Five Ways to Become Published

Writers need to target their work correctly or they run the risk of being rejected by editors and publishers. A little preparation can help writers improve their appeal. Here are five ways writers can help their writing be acceptable to editors and publishers.

1. Research The Genre

Make sure that writing is appropriate for the publisher it is submitted to. Writers should make good use of the Writer's Handbook, Writers' and Artist's Yearbook and other helpful directories to find out what kind of writing each publisher is looking for. Don't send a romance novel to a publisher of teenage fiction. If writers make sure they submit to publishers in the right genre, they have a better chance of getting their writing published.

Tip: The information in directories is a useful start but is limited. Once writers have decided on suitable publishers they should ask the publishers for more detailed publication guidelines. This will make sure that writers approach the publishers who are most suitable for their type of writing.

2. Write A Good Query Letter

The query letter is the first chance for writers to sell their book or idea. Make the query letter readable and interesting and a publisher or editor will want to know more. This is a good way for writers to create interest in their novel, story, script, screenplay, poetry or article.

3. Follow Submission Guidelines

If publishers request that written material should be submitted in a particular way, then that is what writers should do. Most publishers have guidelines for submissions. Writers who follow these will get past the first hurdle. Writers who don't may be rejected before their work is even seen.

Example: Many publishers give guidelines for formatting submissions. A publisher may ask writers to submit their work double-spaced on A4 or letter-sized paper, with loose, numbered pages. Some publishers even specify a type size and font (such as Times New Roman, 12 point). Publishers will usually expect a separate cover sheet with the writer's contact details.

4. Believe In Your Writing

Researching the genre and writing good query letters will give writers an advantage with publishers and editors. Writers need to show that they know their writing is right for the target market. They need to be positive about the good qualities of their writing. If writers don't believe in themselves, publishers and editors won't either. Writers need to keep submitting their writing to different publishers and editors. Persistence and self-belief will go a long way to making their writing stand out.

5. Learn From Criticism

Rejection is a part of writing life, but it can be a valuable learning experience for writers. Some publishers and editors will give explanations of what they didn't like about a piece of writing. Writers can use these criticisms to improve their submission for the next publisher.

Writers who take this approach will improve their writing and the way they target their publishers. This will give them the best chance of getting their writing published.