So you want to get published! That’s an amazing goal to have. I want to tell you though: it isn’t easy. You’re going to run into a lot of problems along the way, and sometimes you’ll feel like you want to quit. It is worth it, though. I want to make that clear. It’s absolutely worth doing. You have a story to tell, and no one else is going to tell it. Remember that.
The first step to getting published is deciding how you want to be published. Do you want the traditional publishing, where you get an advance and can see your books in bookstores, or do you want to be self-published, where you direct everything and keep most of your profits? There are ways to do a hybrid publishing as well, where some parts of your journey are self-directed, and others are guided by a publishing company. The best way to decide this is to determine what you want your goals to be in publishing. Every path has its own perks and its own pitfalls.
If you choose traditional publishing, get on Twitter and search for Pitch Madness under the hashtag #PitMad, and also pay attention to the #mswl or Manuscript Wishlist of different agents. Most of the publishing industry is on Twitter, and establishing yourself among that crowd is the best way to get your manuscript in front of agents. You can also cold-email agents with a query letter, but make sure you research the agent first. They should represent your genre and age level, and have their queries open. Remember, agents are people too. They have likes and dislikes, and they want to feel like you’re reaching out to them, not to a whole crowd of people with a slightly different template each time. So, do your research. Find the agents you think will work for you. Reach out to them. Don’t get discouraged by rejections. You can query twenty agents before getting a bite from someone wanting a full manuscript, and even then, they may still reject you. It’s going to hurt at first, and then it will hurt less. Keep revising and refining your manuscript, and eventually, you’ll get an agent hooked.
After you get an agent, their job is to get you a publishing house and negotiate your contract. Keep in mind: you’ll still have more work to do after this. You’ll need to edit your manuscript to the publishing house’s standards, and handle a large part of the publicity. There’s no guarantee you’ll be a bestseller, and that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s just enough seeing your book in a bookstore. A lot of beginning authors seek to traditionally publish, and it can be a great path for someone who’s starting out on their journey. It’s a long path, though, and you’re not guaranteed that everything along it will be smooth.
If you choose self-publishing, your road will be a lot steeper, rockier, and sometimes it will feel like you’re getting nowhere. You will be completely responsible for cover design, editing, and publicity. Most self-published authors tend to hire people for those roles. At the very least, you’ll need a line editor or copy editor, and a cover designer, unless you have some talent with graphic design. As you know, I’m a self-published author, and that comes with wearing a lot of different hats. Author is only one of those.
The best resources you can use for self-publishing are Reedsy and looking through Jane Friedman’s resources. They both are a treasure trove, and can really help you along your self-publishing journey. Reedsy has freelance professionals listed for everything you can think of: every level of editor, publicist, cover designers, interior designers, and even mapmakers for your fantasy novels. You can find who works best for you based on your needs and budget. Jane Friedman is well-known in the publishing sphere for being the go-to person for publishing advice. She talks about the different requirements for different kinds of publishing, and how to get the most out of those professional relationships.
Above all, young writer, remember this: you deserve to tell your story. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Pitch Wars
Jane Friedman
Reedsy
Manuscript Wish List
Avery Carter 