Are there any authors here that have written books and had them published? I’d like to hear how you did it and suggestions for those of us that are unpublished. Is self-publishing an answer? Writing books was easy compared to finding an agent. Thanks.
Self-publishing (and treating your writing activities as the job it is) may be the way to go. It’s entrepreneurial, you’re responsible for the promotional activities and whatnot, and you can pick and choose the services (editing, proofreading, etc.) you want and need. It’s not for the faint of heart, though, and you have to be a strong self-promoter. Wordclay Press is one of a number of self-publishing “publishing houses,” by the way.
Once you pull that off, chances are greater of finding a publishing house or agent who’ll do more than just toss your manuscripts or proposals into the trashbin without even reading them. If you still want to try for the fences, though, there are any number of quality books out there that can point you in the right direction towards writing a great novel, hooking up with an agent, and getting it published.
Do you subscribe to Writer’s Digest?
BK
I found a publisher (Greenwood Press) that was already publishing a series to which I could provide a logical addition based on my own area of research. (This was while I was working on my PhD.) I then wrote a proposal to the editor of that series, which was accepted prior to my beginning work on the book.
I do not subscribe to WD. Thanks for the idea.