Check! You did it, you’ve done the hardest part. You’ve taken an idea, a slither of an idea and honed it into a strong piece of writing. Now, you’re ready to send it out into the world.
This brings you to another beginning. This beginning is just as crucial and just as important as completing that piece of writing. Now comes the process of finding the journal, magazine, publisher or website that will accept your work.
You have to start somewhere! There are more options available today, than ever, for getting your writing read, accepted and published in print, online, by others or by publishing it yourself.
Publishing moves a work into the world; thoughts travel on paper, across screens where ideas can be talked about, contemplated by friends, family, colleagues and strangers.
So, where to start? It might be prudent to consult the Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Becoming a Writer and follow that with The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers.
You’ll find resources in The Seattle Public Library’s collection to assist you as you move forward. You might call them tools of the trade. First, I’d like to bring your attention to the library’s Seattle Writes programming. This includes podcasts such as: Seattle Writes: Taking the Mystery out of Getting Published: Six published crime writers unveil the mysteries of writing and publishing in today’s evolving marketplace and Seattle Writes: 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Self-Publish with Beth Jusino.
There are books to discover, each one offering something useful in its own way. If you’re new to the process, then How to Publish Your Book is a good place to start. Publishing is a world and it is a savvy move to understand as much about that world as possible. This includes learning the role Agents, Editors and Publishers play in the publication process. What is involved in Researching Writer’s Markets and what is necessary to know about the Art of the Book Proposal. Having an idea of what happens Before and After the Book Deal will, surely, give you a window into the world of publishing.
Considering putting on the hat of publisher and publishing your own work? Check out The Self-Publishing Path. Learn about what it takes to Start Your Own Self-Publishing Business. Follow up with How to Self-Publish Your Book and you’re on your way. Besides books there’s the Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics and Make a Zine: Start Your Own Underground Publishing Revolution.
The journey of creation and the journey of placing your work on the world stage is a journey that can be well worth the journey, if you persist. Are you ready to begin? Check out the resource list Write On!: Publish Your Writing. We hope the resources on this list will help guide your path to publication.
This blog post is part of a multi-part series. Catch up with other posts: Write on!: The Very Personal Journey of Keeping a Journal; Write On! Nonfiction Writing Informs the World; Write On! A Story Only You Can Tell, Writing a Memoir; Write On! Crafting the Novel, Creating Imaginary Lives; Write On!: Get Moving, Write that Screenplay; and The Last Note Begins with See Sharp: On Transforming Your Thoughts Into Poetry.
~ posted by Chris
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