Questions and Answers about Writing and Publishing

Fortunately, a great deal of information is available all around you, because books themselves are the best teachers. If you study the kinds of books you would like to write, you can learn a great deal. How do authors open their stories? How long are they? How many main characters do they use? What writing techniques do they employ? Most writers of nonfiction use the same writing techniques used by fiction writers. These include creating scenes, using dialogue, employing suspense, and so on. Think a lot about what you like best when you read someone else's writing, and use that as your guide.

Whenever you have the opportunity, take writing classes. This might be creative writing, or a particular English class at school. Community colleges and activities centers often offer writing classes as well. If you're a student, join your school's newspaper staff. You may not want to be a reporter when you grow up, but you'll learn a great deal about the writing process and you'll acquire writing discipline.

Read books about writing. There are many. Libraries usually have special sections devoted to this topic. So do bookstores. You'll also find several fine magazines devoted to the subject of writing--publications like Writer's Digest, and The Writer. You can subscribe to these or read them at the library.

Finally, and most importantly, you must write. Every day, if possible. Every writer you ask for advice about writing will tell you this, because we have all learned it. Keep a journal of your thoughts and actions. Compose creative paragraphs about something you saw or did. Write stories or poems or essays or whatever it is you like to do. Write all the time! You're fine-tuning that writing muscle when you do that, and your writing will get stronger and stronger because of the workouts.

If your community has writers' groups, try to join one so you can get to know other people who like to write and you can critique each other's work. Perhaps there are open reading events where you can read something you wrote to an audience. People who work in bookstores often know about these, or you might find a posting in a coffee shop.

I think it's also a good idea to belong to a book club where you discuss books with others. If authors come to your town to speak, go hear them. Even if they write something you're not interested in, if they talk about writing, you can learn from them. Anything that has you thinking about writing and the writing process is of value to you as a writer. Ultimately, it comes down to that old maxim that if you want to be a writer, you must write. Don't just talk about it or dream about it. Do it!

Some of the ways you learn about writing apply to publishing as well. You'll find many books on this subject, and those same publications that address writing will also include information on publishing. A valuable tool for finding out who the publishers are and what they are looking for is a book called Writer's Market that is published yearly. In addition to all the listings of magazine and book publishers, this book includes a great deal of practical information about the publishing process.

It's not easy getting your first book or article accepted by a major publisher. I suggest you begin by approaching local publications. Enter contests. Take nonpaying assignments for newsletters. Volunteer to write the newsletter for an organization you belong to. In short, do anything that will allow you to get your words in print. This will build your confidence and your audience. Eventually you'll be ready for the big time. When your break comes, you'll know what to do with it.

Agents are a two-edged sword. I am currently with my third agent. The first two just weren't a good fit for me. Switching agents is no fun. Many publishers do not require that book submissions come from an agent. If you submit a book proposal on your own and a publisher wants it, the publisher can recommend an agent to you. (You don't need an agent for magazine articles.)

If you feel you're ready for an agent, consult the agent listings in Writer's Market or in a book available in your library called Literary Marketplace. These listings will not only tell you how to contact an agent, but will tell you what kinds of projects specific agents wish to represent. Find some who handle the kind of writing you do. Write a professional cover letter, stating who you are and what you have written. Ask the agent if he or she would be interested in seeing a sample of your writing. Send the letter only to the agent, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a reply.

Wait patiently for six weeks. If you haven't heard from an agent by then, you probably won't, so cross that agent off your list. If agents write to say they are not interested, you can write back, thanking them for their time, and then asking if they can recommend another agent who might be more appropriate for you. Hopefully, at least one agent will invite you to send your sample writings. Do this, once again including return postage so you will hear back from the agent. If no agents write back, keep researching until you've created another list of possible agents, and start over.

This whole process takes time, but this is how it's done. Another way to get an agent is to attend writers' conferences where agents will be. Usually you can set up an appointment with an agent at these conferences. That will give you a chance to pitch your ideas face to face. You can learn about writers conferences through writers' publications such as Writers Digest magazine.

I have important news to share: Rejection is the name of the game for writers. I have a brother-in-law who is a salesman, and he told me that if one in ten calls lands him a sale, he considers it a good day. I view my writing that way: If I send out a magazine idea to ten editors, and one is interested, it's a good day.

You have to be thick-skinned to be a writer. It can be hard, lonely work. But you'll do it because you love it and don't want to do anything else. Every successful writer has had a ton of rejections. More correctly, tons and tons. You'll get your share, too. Hang in there! We've all been through it. Even when you reach a certain level, you get lots of rejection. Perhaps my best advice to you is to not take it personally. It's just business.