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The Perfect Pen: How to Get Published

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 51 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

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Created 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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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! 

ConnieBriscoe.com

 

10 Steps For Getting Your First Novel Published 

How I Did It

1) Write and rewrite the first 3 chapters of your novel and polish them to perfection. Make them the absolute best you're capable of. It took me almost as long to write the first 3 chapters of Sisters and Lovers as it did to write the entire novel. For tips on writing your novel, visit me at ConnieBriscoe.com

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

Writing is generally a solitary pursuit especially before you actually get published. Networking with other authors and aspiring authors can provide valuable feedback. Many of these online groups let your share your thoughts and writing with others as they share theirs with you. Others offer valuable advice on various topics from how to get published to how to shake the blues!
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? 

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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

StellarWind2012

Your tips are very helpful. Thank you. I´ve got my novel on amazon. Check it out! It's great!
http://www.amazon.com/Stellar-Wind-2012-Catherine-BARBER/dp/1434835081

Posted May 07, 2008

littlespark

Hei Connie, You have built a wonderful lens. Awesome 10 steps to the beginning authors to publish their books with ease. Superb work. Thanks for your effort and for sharing the information. Book publishing is a vast field with full of opportunities. I come across a good informative site about book Publishing on Publishing Feel free to visit this site to surf more information about Basic Books Publishing, Book Guild Publishing, Sales Book Publishing and various categories of book Publishing.

Posted May 02, 2008

samanthablack01

Very helpful advice for aspiring writers! I've been meaning to write an action-fantasy novel since my elementary days but I never got around to it. I think I lack inspiration. I don't know. I envy you so much! This site also has some helpful information about book publishing and the relatively new print on demand book publishing. Please drop by when you have the chance!

Posted April 25, 2008

whytedove

Great lens. I've heard a lot of horror stories about trying to get published. I read an interesting article on Mary Martin's lens where she likened the publishing industry to a medieval castle complete with moats and a drawbridge. Congrats to you for all your successes. :)

Posted April 19, 2008

charles66

Unlike some online courses, with Writers Online Workshops you don't need any special software or hardware to participate! Best of all, there are no scheduled class times-you participate at your convenience, day or night, no matter what time zone you're in. Find out how easy it is to improve your writing in just 6-14 weeks in any of our workshops online writing courses, whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced writer.

Posted March 30, 2008

 
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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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