So you want to get published? But where do you start, you have an idea for a book or you have already started writing it and already you are thinking about the publication. However, there are a few preliminary stages to go through before submitting your work to an agent or a publisher. In the following articles we will look at the submission process but firstly let us identify the starting blocks we are going to work with.

Writing is a skill, this might seem obvious and like anything you do it takes time to learn and develop your own style. Consider for one moment trying to take your driving test without having sat behind the wheel of a car and expecting to pass, but this is exactly the situation that publishers encounter. People with no writing experience routinely contact publishers expecting to get their book published, this not going to work, you need to learn your craft before you even think of publication. You need to practice, practice, practice.

Publishers and agents receive thousands of submissions per year from prospective authors, the vast majority of which will never get published and out of those that are published most will not make it onto the best sellers list. The quality of the submission is so important, it is your first step along the road to publication. By making your submission it is probably the first time that you have to deal with the literary world outside the confines of your own writing, it means leaving yourself open to critical analysis and feedback. I do not want to put people off submitting works or to destroy the idea of getting your work published but the harsh reality is that most people who submit work will not get published. You need to make you submission stand out and before you even consider getting published you need to get your submission read.

What will make your submission stand out? Your writing will be the main source so let your writing do the talking for you. Sending a submission is not like submitting a presentation, make it easy for the publisher or agent to take your manuscript with them, avoid folders, remember that these people will only look at new submissions after they have taken care of the authors they already represent. This means that your submission will probably be read outside normal office hours such as on the commute to or from work or when travelling so make the submission easy for them to transport. Secondly make the submission easy to read, use double line spacing and large font. Now this will increase the size of the submission so think about the amount that you will submit, think again about how easy is your submission to transport, no one is going to carry three hundred A4 pages with them. Most publishers have submission procedures on their websites, read them and apply them, follow them, do not think they don’t apply to you, they do.

On numerous occasions people will submit without having received constructive feedback, the only people who have read the submission are family and friends, seek out people whose opinions you trust and ask them to read it, set-up a monthly meeting with a group of fellow authors, get your manuscript assessed by an critique service or attend a course on developing your writing skills. You not only need to learn your craft but you need to get constructive feedback on your work and ideas. Feedback is good, people are so often put off by the thought of receiving negative feedback that they overlook this critical part of the process. You can only learn by getting constructive feedback, take onboard what people say about your writing and work on the comments received. Most of the times if you are honest with yourself, you will know when and where you need to improve. Don’t be afraid of this, work with it.

Your first draft is not going to be your best. You need to self review, be critical about your writing, rewrite the parts that you are not happy with, adjust or cut out completely areas that do not work. If you know yourself that these elements are wrong then more than likely publishers and agent will think so to. You are more likely to get published by presenting a polished draft than one that alludes to an idea. However, bear in mind that if your submission is taken on that you will have to rewrite sections of it in conjunction with an editor in order to fulfil the assumptions of the publisher. Remember the publisher is the person who will be paying your royalties and also marketing your book so they do have the final say, if they do not like the revisions then they will not publish your work.

Only when you are ready should you consider submitting your work to a publisher or an agent. Normally you will only get one chance to submit your manuscript to a publisher, publishers do not often give authors the opportunity to resubmit a piece, so make sure your submission is as good as it can be.

Once you have reached the submission stage then you also need to get professional guidance.

At the Centre for Creative Practices we are organising a one-day seminar about Getting Published on 7 November 2009. (www.cfcp.ie/gettingpublished.htm)

The Getting Published seminar gives new writers and people interested in publishing an opportunity to meet with leading industry professionals and to gather information on the current publishing options and procedures.

The panel will include a number of speakers, from authors, editors, agents and publishers who are only too happy to share their information and experience with you.

Participants include:

• Chris Agee, Editor Irish Pages
• Mary Webb, Senior Editor, O’Brien Press
• Patricia O’Reilly, Author and Creative Writing Tutor, UCD
• Emma Walsh, Literary Agent, Walsh Communications
• Vanessa O’Loughlin, Author, Inkwell Writers’ Workshops
• Miriam Gallagher, Author, Tutor and Writer-in-residence at IADT

 This one-day seminar is a mixture of presentations, talks, workshops and question/answer sessions with literary agents, publishers, tutors and authors.

Opportunities for networking, discussions and asking your questions are an important aspect of this interactive event. It will cover issues such as planning, presentation, marketing, dealing with agents / publishers, developing your style and improving your writing skills.

The seminar will be followed up by a One-to-One Manuscript Assessment Workshop which will take place in the Centre for Creative Practices before on 28 November 2009.

For more information and to book a place, please contact: Courses Centre for Creative Practices
w: www.cfcp.ie/gettingpublished.htm  e: courses@cfcp.ie  t: 01 254 2100