What exactly do I do to get published?

Question

I'm interested to know what the publishing process exactly entails for future reference. I'm in my last year of school and I recently finished my first substantial piece of creative writing (a subject I chose for an exam related project). I presented my novel to an audience of school faculty and English Literature teachers and I was encouraged to find a publisher for the work. The feedback for what I have written is generally very positive and after I'm finished with exams, I want to polish the work and attempt to get it published: For future reference, how would I go about this?I appreciate answers from those well versed in the rigours of what I understand is a difficult and frustrating process.

Answer 1

Unless you know a publisher personally you will have to find publishers that are seeking work from new writers (try your university press, or a regional publisher first), or submit your work into contests that are scouted by publishers and/or agents. Although there is a general rule for submission format, best practice is to inquire from the publisher about any specific formatting that they require. Many publishers and contests holders post their calls for submissions along with format instructions on their website or in magazines for writers.

Be prepared to have your work rejected several times, or for your work to be solely accepted by small publishing houses that can only offer a few hundred dollars. Beware of “publishers” that ask for fees.

Disclaimer: As an example of how not to get published I have been writing for thirty years, I do not have connections in the industry; I have submitted my work for consideration only three times and have never been published; not for a lack of desire but a lack of resolve to make it happen. Don’t do what I do. Good luck!