Author: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Writing, Publishing, Book Publishing, Writing Course, Creative Writing
Web Site: http://kompuwiz.com/kompustore
Other articles are available at: http://www.soulful-writer.com
Publishing Guidelines: We hope that the following article, which is an extract from our online creative writing course (formatted to 65 characters) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then we're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print. If you do not want to receive my articles as a member of an article list, you will have to unsubscribe from them, as I do not have your email address. If a lot of you do that, I'll take the hint and rather not send out my articles! Thanks.
"We share what we know, so that others may grow."
*
HOW TO WRITE A BOOK AND GET PUBLISHED
(extracted from our Online Creative Writing Course)
This short extract is from my booklet 'How to Write a Book and Get Published' and is written for the "off-line" world of publishing. Although it's a very brief look at this huge subject,
I hope these pointers may be helpful to aspiring* authors.
* What's the definition of an aspiring author?
A waiter!
*
Me write a book! A "pipedream" or possible?
Nothing is impossible, but the hardest part is getting
an acceptance from a publisher. Hope these tips may
be helpful in submitting your manuscript (hardcopy)...
PRESENTATION OF YOUR "WORK OF ART":
Not how YOU dress, but how you "dress up" your work.
Some points to help you:
* All text should be double spaced. (When I started writing I didn't know what "double space" meant. "Dumbo". Come a long way then, "Sonny
boy"!)
* one side A4 at least 25mm margin on either side
* in black ink. Use a new ribbon. Must remember that one...when I can afford it.
* consistent styles regarding bibliographic references should be used
* don't use pins or staples. Use a rubber band or a paper clip to avoid inflicting serious injury on the editor with a "dangerous weapon"
* on your final page write the words 'copy ends'
* put in an approximate word count (I don't do it "naughty, lazy boy"!). Send your manuscript together, so it arrives on the editor's desk as one. Don't send in sections (after writing or checking). Bits and pieces are then more likely to be mislaid (sounds disgusting!).
And it happens quite often - misplaced (better word) by publishers, I mean. If you do your work on a word processor using a computer disc (I do), also send the work on paper. That is the non-technical term for "software". Not tissue paper please!
NB: Keep a COPY of everything.
All mail should have a return address. Always send a covering letter with your manuscript. Multiple submissions: OK, but always remember to withdraw an offer, if publication is accepted by another publisher. Write immediately.
I find multiple submissions save a lot in finding a publisher, as publishers are often extremely tardy in replying to your
unsolicitated* (big word) submissions.
* that's not standing on unlit street corners at night looking for a publisher for your manuscript!
Finally, always try to give your work a 'real professional' look, as befits the effort put into your work of art.
Then
BE PATIENT
*
A few final words...
Writing a book may seem extremely daunting ...and perhaps even impossible to you, as I felt when I started out writing (like flying to the moon); but if you believe you have some writing talent just DO IT. As with eating an elephant ("hephelump"), break it into "small chunks". The key is taking that FIRST STEP in writing that first sentence...then one just gets involved in your "work of art", as writing becomes a daily habit. One word simply flows into the next...then one chapter just leads on to the next one. PERSIST... and as the Nike ad says,
Just DO IT
Then hopefully one day I'll see your name in print.
Eureka!
Good luck and happy writing
Craig Lock
http://www.craiglock.com
"What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it; boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
- Johann von Goethe
"Do what you love, then you'll never have to do a day's work in your life."
"Whatever, you want to do or dream you can do, the hardest part is making a beginning. Once you take that first step in following your passion, the rest will follow naturally...and lead to who know's where."
- Craig Lock
Inspirational Books are available at: http://kompuwiz.com/kompustore (click on "SoulfulBooks")
Writing Course: http://www.craiglock.com/downloads/cwcourse.html
(the "original" online creative writing course)
P.S: Don't worry about the world ending today... it's already
tomorrow in "little" scenic and tranquil New Zealand