Thread: Fastest way to publishing.

We may see a 60's/70's revival, where literature means a lot to American culture.

Like Zap Comix? I'm all for it.

Originally Posted by lin

Like Zap Comix? I'm all for it.

I was thinking more of Dr. Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham was a masterpiece.

I was wondering what is the best way of putting a story together? How does planning and research come into play on this? How many characters should there really be in a novel and how should it be written where any publisher will say, "I LIKE IT!! Here is the contract!!"?

Best,
P.J.

Best way is ass on seat, fingers on keyboard. Plan if you consider it necessary (some do, some don't), likewise research. There should be as many characters as you feel necessary, and it should be written brilliantly.

What did you want, a magic formula?

I don't get this question, and you see it a lot.
You never see, "how to I get to be a ballplayer" or "how to your learn how to play guitar" or "how to you organize a painting"

As far as a novel is concerned, I'm putting my time and energy into writing something that might be worthy of publishing.

I know the process is daunting, so I'm using a little self-psychology. I simply don't want to become discouraged at this point by worrying too much about getting published.

I went back and forth before posting this, but there's a guy who used to run an online poetry magazine called TMP Irregular. Tim Gurney's the name, I think. He's got a great eye for poetry. Has published a number of up and coming poets including Barbara Jean Reyes and a number of established. He's got a good eye for poetry and likes to find new talent. Might toss him a submission. If he rejects you, he'll let you know why. Which is also valuable.

Originally Posted by lin

Talent and publication are two extremely separate variables that are only vaguely related. Same goes for craft, in the sense you mean it here, Mr SF

Yeah. Dan Brown and Clive Cussler prove this.

Originally Posted by p06e3

What is the easiest way to becoming a published author or some short stories, poetry or a book? I have a poem written and I have been asked to make a payment to have my own creation in a book of somesort. To me that is a rip-off. Why should anyone have to pay anything just to have their own work published? Where can I publish my poem and/or stories?

Thanks,
P.J.

Well, the easy answer is that your work will find its own home. The difficult answer is that if you don't pay to have your work published then you may suffer from feeling invalidated. So I say keep writing and fuck everybody, because in the end all we have is each other.

As far as a novel is concerned, I'm putting my time and energy into writing something that might be worthy of publishing.

I know the process is daunting, so I'm using a little self-psychology. I simply don't want to become discouraged at this point by worrying too much about getting published.

I like that strategy. Trying to write something worthwhile with the idea of pandering to a publisher in the back of your mind is horrible.

Originally Posted by lin

I don't get this question, and you see it a lot.
You never see, "how to I get to be a ballplayer" or "how to your learn how to play guitar" or "how to you organize a painting"

lin, clearly you have never been to "bring your dad to work day" at school with someone who's dad was in the Eagles or the Yankees.

To show what the vanity contests (poetry scammers) were doing, check out the Wergle Flomp contest. Inspired by this poem and the consequent letter, a contest is held each year to the worst poem that receives a lavishly praised letter back proposing publication... at a cost.
Find it here:
Winning Writers - Poetry Contests and Resources for Poets and Writers

Stephanie Meyer was far from talented, (twilight series) yet her books have become international best sellers (Thanks to some miracle and insane fan girls). There's going to be no easy way like everyone else said. But seriously, if you were that committed to being published, you would go through hell and back. You're going to require some backbone.

I have had thoughts about being published, I've been interested in it but I don't want that to cause huge stress on me. I write much better in a relaxed situation.