You send me an e-mail. You tell me youíve written over three hundred poems since you were 16 (in your teenage angst stage). You mention the novel youíve completed and itís really good (it really is!!!), and the novel-in-progress. You mention how the International Library of Poetry has published one of your poems. (But, whom havenít they published?)

However, all your work is stored away, hidden from the public eye on a black little disk.

You have one mission: Getting published.

ìHow do I get published?î you finally question at the end of the e-mail.

At times, I ask myself the same question.

Is this mission impossible? To many, it seems that way. If you stick with me, Iíll make the publishing process slightly simpler.

On this mission, youíll need three things: Goals, Guidance, and Persistence.

An unmentioned New York City college (as well as other schools, Iím sure) offered a course on ìHow to Get Publishedî. Various bigwigs from major publishing houses in New York City were guest speakers on many occasions.

A writer-friend of mine felt it would be a great opportunity to network and finally understand how to get her works published in magazines, and various books. I was hesitant, and suspicious of the courseís objectives, so I didnít follow the friendís lead. I was far from disappointed about my decision. Youíll soon discover why.

Getting published isnít as hard as you think. But, when youíre a beginning writer getting published seems as difficult as James Bond jet-skiing along the River Thames with five barges heading his way.

As a beginning writer, I feel, the main priority should be getting your name out there in the publicís eye. Understand that, at times, youíll have to accept the free issues instead of cash payment. Before you consider publishing though, you should reassure yourself a rejection slip wonít lower your self-esteem and cause you to never pick up a pen, or stroke another key at your keyboard. Hey, trust me, rejections happen to everyone! Here are a few suggestions to better your chances of getting published:

1. Write, Write, Write. This is the obvious one. You need to write all the time. Too many writers say, ìI have a novel about . . .î And the novel sounds spectacular. But, when I ask if I can read it, offer suggestions, the writers finally admit, ìOh . . . I havenít started on it . . . But the title of it is . . .î I despise working with an enthusiastic, talented writer who simply wonít write. Donít waste your breath! Whatever you doówrite your work first, and then speak about it so you wonít look/feel like a fool.

2. Edit, Edit, Edit. If you feel your work is perfect (or as good as you can make it), keep in mindónothing is perfect! Thatís what editors are for! If you are a college student, ask a professor to read it at his/her leisure. If youíre already in the workforce, ask a well-read co-worker to edit it. Or, since youíve some extra cash to spare, hire an editor. Many places, like OutStretch Publications, for instance, offer extremely reasonable prices for editing/proofing services.

3. Share Works with Others. This is when a workshop comes in handy. Studentsótake a creative writing course. Or, if youíre not in school, give copies to about 5 or 6 acquaintances in advance. Then, schedule a ìreadingî at your place. Allow the guests to give suggestions and talk about your work as if youíre not there. Remember, all criticism is helpful criticism. Remember to ask questions about the shaky portions of your work.

4. Websites: Build a website and add your writing to it. Or, even easier, find some of the online places like poetryboard.com, or some of the AOL bulletin boards where writers you donít know can critique your work, and people like me (who have a publication) may find your work and ask for your approval for publication. (This is a very rare occasion, but it does happen.)

5. Hereís the TRICK: Mass Mailings! If you happen to see 2, 3, 4, or even 5 publications that donít mind simultaneous submissions and accepts work similar to what youíve written, send your work to all of them. Sure, sending out a mass mailing of submissions will guarantee more rejections, but you also better your chances of getting published. Remember, include SASE with each submission or 9 times out of 10 youíll never hear from the publisher/editor. (Some publishers like you to include your e-mail address nowadays for quicker responses.)

6. Keeping Track. Keep track of all of your submissions. Be organized. A simple database program is perfect. In the database, list 1) the date you submitted work, 2) the publication and its address, 3) the works you submitted, and 4) the date you receive an acceptance/rejection slip.

If, for some reason you DO get a rejection slip. So what? Just think of it like this: Perhaps the publication wasnít right for your writing. Better still, everyone has his or her own opinion, so the editor simply didnít favor your particular style. Someone else out there probably appreciates your style of writing. Perhaps your submission was received past their deadline. Big deal. Send it somewhere else! Remember, though, writing can always be improved.

Now that youíve read this, let me tell you something. This is everything my writer-friend learned from the writing course. Seems simple, eh? And, whatís even better, unlike my friend, you didnít have to pay a course fee!

This mission doesnít seem so impossible now, does it?

Grab the goals of getting published, the guidance I just gave, the persistence with mass mailings and get yourself published.

Good luck with your publishing endeavors!

This article was posted on January 05, 2004