Aspiring Writers: Eight Signs That Prove You are not Ready for Publication

All writers want to eventually land a big time contract with a big publisher and become rich and famous. Sure it can happen and it does many times. But before you start shoveling out your manuscripts and daydreaming about hobnobbing next to Oprah or Regis and Kelly, there is one serious question you should ask yourself. Are you ready for publication? Most will argue yes, but if you aren’t sure then I am here to guide you. Below are eight signs that describe most aspiring writers who are not only unprepared for publication but who may be completely clueless as to how the publishing industry works.

I assure you that if you’re not yet published that at least one of these if not all will apply to you. Do not feel bad. We all started out a bit clueless in the beginning. A good writer learns the business inside and out. As long as you recognize that as the first step, you’re on the right track.

You are not ready for publication if…

1. You Think Your Book Is Great





If you believe that your tacky, unedited first draft is better than Shakespeare’s most famous classics, then you are not ready to be published. If you believe that changing anything around or editing it will take away from it’s "creative beauty" then you are not ready for publication. You have to accept criticism and change if you want to become published. Let me say this, there has never been a first draft that was published. Every book has to be edited and revised multiple times before it’s near eligibility for publication. If you believe your book came off the computer screen being the greatest thing next to slice bread…back to the drawing board for you.

2. Has Only Written One Book





Most aspiring writers think that the first book they write is the one that will be published. This rarely happens if it happens at all. They put all their heart and soul into that one little book. You think Carrie was King’s first? Think again. King was writing years before Carrie and years before anyone in the industry had ever heard of him. Carrie was his breakthrough and that’s what all aspiring writers are looking for, that "break through", not the first book written. By the way, King and I share the same publisher. And they say dreams don’t come true. Anyway…

Most times it’s your fifth or tenth manuscript that becomes your first book. Sitting around with one manuscript gathering dust is not only unproductive but also a waste of time if you expect to ever become published. You’ll spend years hocking that one book around to be rejected a thousand times only to realize you have nothing else to fall back on. Most times agents and publishers will ask if you have more work on the horizon. Why? Because they are more likely to sign a contract with someone who has other projects.

Agents like to know if you have more than one book in case they take you on and can’t sell the one you presented to them. They want something to fall back on for their hard work and you want to be rewarded for yours. A real writer writes continually. Writers should have mountains of manuscripts on hand before embarking on publication. It will save you heartache and you’ll feel more confident knowing you have other options.

3. Your Book Hasn’t Been Seen By Anyone Outside Family or Friends





Okay, if someone hasn’t seen your book outside of your close circle then you are definitely not ready for publication. I do not care if you’re a trained editor. You need another eye, a trained eye to look at your work. I am a certified editor as well as an author and there are still things I miss on in my work that the editors of my publishing house will catch. It’s no shame in this. No writer is perfect and even if we believe our work is one hundred percent, it still isn’t. I guarantee you that unless you get a professional editor to look at your manuscript then you are not ready for publication. Hire a freelance editor before submitting your work to agents and publishers. You will be glad you did.

4. You Haven’t Researched The Industry





Part of becoming published is to know how publishing works. You need to do as much research as you can about getting published as well as what to expect within the industry. You need to decide whether you want to be traditionally published or self-published. This is a decision only you can make. Personally, I do not recommend self-publishing especially for a novel but whatever choice you decide to make, make sure you understand how that form of publishing works. Then you’ll be prepared and will know what to expect. If you intend on targeting traditional publishers, make sure your work is spotless. When querying agents or publishers there is no room for mistakes.

5. Asking Early Questions Too Late





Say you jumped the gun and self-published a book. Then you perceive to ask questions and seek advice for information you should have researched before getting your book printed. I see a pattern with self-published authors. Many of them publish their books then ask questions later. How do I know what my audience is? How do I get my books into stores? How do I get book reviews? These are questions you should research and know before even thinking of publishing your book. Asking early questions too late have been the demise of many self-published authors. How are you gonna attempt to compete if you do not know how the industry works?

6. Not Realistic





If you think that once you become published that the dough is gonna start rolling in, then you are not ready for publication. This is another sign that you do not know the first thing about how hard it is and how long it takes to sell books. You see authors claiming they’ve sold thousands of copies of their books and your eyes glaze over with excitement right? Well what you don’t know is that it can take up to three years for an author to sell ten thousand copies these days. Selling ten thousand copies is a good feat and not anything to sneeze at but most authors have hopes of selling much more. It can happen if you promote and have a good book on hand, but being unrealistic is expecting this to happen overnight. Some authors sell faster than others do but most times this isn’t the case.

7. Too Impatient





If you believe getting published is quick and easy or should be, then you are not ready for publication. You must be willing to perfect your craft and put in the time. Doing this will save you from making mistakes and bad publishing decisions you’ll regret later. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a published author.

8. Book Isn’t Finished

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen new authors querying agents and publishers and their book isn’t even finished. This is wasted effort unless you’re previously published and is searching for a new publisher or agent, or if you are submitting to a publisher or agent you’ve worked with before. If you are unpublished no one, and I mean no one wants to see your unfinished manuscript. They do not even want to hear about it. Claiming that you’re almost done with a manuscript will turn an agent and publisher off in a minute. They do not want to hear from wannabes and that’s what a writer becomes when they shop around a manuscript that’s not yet completed.

If it’s not completed, it’s not polished. If it’s not polished than no agent or publisher will touch it with a ten-foot pole. Stop kidding yourself. There isn’t an unpublished author on this planet that’s good enough to get a contract from an agent or publisher for a book that’s not even finished. Make sure your book is finished and edited before you even think of submitting it to anyone. It has to be darn near perfect. Submitting finished works only is common sense, yet one of the most common mistakes of aspiring writers is seeking publication for an uncompleted manuscript.

If you are on that hunt for publication then these signs may help you to see where you stand. I’ve been in the business for years. You have to know the industry before trying to become a part of it. You must not be so impatient that you ruin your chances of publication by making rushed or harmful decisions. Aspiring authors should remember they are up against many obstacles and only have one chance to make a first impression. It starts with knowledge and research.