How Does One Go About Gettin' Published?

[windstormy]

If I had a story, or novel that I thought just might be pressworthy, how would I go about getting publish? What do I need to do? How should I go about it? Who should I talk to? etc. etc. etc. lol

 

[dr_mabeuse]

This question's being asked a lot lately.

There are two ways to get published, either in magazines or books. If you're an established author, you can often get a contract for a piece before it's finsihed. If you're not a known quantity, you have to go in "over the transom", that is, by sending an unsolicited manuscript.

Basically, you get a list of magazines or publishers that might be interested in what you've written, then you send them a copy of your story along with a cover letter and wait for them to read it and respond. The wait can take from maybe 6 weeks to almost a year (publishers get tons of unsolicitied manuscripts they have to wade through.) Be prepared for plenty of rejection slips, though. It's very rare that you'll sell something the first time out.

Before you send off the story, make sure it's as perfect as possible. Publishers will reject anything with bad spelling and grammar without even reading it.

Each publisher has its own submission guidelines--how they want the manuscript formatted, whether they take e-mail or only hard-copy, what topics you can mention and which are forbidden, what they want in a cover letter, &c--so check the guidelines first.

To get you started, here's a list of some current publishers of erotica looking for material.

http://erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/G-Main.htm

---dr.M.

 

[windstormy]

I really appreciate this...

I hadn't thought that anyone would even answer it in the first place. Wow. Thank you so very much.

And the link you gave me really boosted my morale. I had not even thought there were publishers for the venue I was after.

Yes, I'm very new to all of this. Though, I've been writing since I was sixteen, I must admit, I have kept it all in boxes in the closet. Publishing Bigrig, here, was the first time I had ever allowed anyone to see or read my work. And with every chapter of that novel, I am more and more encouraged.

Thank you so very much. I really appreciate this.

 

[snooper]

I agree with everything Dr.M says, but there are other ways.

If you can persuade an established author to recommend you to a publisher, it can help a lot.

Sheer cheek can also do it. I wrote to a publisher asking for my money back on a book and said I could write a better book myself, pointing out some typos, bad grammar, and continuity problems. The response was "Show me you can write better." Now they have published fifteen novels for me, but I still have not got my original money back!

 

[Softouch911]

And if you're interested in going beyond erotica -- no idea why anyone would, but there are these options -- try looking at the local library at The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses which lists over 5000 periodicals, the majority of them non-paying. If you want the paying ones, try Writer's Marlet

Don't expect to get rich, or to have your ego stroked.



Softouch

 

[Whisky7up]

Or you could try www.publishamerica.com

 

[DarkDuchess]

Great advice from Dr. M. I would also advise you to get a current edition of The Writer's Market. It has publisher's guidelines, exactly what they are looking for and how to submit. It's pretty comprehensive. If you are interested in epublishing, there are tons of sites, but you have to do more self promotion. www.eXtasybooks.com is a decent one, I edit for them. Feel free to PM me for more info. Good Luck!

DD

 

[DarkDuchess]

I agree with everything Dr.M says, but there are other ways.

If you can persuade an established author to recommend you to a publisher, it can help a lot.

Sheer cheek can also do it. I wrote to a publisher asking for my money back on a book and said I could write a better book myself, pointing out some typos, bad grammar, and continuity problems. The response was "Show me you can write better." Now they have published fifteen novels for me, but I still have not got my original money back!

Oh really? I'd thought of that, but didn't think it would get me anywhere. I found an erotic novel that had a typo on the jacket and the book was $15... I almost had apoplexy.

Well, kudos to you!

DD

 

[windstormy]

Thanks, guy.... And Ladies.... lol All of you have been so great. I don't know what I would do without all of you.

Thanks again.

Oh, and Dr. M. I did it. The first part I figure out on my own. But one of the ladies helped me change the link to say what I wanted it to. It works too!!! Imagine that.... lol

jk.... Thanks all...