NationStates Jolt Archive

I need advice...
I just finished writing a novel over 400 pages long and I need advice on getting it published. Remember that I am a just a fourteen year old freshman in high school :( with a lot of time on her hands. PLEASE HELP ME! You can ask me almost any question.

If you just finished, then edit the living crap out of it. I'm a bit of a writer myself, and I know that while it can look good at first, it just probably be edited to an unbelievable extent.

After that, submit it to a (probably smaller) publisher and see what happens.

Get a reader that you can trust, someone who won't shine you on but won't be a dick, either. Be able to take the criticism that they give you. That doesn't mean you have to agree, just recognize it.

If you really think it's good enough, there is a book out called The Writer's Market that will give you submission guidelines and instructions on how to proceed.

Since you are 14 the usual ritual that follows sending out queries or manuscripts is no good. But do something else entirely, strike the fact that you have material out from your mind. It'll drive you nuts.

When I started I put my rejection letters on the fridge and rated them on arbitrary scales (if they get to do it to me....)

Hold on to this: You finished a book. Even if it doesn't get published you actually did it. Thats worth something.

Have fun. If it's not fun you might as well be an accountant.

A high school professor once told me that the best way to become a good writer is to live a fascinating life.

I'd ask why it is that you want it published?

Do you want to have this as a feather in your cap? In other words, to see your words in printed form and feel a sense of accomplishment?

Or do you seriously want to look at getting it accepted by a big publisher and have it on the shelves across the country and/or world?

If it is the first, I'd look into self-publishing. I think there are a number of websites around (do a Google search) that offer small print runs of books. The pricing can be a little expensive but it does give you complete control over the process.

If you're after the second, I'd respectfully suggest you might need to wait a while because of your age. I'm not suggesting that because you are only 14 that the book is somehow substandard but the process of getting a publisher to notice you can be extremely gruelling and very harsh mentally.

You'd need to be prepared to face outright rejection again and again, you'd also need to deal with people showing interest but wanting to rework the book so it hardly resembles what you'd written in the first place. You'd also need to deal with people being prejudiced towards you because of your age.

So...

Gimme some feedback as to the direction you'd like to take with this book and I'll try to come back with some appropriate links and references.

I have self-published two books of poetry, one of which is in bookstores but has only sold a few copies. The other i just received a bunch of copies of to give to people i know. If you don't want to self publish, or can't afford it, i would suggest using a small publishing company, you can find lots on-line. The larger publishing companies usually require that you have an agent, whereas most small ones don't. They also make it a point to publish works that larger publishing houses might not, and you can find ones specifically tailored to the subject matter of your book. The downside is that since they publish so few books a year, your chances may be slimmer.

As has been said, make sure you get someone to read it and edit it for you. My mom is getting her novel published and she is working with one of the teachers who works with her to edit it, before it goes for final publication. You need objective eyes to read it, because no matter how many times you look through it, you will most likely miss some of your mistakes, or make the same ones.

Ooh you live in Thornton. I live in Colorado Springs. Sweetness.

I don't know how you could go about getting that published, but I wish you the best of luck. :)

A high school professor once told me that the best way to become a good writer is to live a fascinating life.
that may help to explain why i have been devoid of creative ideas for the last couple of years :(

A high school professor once told me that the best way to become a good writer is to live a fascinating life.

He could be right..but you have to remember that most artists/writers are generally depressed...

Get a decent Editor.

You wrote a novel?Wow. The best I can do is write short stories, and they have been described as "morbid", "dreary", and "odd". I see those as positives because they make for an interesting story. I am just seventeen myself. Would mind editing my story?Also, what is the story about?

lol...my poems are often called morbid, and they are if you only look on the surface, but there is always an element of hope there. Some people would probably think i was depressed or something if they read them, but i'm really the complete opposite of that.

I need advice...
I just finished writing a novel over 400 pages long and I need advice on getting it published. Remember that I am a just a fourteen year old freshman in high school :( with a lot of time on her hands. PLEASE HELP ME! You can ask me almost any question.

Send it to me. I run XXIII Productions and we do publication as well. It will probably be edited, of course, but we allow the writer to approve of edits prior to publication. We cannot enter a legal contract because of your age, but I'm sure a parent would be more than happy to do that for you.

Could you send me some of your poems and I'll let you see mine. Perhaps we think alike.

Sure, i can t-gram you a couple, so i don't hijack this thread. Just give me a few minutes.

If Sci-fi/Fantasy Edit the crap out of it, then go here: http://bar.baen.com/WB/default.asp?boardid=2 It's the Baen Bar. Cruise around the forum for a bit until you're better known, then ask for advice. Several popular authors hang around there and at least two people have gotten their start from there.

I especially like Lessons. They have a hopeful message.

Thanks:) Yeah, they do have a hopeful message, some just have problems seeing that.

He could be right..but you have to remember that most artists/writers are generally depressed...

Very true and I am kind of an exception, I generally look at things differently and end up depressing or scareing myself. Most say I need help but I think my work is better when I don't talk about it! ;)

The story is kinda complex but to put it simply; it is a chain of events that occur, working against protangonist because no matter what choice they make it works out for the antogonist and limists the characters "hopes".Untill, the group gets a chance to take advantage of the situation only to find the whole thing had been planned out from the start. Including the deaths of her parents.

I like that plot, its creative. I try to drain hope my stories so as to illustrate a point.

I am a bg writer of semi-historical shorts, and I have no wish to see my shorts pressed.... I mean.... I hate puns....

I write short stories that are usually based around semi-historical societies - like the tool age http://p079.ezboard.com/ftheorylandfrm19.showMessage?topicID=34.topic . I love to write and I view it as the best pastime. If I ever finished a thing of novel length, I would definatly send it off to a publisher, get an agent, yadayadayada, or whatever.
Why? Becuase I can, and why not?

I like that plot, its creative. I try to drain hope my stories so as to illustrate a point.

I never thought of it that way, my main character is a teenager and most of us look at life as a great plot out to get us so I made my story an exaggerated truth of thought. :p In case your wondering, I was really madthe day I started this.

Actually, in the Bloodline Tale, Linked above, I have a similar theme - that is, kids rule. Like Kid Enpowerment Literature.

Actually, in the Bloodline Tale, Linked above, I have a similar theme - that is, kids rule. Like Kid Enpowerment Literature.

How old are you? (this is not a insult or anything)

if your english teacher isnt an idiot, give her the first 2 chapters to read. tell her you are hoping to get it ready for publication so she'll hold you to professional standards

take her advice on how to make it work better. writing is an art. no one gets it right the first time around. it takes work and practice just like anything else. you didnt jump on your bike the first time and just ride away now did you.

be prepared for revisions to take at least as much time as it took to write it in the first place, maybe twice as long. its all part of the process

good luck on it!

oh and if this one doesnt get published right away dont tear it up in a fit of anger

quite often in order to get published you have to hit the right topic at the right time. then once you have good sales of another book they will be happy to publish this one since you are a successful author. quality isnt everything in the publishing biz

He could be right..but you have to remember that most artists/writers are generally depressed...
Wow, that would explain why my art is so praised...btw, if you need a cover, I'd be happy to draw one for you!

If your english teacher isn't an idiot, give her the first two chapters to read. Tell her you are hoping to get it ready for publication so she'll hold you to professional standards.

Take her advice on how to make it work better. Writing is an art. No one gets it right the first time around. It takes work and practice just like anything else. You didn't jump on your bike the first time and just ride away now did you.

Be prepared for revisions to take at least as much time as it took to write it in the first place, maybe twice as long. It's all part of the process.

Good luck on it!

Thank you and I fixed some of your errors.

....andI'd NEVER tear it up! This has been in the works for four years. I always freak out when I leave alone.

Run a websearch on " Book Publishers" or something to that effect. I heard of one called Authorhouse that seems pretty good. O and you need to get it copyrighted and stuff.

You mind if I read a bit of it? We can trade off stories. It sounds good.

Authorhouse is the one i published my second book through. It's a good company, but it's one you have to pay for, and it's a little expensive.

You mind if I read a bit of it? We can trade off stories. It sounds good.

Sure... give me a bit though.

you want me to post it here?

How old are you? (this is not a insult or anything)
A young teenager.

you want me to post it here?
If you do, delete it b4 you send off your query.

I know this is a matter of opinion but, if you run out of ideas to write then does that mean you do not care about your writing?

Personally I felt offended when I heard my friend tell me I didn't care about my writing when I couldn't come up with any ideas for a month! :eek:

There are several books on how to publish, I'm sure your library will have some. You can also buy magazines like Writer's Digest that often have advise on submitting works for publication.

You'll have to write a query letter and find an agent. Research those that look more for the kind of stuff you write and send them the query letter. There are literally thousands of first-time writers in the USA looking to be published, and the market can only absorb so many.

You may want to look into self-publishing, in which case all the printing and promotion costs will be on you.

Whatever happens don't give up. It's very rare the author that has his or her first work published and succeeds -- and many of those who do don't usually publish anything else again.

Good luck!

Awwww... another writer! I'm a writer too :D Hmmm... can I read a part of your work? You can read mine if you want? :P I write about teenage relationships... Heh, I'm a hopeless romantic and I can't help it.

I know this is a matter of opinion but, if you run out of ideas to write then does that mean you do not care about your writing?

Personally I felt offended when I heard my friend tell me I didn't care about my writing when I couldn't come up with any ideas for a month! :eek:
I don't think it means you don't care about your writing. It simply means that it's not your life... just yet. When you are a writer you just feel the urge to write. Anything, doesn't matter what, it's not about having ideas or not.

Personally I felt offended when I heard my friend tell me I didn't care about my writing when I couldn't come up with any ideas for a month! :eek:
Unlike you, my friends yell at me for not writing when I have so much ideas. I'm currently working on a story right now, but I also have another one in mind that I'm gonna start on as soon as I finish the current one.

I don't think it means you don't care about your writing. It simply means that it's not your life... just yet. When you are a writer you just feel the urge to write. Anything, doesn't matter what, it's not about having ideas or not.

Yep, it can't be my life, I have school!