Sometimes the hardest part of being a writer is knowing where to start.
During January 2020, we will look at things we can do to get started.
We aren’t multi-taskers. We might think we are but physically and mentally we cannot be in more than one place doing more than one thing at the same moment in time. To make up for our inability to do several things at once, we can make lists. We can prioritize the lists.
For example, we have an idea for an article or short story. Maybe, it is already in progress, maybe not.
The Idea can go on the List.
Who is buying articles of this kind in the next six months? Well, we start a Second List. We do a bit of market research.
Who is buying stories like ours? Market Research again. Who buys from new writers? Who accepts only agented work? Yes, another list.
Market Research includes a lot of reading. Fiction or non-fiction, it can’t do any harm to know who has been buying what during the past year. Visit a bookstore or a magazine stand. You can even contact editors for back issues and be right up front that you are considering a submission. Keep a list.
You are going to need to write items for your Submission Packet. You’ll need a query letter or a cover letter, a bio, a sample or clips, the first three chapters, a synopsis and any other item indicated by the publisher’s guidelines. Yet another list.
Social Media, Websites or Blogs, Press Releases, Editing and Formatting need to go onto a list, somewhere.
All of these things, together, can stop any writer in her tracks. Prioritize your Lists and Sub-Lists. You can Network during gap time and start working on the contents of your Submission Packet. Carve out bits of time, an hour here, twenty minutes there. Maybe, Tuesdays are devoted to Market Research and its Sub-Lists. Thursday may be set aside for future blog posts ideas.
You may have more than one project going on at a time. Maybe, you have five short stories and two article ideas ready to go out. By working 10 or 20 minutes or an hour at only one item from your list will make the process a lot less overwhelming.
Let’s sort it out in Topic Chats.
Check out the article of 6 Tips for Submitting I found on Think Written.
Join us Sunday, January 5th at 7PM ET at The Writers Chatroom
6 TIPS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO PUBLISHERS
- DO YOUR RESEARCH
- NETWORK
- FORMAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT
- SUBMIT IT TO EDITING SERVICES
- TAILOR YOUR COVER LETTER
- KNOW THE STANDARD POLICIES FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
By using these 6 tips you will be able to find the appropriate publisher for your manuscript and tailor it to their requirements, setting you up for success and a real shot at being offered a contract.
think written
Come back on Wednesday at 8PM ET and catch up on what you missed.