As a three-time published author and creative writing teacher I get asked a lot: "What is the secret to getting your book published?" Many of the interrogators are disappointed, some even disbelieving, when I tell them there is no secret. Getting published is about three key elements and none of them are a secret but all three play an important role. Book publishing requires a combination of luck, timing, and talent.
I know too much about the publishing game (and it is a game as much as it is a business) to discount the importance of luck when it comes to getting your book published. I have watched a lot of authors come and go. I have watched a lot of would-be authors do everything right to exploit their talent and then fade away into oblivion. I have watched a select few authors make mistakes and still come out with successful careers. While luck isn't everything and should certainly not be a key part of your publishing and writing strategy, you need to allow for an element of luck -- whether it is bad or good.
Timing is a crucial part of becoming a published author as opposed to being simply a writer. You could have the best book idea in the world and the most incredible writing talent but if you are delivering a book too similar to one they just bought or published then your timing is bad. Likewise, you could have a good book that hits the publishing house just when they are on a buying freeze and your book could languish for weeks or months -- or simply be rejected. The difference between timing and luck though is that you can control your timing much more than you can manipulate luck. Here information is the key. The more research you do into your market then the better able you will be to work timing to your favor. I have a friend who made her first sale by carefully researching the market and delivering to her chosen publisher the perfect idea at the perfect time.
Of course talent is important to getting published and becoming successful. You need to be a talented writer and possess the creative genius to create characters and plots that make for great reading. However, I save this element for last as without luck and timing then all the talent in the world may not be enough to get your published. I think in the end a talented writer could find a publisher but it would be a long arduous process and most writers become discouraged and quit before achieving their goal.
It is possible to become a published author. New writers are getting published every year. It is not easy to get published but a combination of luck, timing and talent can help you get your book published. While you cannot control your luck, you do have the power to control your timing and talent. Work on gathering information and work on your writing. You can succeed at book publishing.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I want to know if the title for my book makes sense
By: danigirl | 04-09-2008
Im writing a book and i am almost finish so i started thinking of names. SO i wanted to know if Characters of Deceit makes sense. Does IT???
Permission in publishing
By: mm2008 | 05-07-2008
If i self publish a book which is not deragatory or pornagraphic in any way, do i need to gt permission to use peoples last names and also permisson to use names of resturants and coffee shops in my thank you page ( acknowledgements) ??
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Writing Articles
Can a Tsunami Strike the Atlantic Coast?
By: Gordon Gumpertz | 11/10/2008
Can a tsunami strike the coast of New Jersey, North Carolina, or Florida? The question crossed my mind as I was doing research for my action/adventure novel TSUNAMI, even though the book is set in the Pacific.
The answer is yes, a tsunami hitting the Atlantic Coast is possible, but...
Book Review: 3 Aces by Richard Ide
By: Simon Barrett | 10/10/2008
One of the great joys of being a book reviewer is that you never know what is going to turn up in your mail box. There are so many great new writers out there. In fact I have a confession to make, did you know that you could take me...
Write For The Money
By: Ruth Barringham | 09/10/2008
Some purists will try and tell you that writing is an art form and that all artists should work only for the love and fulfilment that their talent brings them.
But I say that's rubbish. If you want to be a successful and wealthy writer, then you need to write for...
Why You Should Enter Contests
By: Deborah Owen | 09/10/2008
I'll never forget my first contest. It was the Writer's Digest contest. I was very naïve at the time, not understanding that there would be thousands upon thousands of entries. I had grossly underestimated what I was up against. But truth be known, if I had seen a contest advertised...
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Writing for Kids
By: Emma Walton Hamilton | 08/10/2008
The five most common mistakes to avoid when writing books for children of all ages.
5 Steps to Writing a Better Article and Getting More Traffic From it
By: Jeff Schuman | 08/10/2008
One of the most highly recommended internet tools that you can use to generate traffic is article marketing. Here's how you can get more traffic with article marketing:
Your Readers Love to Read About Tension Between Your Characters
By: Mervyn Love | 07/10/2008
Tension is inextricably bound up in the emotions of your characters, and by introducing tension you lead your readers into the same emotions, as they 'feel' for the characters in your story.
How to Work Out the ROI on Your Audio Book Promotions?
By: Stephanie Ciccarelli | 06/10/2008
When you hire a voice talent for an audiobook promotion, let's say for a national radio commercial, have you ever measured the return on investment that you received from the radio campaign? This article is about how to do that - for any voice over project.
More from Deanna Mascle
You Can Learn Writing Style - What is Technical Writing?
By: Deanna Mascle | 09/09/2008 | Writing
Technical writing, sometimes called business writing, is writing for a specific purpose and with a specific goal. Usually its goal is to inform/instruct or persuade/argue. Technical writing can really be considered transactional writing because there are two people or groups involved in the communication. One party has a clear goal...
Good Parenting Tips - Do Not Put Education On Summer Vacation
By: Deanna Mascle | 04/07/2008 | Parenting
The words "Schools Out For Summer" strike joy into the hearts of children and often a sigh of relief for parents who are just as eager to take a break from homework as their progeny. However taking a complete break from the books for the entire summer can be problematic.
Studies...
Good Parenting Advice - How Do You Learn To Be A Parent?
By: Deanna Mascle | 15/05/2008 | Parenting
Parenting is the toughest, most important job most people will ever encounter and yet there is no license required, no training required, and no 24/7 hotline. This is rather short-sighted on the part of society as the cost of bad parenting is immense, but in truth the situation is not...
Why Developing An Individual Writing Process Is Key To Your Writing Sucess
By: Deanna Mascle | 13/05/2008 | Writing
Developing an individual writing process is key to your success as a writer. Studies of struggling writers show that one of the reasons they struggle is that they focus on only one aspect of writing.
So what is the writing process? First it is important to note that there is no...
Writing Tips - Understanding Discourse Community And Its Importance
By: Deanna Mascle | 13/05/2008 | Writing
As an experienced conversationalist who has been wielding verbal words since toddlerhood, you easily move from one group of people to another adjusting your tone, your vocabulary, and your syntax accordingly. Often without thinking about it, you speak differently to your parents than you do to your teachers and differently...
6 Reasons Why I Squidoo And You Should Too!
By: Deanna Mascle | 08/05/2008 | Internet
Do you Squidoo? Perhaps you are not familiar with that little orange creature with one big blue eye, but Squidoo is a social networking site utilizing a different system and framework than many free social networking sites. Squidoo allows each account to create as many unique web pages as they...
Good Parenting Advice - Are You Giving Your Child The Edge At School?
By: Deanna Mascle | 11/02/2008 | Parenting
Today the pressure to succeed at school begins even earlier than ever. Children in kindergarten and first grade are held to a standard of success that their parents never had to worry about. While in the past those first few years of schooling were pressure free and simply intended to...
Adult Education - 5 Tips For How You Can Learn More
By: Deanna Mascle | 04/02/2008 | Education
There are a number of reasons why we should be lifelong learners. Continuing education reaps us professional, personal and health benefits that are too numerous to list. However if you do not want to enter another classroom as long as you live then take heart as there are other ways...
Writing 
