My real name is Constance but everyone calls me Connie. I've been a full-time published author for more than 10 years, with five novels published to date, by HarperCollins, Doubleday and Ballentine, and one novella by Harlequin. My work has hit many major best-seller lists, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, USA Today Weekend, and Essence magazine. My latest is a photo-essay book with photographer Michael Cunningham (Crowns, Queens), published in the spring of 2007 by Bulfinch Press. It's been a great life!
But I also know that many others want to become published authors. Whenever I'm on book tour I get more questions about how to get published and how to write a novel than I do about my books! I've thought about teaching classes at a college or somewhere but I'm sometimes short on time. That's why I've decided to share what I know about getting published here on Squidoo.
You can also visit me at conniebriscoe.com. Thanks!
10 Steps For Getting Your First Novel Published
How I Did It
2) Write a 1 to 2 page query letter summarizing the novel. Be thorough but don't give away too much. Leave 'em wanting more. NO typos or glaring grammatical errors. Be sure to include your contact information and a postage paid return envelope. Rejections will likely come by mail (and can sometimes be encouraging); acceptance by telephone.
3) Get a reputable directory of literary agents that describes the kinds of authors and writing the agent represents. I like the Writer's Market directories published by Writer's Digest. (See "Literary Agent or Publisher?" below for why I think you should find an agent before you submit to a publisher.)
4) Search the directory and find the names and addresses of 5 agents who represent the kind of fiction you write (mysteries, women's novels, thrillers, street lit, etc.).
5) Send the query letter, 3 chapters and return envelope to each of the 5 agents (this is a no-no if submitting to publishers; send to only one publisher at a time). Don't worry about multiple agents wanting to represent you. We should all be so lucky.
6) Wait about a month. Continue working on your novel, take a writing course.
7) If no one agrees to respresent you, don't despair! This is a really subjective business. Go back and look at your sample chapters and query letter with fresh eyes and improve on them if you can.
8) Rinse and repeat.
9) If an agent agrees to represent you, celebrate! Scream at the top of your lungs! Buy an expensive bottle of wine. Get romantic with your lover. Make this moment really special. You'll look back on it fondly someday.
10) Now comes the hard (but fun) part--buckle down and finish that first novel and submit it to your new agent.
Support For New & Aspiring Authors
Rest Stops On the Road to Getting Published
- Connie Briscoe's Website
- I'm going to focus on how to get published here, rather than on writing itself. But if you're looking for writing advice, drop by my website where I offer writing tips such as how to deal with writer's block and finding inspiration.
ConnieBriscoe.com - Critique Circle
- Online writing workshop. You earn credits for critiquing other writers' stories (fiction or nonfiction) and can use those credits to upload your own story and have it critiqued for a week. Forums, writing tools.
- Dishing With the Divas
- Books, buzz, banter. Ten women authors living in the San Francisco Bay Area blog about any- and everything, from how to write to their personal lives and their own novels.
- Forward Motion For Writers
- Forums, critique circles, chat for aspiring and established authors. A Writer's Digest 101 Top Web Site for 2006.
- Rawsistaz Literary Group
- A literary group for those interested in the works of African American authors. Book club, forums, promotion, book reviews and critiques, newsletters. Lots of support for new authors. A Writer's Digest 101 Top Web Site for 2006.
Are You An Aspiring Author?
Guestbook
While I always welcome comments here you can also visit me at my website & blog, which tends to get updated with writing tips and other goodies more often these days. ConnieBriscoe.com
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Daphne L Grimes
Aug 20, 2011 @ 11:15 am | delete
- Hello Connie, my name is Daphne. I have been writting for some years now. Growing up with such a great hideway talent, I have been told on countless times that I need to get copyright and published. As to my dismay, most of my work has been damaged. In the meantime, I began working as an over the road truck driver. But the pen still calls my name. I am curently on vacation til Monday, so I decided to look up somethings to get my dream on the roll. You may question; What is your dream? Well all I wanted to do as far as I could remember is to write. And I am really good at it, or at least I would like to think so. And I am tired of pushing it to the side. I am just writting you to tell you thanks on the steps to take to get published. It leaves me a little more optimistic. Greatfully and Respectfully yours, Daphne L. Grimes
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by ConnieB
I've been a full-time published
author for 15 years, with five novels, a novella and one nonfiction book published to date.
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