendly gesture. Kate Elliot

The second way to get published is to become Prime Minister, or a gold medal Olympian, or a senior member of the Aussie cricket team (you get my drift - fame sells). You hire a ghost-writer and then open a bank account to hold all the money.

There is a third way, which is self-publishing. This is where you write the book and pay to have it printed. If you choose this route I recommend paying an editor for an evaluation before you send your book off to be printed. It's a small cost compared to that of the print run itself.

Finally: keep writing. Self publishing will give you a quick rush, since your book can be on sale within weeks and you can tell friends and family your novel is in print. Enjoy the feeling, but get to work on your next book. By the time it's ready you'll have sales figures from the first one, and you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether to continue self-publishing, or whether to try for a commercial publisher this time around.

If you enjoyed this article, don't keep it secret!

Please remember that none of my articles are meant to discourage. In fact, they're all written for the me of three or four years ago, the Simon Haynes who was ready to take the next step but didn't know what that step was.

If you have any comments on this article, please contact me

About the author
Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock series, and is also a founding member of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. Simon also wrote all the software on spacejock.com, most of which can be downloaded for free.

These pages contain my thoughts on the writing game. If you take one suggestion or pointer away from my waffle I'll be happy.