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Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 5:46:28 PM

candystripper

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Have you ever had a work published for compensation? How did you go about it?

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 5:48:03 PM

NeedingMore220

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I've been e-published for compensation as well as being an editor for an online publisher. If you're interested, pm me for further questions.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 5:58:26 PM

Alumbrado

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What does your literary agent or editor say when you ask them that question?

That's like saying 'has anyone ever practiced law for money?', if all you want a simple and easy way to get money without all the hassle of going to school and getting licensed etc.

Fact is, there are simply waaaaaaay too many people who want to get paid for putting their opinions on paper, and getting your needle pulled out of that haystack takes either luck, or work, and usually a lot of both.

There are also plenty of people who will give you the secret to getting published ... for a fee of course.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:00:54 PM

SylvereApLeanan

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I've been published and I work part-time at a publishing house. Standard procedure is to write a manuscript, then send a query letter and sample pages to publishers who handle books of that type. If they are interested in buying your work, they will request the full MS. Most publishers have submission guidelines on their websites. READ AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES. It's also worth noting that most major publishing houses do not accept unagented submissions, so you're often better off trying smaller, independent houses if you don't have an agent.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:02:45 PM

NeedingMore220

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I agree, Alumbrado. The competition is fierce. The work you have to do to understand the side of the publishing business where you wish to is intense. Frankly, I'd never give away tons of information, because if you're not willing to do the research, then you don't want it that badly. But I'm willing to point a newbie in the right direction and let her find her way. (no fee required! Biggest tip .. never pay for publishing advice!)

< Message edited by NeedingMore220 -- 8/10/2008 6:03:21 PM >

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:04:17 PM

Musicmystery

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Many times, candystripper. It's what I do.

First, write. A lot. A REAL lot.

Second, submit your work. A lot. A REAL lot.

Third, understand that the market is tough. REAL tough. Just look at what's published---that's your competition, as MOST writing isn't published.

Fourth, learn to write very well very quickly (if you want to eat).

Finally, learn your craft. Know more about writing than anyone should know. Become an awesome editor.

And by the way, after finally----read, read, read, read, read, read, read.

Edited to add---research. A LOT. Everyone's got an opinion.

< Message edited by Musicmystery -- 8/10/2008 6:05:50 PM >

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:18:08 PM

purelea2003

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I worked as a reporter for a daily newspaper for a little over a year. How did I do it? I studied journalism in college. The first articles published were without compensation. When the local paper had an opening, I had credentials of education and published work to show. Writer's Digest 2007 (published yearly) has addresses and criteria for submissions to many and varied publishers. I'm sure you already know there are a myriad of websites for would be authors. Best of luck to you.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:27:54 PM

DelightnDevotion

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I am a published author. I second what everyone else has said. It is much, much harder than it appears. However, when I hold that published book in my hand and get feedback from a reader that it touched their life I easily forget all of the labor and delivery pains.

I recommend that you look into joining writer's groups in your area. This was what jump started my publishing endeavor. They offer critique groups, discussion groups, and seminars that can be very helpful--not to mention being able to build a network of contacts. And, by all means, do attend writer's conferences. They usually have publishers and agents in attendance that you can meet with (sometimes you can get a 10 to 15 minute private conference).

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 6:39:16 PM

pahunkboy

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No,. But I have been good at getting local press -when I served in Americore.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 7:01:23 PM

celticlord2112

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Well, in my case I have been invited. I have had a few columns published in computer magazines as well as the Houston Business Journal, all by request.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 7:36:47 PM

bipolarber

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Yes. I've sold several articles to specialty magazines, and a couple of short stories. I think the best advice on "how to do it" comes from Robert Heinlien:

1. Write

2. Finish what you write.

3. Submit your writing to magazines for publication.

4. Keep your writing on the market (that is, sending to more than one editor/publisher) until it is sold.

The only thing that I would add to this, and it's from bitter experience... is to listen to an editor when they offer you advice.

That's all.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 9:04:21 PM

CallaFirestormBW

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I have two published novels and a number of published short stories, as well as published academic works. I just got a small advance on the first of a new series of novels (though the subject and deadline are giving me heebie-jeebies. *grins*).

The best advice I can give is to keep putting your stuff out there into markets. I am a regular contributor to Duotrope (www.duotrope.com) which is a wonderful center for finding markets and tracking submissions. I also get Writer's Market annually and keep track of their website, and am a member of organizations around the genres in which I write. I'm involved with local writers' groups, and participate in National Novel Writing Month every year.

Send your stuff out. It will come back rejected, but it is NOT a rejection of -you-...just of that piece at this time. I've had a couple of pieces that came back rejected, but then went back to the same place a couple of years later when a themed issue was coming out dealing with what my story was about, and had the stories accepted.

Write... write often. Send your stuff out. Write more.

I don't care if I make a living writing -- I just love to write. From a couple of friends who -did- become full-time working writers, though... the best advice they ever gave me is "Don't quit your day job until your -residuals- pay all of your monthly bills for six straight months, and you have at least one, preferably two, books that are "optioned" (which means that there is a publisher who wants 'first crack' at them when they're done) or one book optioned and one book already sold.

If you write fiction, you have to write the book -first-, then shop it around. I don't have a manager -- it's a chicken/egg kind of thing. You can't get into a lot of the big houses until you have a manager, but you will have a hard time getting a manager until a big house wants you.... so get your stuff out to any possible market that fits that -doesn't- require a manager.

OH... and read the submission rules. Your submission is worthless if it ends up in the 'circular file'. The 'slush pile' is bad enough -- but if you don't follow the rules of submission to the letter, virtually nobody will look at your work (and you'll get a reputation of being 'uncooperative' that will hamper your progress profoundly!)

Best of luck, and have FUN!

Calla Firestorm

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 9:09:10 PM

Maxwell67

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Some twenty-something years ago a speech I wrote and won the Iowa State Forensics competition with was published in a collection. Some plays I have written have been produced and performed publicly, but not published. Mine has had numerous articles and even a few books published.

< Message edited by Maxwell67 -- 8/10/2008 9:13:28 PM >

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 9:20:20 PM

Paulnz

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I have had articles published in trade publications, and become an editor of same later on. How this was achieved was by first becoming acknowledged as proficient in my field and then being asked to submit an article on a certain subject. That went well, and I was then asked to write on other subjects. In one publication I had a column published fortnightly for a year. By getting to know the publisher on one such trade journal I was then invited to edit other articles submitted for publication. What I've found is that talent immediately stands out. The trick is in getting the reader to want to read through to the end.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/10/2008 11:18:17 PM

batshalom

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Yes, I've been (overly) published. Like a few others, I studied journalism in college. When I got out, I got a job as a reporter and then went freelance. Competition is a bitch but I had a LOT of experience and found a couple of juicy niche markets (think major corporations, and then think about their in-house publications). It can be lucrative but no one is going to take you seriously until you get a good clip book / writing resume. You might have to join some writing organizations and a writer's union or two.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/11/2008 5:18:41 AM

cjan

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Ummm, try writing something that's worth reading, then worry about getting paid for it. Horse before the cart.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/11/2008 6:27:45 AM

sambamanslilgirl

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never studied journalism nor do i have a degree in it however i'm published on two music sites.

the first site, i voluntarily submitted music/band/artist reviews for their forum section until asked in 06 to cover the local music scene officially for the station. the second site, their representative found me as i was covering MOB Fest (a Lolla-type music fest for independent music) ...so far i've submitted 4 articles and working on 3 CD reviews.

i'm getting noticed and recognized by other critics (like Rich Roeper) as well as management who send me requests to review the bands they represent. don't expect me to give up the rock star status any time soon. between writing reviews, i'm working on my first manuscript fictionally based on a real band and their songs.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/11/2008 7:11:46 AM

pahunkboy

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with any field- pound the pavement.

Ild say that works better THEN online.

BEWARE of vanity publicshing. they will publish your book- but you pay THEM.

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/11/2008 11:05:51 AM

pahunkboy

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with the talent here... someone volunteer to help write letters to congress.

??

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RE: Have You Been Published? How Did You Do It? - 8/11/2008 11:14:24 AM

CallaFirestormBW

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

with the talent here... someone volunteer to help write letters to congress.

??

I already do, as an activist for the fetish community, glbt community, alt spirituality community, legalized prostitution [and other things], local foods/small farm/farmer's market community, the alt. healing community [on behalf of my Darling, who hates writing and is a homeopath], and for certain libertarian issues that I am compelled to comment on. So what cause did you have in mind. *chuckles*

[Of course, none of our Texas Congresspeople listen to me -- I get back these nice letters that are basically, to broadly paraphrase: "Thank you for writing about X that you are concerned about. F*ck you, and I'm voting in exactly the opposite way you wanted. Sux to be you. Your Texas Senator/Representative." It really isn't that much different than an editor's rejection letter, though -- so I keep sending them back out, figuring that the law of averages should work here just like it does in getting other stuff published.]

CFB

< Message edited by CallaFirestormBW -- 8/11/2008 11:15:19 AM >

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