April 14, 2010
GETTING PUBLISHED
I thought I would pause my ramblings on promotion for a day to talk about how one might go about getting their manuscript in
the hands of a perspective agent or editor. After all, it makes no sense to speak about book promotion, if you can’t get your book
published. The trick is, knowing who to send your manuscript to. Every publisher and agent is going to have a specific person to
send your work to. To find them, there are a few, simple ways.
1. The Writer’s Market – This is a book, which Writer’s Digest put out every year, in several different editions, that details the
book market. It has lists of agents, editors, even theaters and greeting card companies, who are seeking manuscripts, and
specifically what they are looking for. They also explain, in these huge volumes, how to submit your work to these places. As we
all know, each place we send to has a specific set of guidelines – some places want the first ten pages, others the first three
chapters, others just a cover letter – some want electronic submissions and others will take only snail mail queries. All of the
information is inside the book and it is an excellent resource for any writer who is ready to have their manuscript looked at. The
2010 Writer’s Market can be found here at a reasonable price - Amazon.com. For those who don’t wish to purchase a copy you
can do what I do – either rent it from your local library – or sit in your local Borders or Barnes & Noble Café and copy the
information you need down.
2. Everyonewhosanyone.com – One of my favorite resources in finding a perspective agent or editor. When I say that this
website has EVERYONE that works in the publishing industry, I am not far off. There are very few names that don’t make the list.
This website is broken down by categories – Agents, Editors, Media, and Movies. It not only lists United States people, but those
abroad as well. It is frequently updated, so the information is usually 99% accurate, and it has all the information you need that
you won’t find anywhere else – including in some cases phone numbers and always email addresses. The only fault I can find
with this website, is that it doesn’t offer guidelines for submission for anyplace or what each person might be looking for, so
while you have the email address for an editor at Scholastic, you won’t know if this editor looks for Chic-Lit or Science Fiction.
3. Querytracker.net – This is another fine website. It does require that you register, but registration is free. This site, not only
offers a database of agents and editors, but it also allows you to keep track of who you’ve sent to, and when. This is invaluable
for any writer sending out queries, because it allows you to keep track of them.
I suggest all of these resources, and I will say, that it was no one of them on it’s own that helped me, but all three of them. I think
these are great tools that should be in every writer’s arsenal. With the help of these, you could be on your way to success.
Until next time: Eat your vegetables!
GETTING PUBLISHED
I thought I would pause my ramblings on promotion for a day to talk about how one might go about getting their manuscript in
the hands of a perspective agent or editor. After all, it makes no sense to speak about book promotion, if you can’t get your book
published. The trick is, knowing who to send your manuscript to. Every publisher and agent is going to have a specific person to
send your work to. To find them, there are a few, simple ways.
1. The Writer’s Market – This is a book, which Writer’s Digest put out every year, in several different editions, that details the
book market. It has lists of agents, editors, even theaters and greeting card companies, who are seeking manuscripts, and
specifically what they are looking for. They also explain, in these huge volumes, how to submit your work to these places. As we
all know, each place we send to has a specific set of guidelines – some places want the first ten pages, others the first three
chapters, others just a cover letter – some want electronic submissions and others will take only snail mail queries. All of the
information is inside the book and it is an excellent resource for any writer who is ready to have their manuscript looked at. The
2010 Writer’s Market can be found here at a reasonable price - Amazon.com. For those who don’t wish to purchase a copy you
can do what I do – either rent it from your local library – or sit in your local Borders or Barnes & Noble Café and copy the
information you need down.
2. Everyonewhosanyone.com – One of my favorite resources in finding a perspective agent or editor. When I say that this
website has EVERYONE that works in the publishing industry, I am not far off. There are very few names that don’t make the list.
This website is broken down by categories – Agents, Editors, Media, and Movies. It not only lists United States people, but those
abroad as well. It is frequently updated, so the information is usually 99% accurate, and it has all the information you need that
you won’t find anywhere else – including in some cases phone numbers and always email addresses. The only fault I can find
with this website, is that it doesn’t offer guidelines for submission for anyplace or what each person might be looking for, so
while you have the email address for an editor at Scholastic, you won’t know if this editor looks for Chic-Lit or Science Fiction.
3. Querytracker.net – This is another fine website. It does require that you register, but registration is free. This site, not only
offers a database of agents and editors, but it also allows you to keep track of who you’ve sent to, and when. This is invaluable
for any writer sending out queries, because it allows you to keep track of them.
I suggest all of these resources, and I will say, that it was no one of them on it’s own that helped me, but all three of them. I think
these are great tools that should be in every writer’s arsenal. With the help of these, you could be on your way to success.
Until next time: Eat your vegetables!
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