Top 10 Tips for Reaching Publication

by Christopher Klim

I recently read an article suggesting 101 tips for reaching publication, which mentioned "finding a mentor" as 99. Sorry, as a published author and now an experienced writing mentor, I can tell you that finding a mentor falls within the top ten. This prompted me to put together my top ten tips for getting published, and I'll reveal them over the coming weeks, starting with number ten .

Getting Published Tip #10: Walk through open doors; no, leap through them. Life presents opportunities, like doors opening at unexpected times as you walk down the street. Make certain to pause to see what is offering. It might be the chance to edit the community newsletter or write the local farm report. This may not be the front page news or bestseller that you had in mind, but it's another bullet on your resume, a building block toward your ultimate goal.

For years, I'd written freelance articles for local papers for little or no pay. (I still do.) It was a hobby that I did as I penned my novels. One day, my name came across the newswire on a small article and suddenly I was asked to do stringer work for a larger paper, which led to even more work down the line. The same holds true for my fiction submissions. Eventually, I was contracted to do a novel. In hindsight, I can see the little steps that I took, while honing my craft. As an editor, I recognize that my assets were flexibility, professionalism, and availability. Don't underestimate the latter. I remain grateful and hungrier than ever for work. I do regular speaking engagements at schools, libraries, and bookstores for free. My workshop fees, if there is one, barely cover gas and supplies. These engagements have led to the creation of www.WritersNotes.com and the release of the first magazine issue. My path is not unusual.

Getting Published Tip #9: Know Your Market. Be an expert in your particular area of interest and understand the competition within. Learn where you need to improve your knowledge and credentials and build a plan to obtain them. Define what is needed and what is selling within your expertise. Look to compliment that area, while adding to it or possibly redefining it. A person who is well entrenched in a particular area of expertise appears like a Zen master of the market. And as my writing mentor used to say, perception trumps reality every time.

Getting Published Tip #8: Be Relentless. Every writer-EVERY WRITER-harvests rejection throughout his/her career. Half the battle to success is showing up. Often rejection means that your particular piece didn't fit in that particular place at that particular time, not necessarily that it was a bad pieced of work. The path to success is littered with talented people who simply became discouraged and gave up. Develop a thick skin, glean as much information as possible from rejection slips, and seek alternative markets. Keep you eye on improving your craft and refining your target market, while reaching your ultimate goal.

Getting Published Tip #7: Be Professional. Study submission guidelines. Clean up your manuscript for grammar, spelling, consistent tone and style, and overall presentation. Be quick to deliver and on time. Be courteous and respectful. Listen. Ask appropriate questions. No one is going to teach you how to write. Industry professionals are only interested in the end result and that it satisfies their current needs.

Getting Published Tip #6: Ask Questions. Adopt Einstein's marching orders for life: never stop being curious; otherwise it's all over. Question every aspect of a story and your work. Discover what areas you need to explore, improve, and what turns you on about a particular subject. Ask questions of publishers, editors, and agents. Find out what they want and what you need to do to help them. By asking questions, you'll discover your joy, passion, and energy for writing. You'll uncover your niche-what you have to add to the common lexicon.

Getting Published Tip #5: Find a Mentor. Many published authors mentor talented writers as a sideline. They'll tell you where excel and where you need work, outside of the narrowly focused and often indecipherable mechanics of the publishing industry. Finding a writing mentor was the single most important step that I took en route to getting published. It's something that I now do for a living.

Getting Published Tip #4: Get Feedback: Writing is a solitary event, but eventually, your work must see the light of day. A writer's ambition is to present his/her words before the public. Find a writer's group, critiquing session, or some type of forum to garner honest and sincere feedback for your work. Don't let other writers bend, mold, twist, and break your prose. Look for consistent commentary. You can use the emotional and intellectual feedback. You often cannot use someone's untrained suggestions about how to change your story.

Getting Published Tip #3: Learn the Craft. Every art form has its form and structure. Painters learn to mix the paints and work the brushes. They sketch and study various forms. They learn the effects of shadow and light. Even abstract painters move through classical studies before branching out on their own. A story has a form and structure, which varies widely from story to story, but can be explained in discrete terms. This is not to say that there is a formula to writing stories, but there is an understanding. Take the time to learn the story form.

Getting Published Tip #2: Read. This sounds simple, but so many aspiring writers aren't avid readers. You should study the master's-those who came before you-while learning the craft. Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, fantasy stories or news journalism, read the type of work that you'd like to emulate. Chances are that you enjoy this type of writing and are passionate about it. In the beginning, you'll mimic certain styles, until you define your own way of delivering the written word.

Getting Published Tip #1: Write every day. Carve out a special time and place to dedicate to your writing. Make the sacrifice of time for your art. Give your best hours each day to writing. Chances are that you can do most other things half asleep. Hardly anyone that you know will be tolerant of your compulsion to write; so you'll have to be vigilant. Build a routine. If you were training for the Olympics, you'd dedicate many hours to lengthy and precise workouts, but you'd love the drills. You'd look forward to it. If you are attracted to the written word, you'll be compelled to write on a regular basis. Feed the muse with time. It is your passion for the written word that will guide you through the rough spots in a career choice filled with potholes.

Getting published is a culmination of talent, craft, and persistence. Identify your strengths and passions and pursue your dreams every day!