“I Can’t Get Published”: Oh, Yes, You Can. Here’s How to Get Published

I recently received an e-mail that began, “I have worked so tenaciously to find the right traditional book publisher to publish my memoir…” The author was starting to give up, lamenting that if she were rich and famous her book would be published. “There is no support for first time authors.” I waited to respond to the author because the whole disempowered tone of it irritated me. I knew I shouldn’t answer an e-mail in that state.  So, let’s look at this as an opportunity: Here’s the truth. Publishers do publish first time authors–their memoirs, how-to books and even novels![...]