Thread: How realistic are my hopes for getting published

I'm a 27 year old guy whose always wanted to write. Life took me away from that though, and I've just made the decision that, if this is what I want, I'd better get to it. I'm halfway through writing a YA novel that I think is shaping up wonderfully. My question is, with a resume that is completely bare (literally I've done nothing) and no degrees to speak of, am I being silly to think I'll get someone to publish it ?

The odds of finding a publisher for your work are very very long. The competition out there for the publishing slots available is very stiff. You're going to be competing against everyone, from best sellers and established midlist authors to the vast multitude of first-time hopefuls.

However, the better the novel you write, your chances increase. And sure, I think there's a little bit of luck involved.

But consider, if you don't write/complete/revise/submit the novel, the chances are zero for success.

I found someone to publish my work, and I have another novel with a major publisher that has worked its way from the slush pile up to the managing editor--still a long shot, but not impossible. If I can do it, Wonderall, why can't you?

As for your resume--the quality of the piece is what will sell it to a publisher. Sure, if you had a major platform, it might be easier--if the publisher thought that you could still sell enough books earn through the advance while making a profit for them.

It should be noted, that I am talking about the more traditional route of publishing (for lack of a better description) which I think your question referred to. There are vanity presses that will print anything you're willing to pay for them to publish. And there is self-publishing. Both of those options promise a virtually 100% chance of being published.

Also, consider that not all publishers are equal, so do your homework before submitting your work--but that's a little way down the road. Good luck with completion of your first manuscript. And while that one is out seeking a home--start writing another.

Jeff Herman puts out an outstanding guide for aspiring authors. I answers almost all your questions, gives a realistic assessment of your chances, provides a roadmap and manages to encourage you the whole time. ...And I'm not on the payroll! Just found it to be incredibly helpful.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the feedback. I realize it's probably a longshot but as you said, it's better than no shot.

I think it depends on numerous factors. I suggest starting a blog now. Get your name out there. You might also try YouTube. You are more likely to get published if you can prove you have some sort of publishing.

Some other factors to consider are the strength of your writing, the appeal of the subject your writing about, and your marketing skills. If you do get a book offer, I suggest investing your money in a publicist. Overall, you want to prove that there is a market for your writing and that people want to read what you have to say. Since you are going into YA writing, you might also want to try talking at High Schools about subjects that you think are important like sexual harassment or bullying or whatever.

Hope this is of help. I'm 25 and just finished my memoir and now I am looking at getting it published. And, to KarlR, Jeff Herman is actually my first choice for agent to represent my book. I have a lot of personal reasons why I believe he would be a good fit for my book, but I don't want to get into that here on this message board.

the post above me is interesting. im on board with some of it, namely getting your name out there. my experience with YA is limited. if you were doing adult fiction, i would say start getting work out there, publishing in journals, etc. if you were writing non-fiction, id say do the same thing, but target trade magazines and so on related to your topic. if you were writing a memoir, i would suggest being famous; barring that, i would suggest doing some combination of the above.

the part about getting a publicist im not sure i agree with. none of the professional author types i know have them. once your book has been accepted at a publisher, the publisher will invest X amount of money into promoting it. yes, times are tough, so you'll have to do more self promotion, but im not sure hiring someone to market you would be the wisest investment. maybe. who knows. i wouldnt do it, though.

speaking to the OP, the good thing about writing is that you dont need degrees or any kind of resume (though it sure can help). finish your book, develop your platform as much as possible, and try to find an agent. is the deck stacked against you? sure. but then, its stacked against almost everybody. dont let the odds dishearten you. someone has to win the lottery - theres no reason why it cant be you.

Originally Posted by strangedaze

the post above me is interesting. im on board with some of it, namely getting your name out there. my experience with YA is limited. if you were doing adult fiction, i would say start getting work out there, publishing in journals, etc. if you were writing non-fiction, id say do the same thing, but target trade magazines and so on related to your topic. if you were writing a memoir, i would suggest being famous; barring that, i would suggest doing some combination of the above.

the part about getting a publicist im not sure i agree with. none of the professional author types i know have them. once your book has been accepted at a publisher, the publisher will invest X amount of money into promoting it. yes, times are tough, so you'll have to do more self promotion, but im not sure hiring someone to market you would be the wisest investment. maybe. who knows. i wouldnt do it, though.

speaking to the OP, the good thing about writing is that you dont need degrees or any kind of resume (though it sure can help). finish your book, develop your platform as much as possible, and try to find an agent. is the deck stacked against you? sure. but then, its stacked against almost everybody. dont let the odds dishearten you. someone has to win the lottery - theres no reason why it cant be you.

Yes, strangedaze that is true that publishers will invest x money on your book. However, many of the book publishers will only push the really big books. They don't do much for pushing most books. A top agent, Jeff Herman, recommends that writers get a publicist and he believes that publicists are one of the secrets to launching a successful writing career. Yes, you can get published. But, like an agent, a publicist can also do a lot to help further move your writing career.

fair enough. its not something im all that familiar with.

It’s tough tough tough tough out there. Did I mention it’s tough? You’ve got to love writing more than anything else, be willing to suffer rejection after rejection, harsh criticism, writer’s block, days of deleting crap you’ve written and despairing that you’ll never write another sound word... and then some. Even with publications behind you – I’ve won some big comps recently, after hard hard slog at the short story form, as well as featuring in some pretty big magazines – and none of this has particularly helped me get an agent for my novel. I put myself out there. Lots. I realise that perhaps my novel just isn’t saleable. It’s hard to accept this when you’ve worked hard but you have to sometimes, and then move onto the next. Every piece or thing you write teaches you.

Sadly, it’s often two things that make it ‘happen.’ Luck or chance or whatever you wanna call it – like sending your novel about truck drivers to an agent who on that exact day happens to be looking for a novel about truck drivers. And knowing someone - knowing someone who knows someone is so often key. That said, I know there’ll be cases where it happens.

Of course, it goes without saying that you should write a novel that’s better than anything else. Now, how hard can that be?

i agree with Loulou but feel obligated to add that everything can change for you in an instant. your next story can get you noticed by an agent, who can then ask you if you have a novel. and you will. and next thing you know, youre on the other side of the wall. so dont despair. (that goes for YOU too, Loulou )

In regards to what Loulou said, knowing someone that knows someone can end up being a lot easier than it looks these days with social networking and everything. And, she is right. If you know someone that person can put you in contact with their agent. My suggestion is to make a list of your favorite writers start writing reviews on blogs and also make YouTube reviews. Friend them on Facebook if possible and show them the reviews they made. Send them a short message telling how you appreciate your writing and are also writing something in a similar and ask if they will look at the first five pages or first chapter. If the writer likes your writing then perhaps they will put you in contact with their agent.

for sure. you could also join a writing workshop or a group and try to impress your professor / teacher / cohort. one of them might have an agent for referral. has happened to people i know, to pretty stunning effect.

The easiest way to get published is to become a celebrity and have a child. This immediately qualifies you as children's book author. If don't want to actually have a baby -- no problem -- between movies or albums, just swing by a third-world country and pick one up. Be sure to include some message about equality and everyone getting along -- and the publishers will be clamoring for your work. It's just that simple.

Celebrity sells Joseph, it is harder to make a convincing case for good, original writing, but not impossible.

It’s the celebrity that sells? I had no idea -- I thought they were all awesomely talented writers. Boy, am I disillusioned.