Today I\’m going for something different. Not totally leaving the Logan family – in fact I just finished a scene where the real killer is finally revealed to the reader – but the characters in the story don\’t know that. They think their troubles are all over.
Hah!
Instead, I\’m going to go over the \”sure-fire rules for getting your novel published\” I heard at a lecture earlier this year. The other day someone on one of the loops I subscribe to brought up the people who never finish their novel, which made me remember this. Today, I accidentally came across the notes for this lecture. The serendipitous (don\’t you just love that word) nature of that made me decide to post them. So – If you\’re interested, in no particular order, here are the thirteen sure-fire steps:
- Start writing your book
- Keep writing, don\’t stop – something 9 out of 10 people who start don\’t do.
- Make a time commitment to your writing career. Write a realistic goal down, a written goal is easier to stick to.
- Finish the book you\’re writing. Don\’t worry if it\’s not \”great.\”
- Start writing book two, while you query agents/publishers about book one.
- Make a financial commitment to your writing career. Join professional organizations, subscribe to journals like the Writer\’s Digest, Poets & Writers, The Writer, etc. Attend writer\’s workshops.
- Finish book two.
- Submit book two while you begin working on book three.
- Make a heart commitment to your writing. You cannot afford to be afraid or worry that your book won\’t be accepted. Be courageous, create support for yourself. Call yourself a writer.
- Join a writer\’s critique group. Get a Critique partner. Yeah Angela!!
- Finish book three.
- Start book four while submitting book three.
- Keep writing, submitting, repeating these steps. The difference between published and non-published is perseverance.
They said it was sure-fire. Nobody ever said it was easy.