Learning the Literary Ropes

Many writers, even excellent ones, fail because they don't know how to get a book published. Publishing a book is a grueling, frustrating struggle, but it can be achieved through persistence and thick skin. To have a serious shot at large-scale publication, writers have to learn what publishers are looking for in submissions. If you really want to get your book published, you absolutely must know how to present your work professionally; there simply aren't any shortcuts.

Of course, once a manuscript is finished, writers need a comprehensive reference book, which will keep them up to speed on the current word market. This is a powerful weapon in a writer's arsenal, and most seasoned writers would recommend Writer's Market, which is an all-in-one reference book for authors and includes query letter and proposal help, detailed contact information for publishers and tips for breaking into specific markets. Many of these tips come straight from the publishers themselves. Writer's Market is updated annually and costs around $30.

Since most publishers will not wish to see a manuscript right away, it's critical that you learn the proper way to query. A query letter is usually no longer than a page or two, follows a specific format and should effectively sum up what the book is about, its main events, how it ends and why you feel it's a good fit for the publisher.

Avoid referring to your work as a potential best-seller or expressing copyright concerns; this is insulting to the publisher and makes the writer look like an amateur.

This brief summary is what many publishers use to decide whether or not to request a writer's manuscript. As such, it should be formal, engaging and flawless.

When writers submit their own work to a publisher, it's called an "unsolicited" manuscript. Unfortunately, many large publishing companies, such as Scholastic, Penguin and Random House, do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Due to the popularity of the major publishers, it would be impossible for them to sift through the immense volume they'd receive. If you're hoping to land a contract with one of the publishing giants, you're going to have to find a literary agent willing to represent your work.

Like publishing companies, literary agents must be queried. Usually, writers must write a query letter, synopsis or proposal, but some literary agents don't mind receiving the whole manuscript as long as it's formatted properly. As with publishers, literary agents want and expect certain things, and if you fail to adhere to their standards and preferences, it's likely to result in a swift rejection letter.

In this business, nothing is personal, but the hunt can become maddening. Just because a manuscript is rejected, however, doesn't mean it isn't any good; it may have just found the wrong hands. Every writer suffers rejection. As frustrating as this can be, writers should never compromise their professionalism; it could cause damaging and unnecessary backlash.

Writers have to learn what publishers are looking for in submissions