How to Get Your Novel Published Now

So, you’re editing and polishing your novel with hopes of getting it published? There are many different steps, many different ways you can take to get there, here’s one way that works more times than not:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet
• Word Processor (computer)
• Word-processing Software (Microsoft Word)
• Books on Editing your novel

1. Edit Your Novel. You can hire a Freelance Editor to check your manuscript for you but this costs $$$. Last time I checked it’s about $1-$12 per page. Or you can read books such as: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne, Dave King and edit your novel yourself. It’s a great book, recommended by many Literary Agents

2. And what has worked well for me—Listen to good Books-on-Tape. Listen to the way the words are put together into sentences. Listen to the rhythm, the smoothness of the sentences then record yourself reading your novel. Does it also sound smooth? Does it read well? Does it have a good rhythm to it?

3. Spell Check It. If you’re using Microsoft Word 2007, make sure to proof your document using Spell Check and Grammar Check. Click on the Review tab and select Spell Check and Grammar.

4. Write a Query Letter. This is the one-page letter you will send to a Literary Agent or an Editor, selling your book.

5. Querying a Literary Agent. If you decide your novel is best represented by a Literary Agent, check the free lists of agents at Preditors and Editors and Agent Query. Find them at: http://shalladeguzman.com/ShallaAgentList.php

6. 
   SHALLA Magazine

   Querying an Editor. Attend writers conferences where you can meet acquisition editors looking for novels to publish. For a list of writers conferences, check http://writing.shawguides.com/
   
   You can also go to a publishing house’s website and find out what they are looking for and what their submission guidelines are. For example: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/daw/submissions.html
   http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/avon/SubmissionGuidelines.aspx
   
   If you like to read Q&A's with Literary Agents and Editors and find out what books they are looking for, visit: http://www.shallamagazine.com/chats.php
   
   Good luck! To your highly successful future as a published novelist!

Resources

• Meet Literary Agents and Editors