1st Books: Getting Published

[Meg]

One of the things I always wanted to know when I first started writing was how people get to being published, whether it be shorter pieces or books. For me, the answer was that, with the exception of the first piece I published, a lot of rejection came first. When I redid my website (www.megwaiteclayton.com) in preparation for the release of my second novel, The Wednesday Sisters, I added a blog called 1st Books on which I guest host different writers, and the one thing that continues to amaze me is how even the "overnight successes" took years.

I'd love to hear stories of how others got into print, or what you are doing to try to get there.

[[deleted user]]

sheesh, I desperately want to get published, but I haven't really looked up into any publishing companies, and I'm kind of writing a query letter, like an outline, but I still need to read through my story a couple times to get it to it's fullest potential.

[Brigid ✩]

Hi Meg! ;D
Well... I've only finished writing two books in my entire life: one when I was thirteen, and one this summer (i'm almost sixteen now). The first one I didn't even try to get published because I was too intimidated by the idea, and it wasn't a very good book either--I should probably edit it some more. Again.
The second book that I wrote is a lot better, and I'm currently trying to get it published. So far I've only sent a query letter to one literary agent, and I'm still waiting to hear from her.
I know that it will take a long time to get published; I'm ready to face a lot of rejection. But I'm going to take it because writing is my life and it's what I love to do! So I'm not ever giving it up. ;D

[Lela]

Good for you! I'm only fourteen but I'm writing a novel now too and I would like to think it's pretty good. I've been revising and revising. (If anybody wants to read the first couple chapters I've posted them under my writing and I'd love feedback) How long does it take to get a reply from a publisher? How long have you been waiting Brigid?

[Brigid ✩]

Well it depends on the publisher/agent but it usually takes a couple months, i think? idk. i've only been waiting for about a month, and i haven't heard anything yet.
that's awesome that you're writing a book too! i'll have to check your writing out later... ;D

[Meg]

My experience with agents is that it can sometimes take a couple of months to hear from them on a query letter. Once you have an agent, how long it takes for them to hear from publishers depends in part on the agent. I personally would recommend sending queries to a number of agents at the same time. I personally don't know any writer who has agent representation who hasn't done this, including myself.

Standing to applaud everyone who is going through many drafts before they submit. That can be so hard to do, but it always shows.

[Seth, The plan is simple--stay alive.]

Brigid, which story?

[Brigid ✩]

thanx for the advice meg!
seth-i'm trying to get soul stealer published

[Meg]

>Soul Stealer

Good title!

[Brigid ✩]

thank u. :)

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

My friend is trying to get her book published. Haven't read it yet but *crosses fingers* Good luck Amanda!

[Brigid ✩]

yay. good luck amanda! (whoever you are... XD)

[[deleted user]]

ya good luck to u too!!
Any word on that agent brigid?

[Michelle]

brigid!!! i talked to my double english teacher for you!!

[Brigid ✩]

cool! thanx! XD what'd she say?
and thanx cali... no i haven't heard anything yet.

[Michelle]

she said to email her:

rciardullo@forestparkschools.org

[[deleted user]]

coolio!! that's exciting!

[Brigid ✩]

okay i'll have to do that... thanks. ;D

[Michelle]

mm-hm. np

[Brigid ✩]

hmmm... err. what should i say? what exactly did you say about me? XD

[Michelle]

i told her about your book and what it was about etc, and that you were looking to publish.

[Brigid ✩]

okay. cool.

[Michelle]

mm-hm.

[Brigid ✩]

just emailed her! ;D

[Michelle]

yay!! what did you say??

[Brigid ✩]

just that you told her about me and gave me her email, and that i was looking for advice about publishing.

[Michelle]

ok. pretty straightforeward. shes reading twilight!!

[Brigid ✩]

that's awesome!!! she has good taste in literature... heehee

[Michelle]

yeah. shes borrowing eclipse from me. XD

[Brigid ✩]

cool!
grar. i still gotta read breaking dawn. stupid library...

[Michelle]

youre kidding!! omg its amazing!!

[Brigid ✩]

i know i know. everybody's read it except for me! i feel so left out! :(

[Michelle]

thats okay, brigid. im just surprised you didnt buy it.

[Brigid ✩]

i don't own the first three either...
idk. i don't really buy books. cuz i want to buy like a gazillion books, and i don't have all that much money. XD well except for now, cuz i just got a job...... but i like the library. XD except when i have to request stuff and it takes FOREVER to get there.

[Michelle]

yeah, i know what you mean. so i go to borders.

[Brigid ✩]

i usually go to waldenbooks... which is like a part of borders i think. there's one in the center of town. me and my friends go there a lot. it's pretty small, but it's nice.

[Michelle]

yeah, there isnt one near here. just borders.

[Brigid ✩]

i see.
there's also a barnes&noble, but it's farther away...

[Michelle]

yeah. i only go to borders cuz its within walking distance from my house. XD

[Veronica, What the neck!?]

lucky! we have to drive a half hour to the mall to get to any bookstore!

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

oh no, that's terrible!! i have a barnes and noble walking distance from my house. it's heaven. XD lol XD

[Brigid ✩]

that's so cool!

[[deleted user]]

lol

[Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><]

i know i love it!! XD lol

[[deleted user]]

I wish I could do that, my library's on a moving vehicle.

[Xerxes Break(Vivian Ephona)]

Wow sweet.

My library need to get books quicker. They still don't have MR 4 and when did it come out?

[[deleted user]]

idk, but I thought it was wierd to be honest, even though I luv the series to death!

[[deleted user]]

I love the Twilight series, too! Yay! Oh, good luck, everyone! I'm not planning on publishing anything soon, but I want to. I'm currently an illustrator, though!

[Brigid ✩]

ephona, omg don't even bother w/MR 4; it has like NOTHING to do with the series AT ALL. it's HORRIBLE! nothing happens in it, except for the flock goes off to antarctica to research penguins. ?????? !!!!!!!!!! WHAT?! :-/

[Brigid ✩]

XD sorry