Making waves in the literary world.

[Seamus123]

.....

 

[oggbashan]

Look at this recent thread: Here

The Writers Handbook is essential reading.

Many of us would like to make money from writing. Very few of us do. See the sticky thread at the top of the Author's Hangout for the success stories.

E-publishing is possible but not very remunerative.

Apart from some money from competitions here and elsewhere, I have made 100 dollars Australian.

I made far more money writing training and computing manuals when employed.

I think you should look for employment that uses your writing and not expect to support yourself solely by writing.

Og

 

[kendo1]

Don't give up your day job.

Ken the endangered Something-Swallowtail-Blah-Blah Butterfly

 

[oggbashan]

Don't give up your day job.

Ken the endangered Something-Swallowtail-Blah-Blah Butterfly

That is the same as my longer advice above.

OR - find a day job that lets you write in the time they're paying you for.

Og

 

[kendo1]

I was translating.

Ken

 

[oggbashan]

I was translating.

Ken

Are you suggesting that someone with an Irish-sounding identity, based in western Wales, would understand a Scot better than an Englishman? Them's fighting words.

Or perhaps not. We all write a form of British English...

Og

 

[kendo1]

Ogg and verbose are synonyms.

Helpful ken

 

[Seamus123]

Thanks for all your advice. I'm not Irish, that's the name of a monkey i've adopted. I'm very english through and through, so I can read

 

[Weird Harold]

Any places i can post, submit or mail stories to (in a both electronic and more traditional form!)

Pick a genre you write well -- which may or may not be your favorite genre -- and look into anthologies and magazines in that genre that feature new authors.

Of course that only applies to short stories, which are a different wrting skill than novels or series. But I've seen several new authors wo were first published in theme anthologies -- like the Sword and Sorceress series published by Daw books or the Chicks in Chainmail series Edited by Esther Freisner for Baen Books.

Also, if you're serious about shopping your work professionalaly or semi-professionally, get an agent -- many publishers won't deal directly to authors.

 

[nyte_byrd]

Get some of your work published in magazines and such (the more popular the better) before you chase after an agent or publishing house. Having a bit of a "track record" in the business seems to make them take you more seriously.

Another thing that worked for me is; enter reputable writing contests. If you can get a win or two under your belt, it can really help.

Unless you are very lucky or have some very good contacts in the business, it's best to use the "ladder approach" with writing: Start small to get your name out there, then move upwards.

 

[Seamus123]

Thanks for all your advice, it's great! Does anyone have any specific places I can send work to etc?

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks for all your advice, it's great! Does anyone have any specific places I can send work to etc?

Literotica, of course.

You should try writing for one of the themed competitions. The next one is Halloween and entries can be submitted after 1st October.

The experience of the attention, the voting anomalies, the comments and the hand-wringing angst would be good practise for the real world of publishing.

Og

 

[Seamus123]

Can you submit non-erotic stories to Literotica, or the contests?

 

[FallingToFly]

Can you submit non-erotic stories to Literotica, or the contests?

You can most certainly submit such stories, if you look in my submissions link (The Flutterbug's Follies, just click on it) you'll see that I have one there.

There is also a Reviews and Essays section, and Humor and Satire.

Also, if you have stories with a love theme, but no sex, try Romance.

Non Erotic has some of the lowest reader populations, as does Letter and Transcripts and Humor and Satire. This is, after all, Literotica- but the readers are wonderful people.

There are lots of writers around that are glad to answer questions, just poke a few gently, and if they don't bite you, you're probably golden.

 

[Aurora Black]

Literotica is a wonderful starting point for a career in writing. It has helped me immensely; I learn something new here every day, and I will carry the knowledge with me when I eventually move on.