The task of getting published is one of the daunting aspects of writing. This can be difficult, if you want to get published by a traditional publishing house. It's not as difficult if you want to self-publish. In this article I will share with you the steps involved in getting your work published either traditionally or through self-publishing.
Mainstream publishers are often reluctant to accept work from young writers as anyone under 18 cannot sign a contract on their own and will require parental involvement. That is not to say you cannot submit to them but make sure your work is of high quality as you will be competing with adult writers. There are also several publishers that cater specifically to young writers, for a list of these, check out the book THE YOUNG WRITER'S GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED. There are also several sites on the web that accept work from young writers such as http://stonesoup.com and Merlyn's pen. Make sure you edit your work thoroughly and follow the submission guidelines for publishers carefully. Some publishers prefer that you send a query letter only at first describing your project. The query letter should be only one page long. If it is longer than that a busy editor will likely just throw it to one side. Think of the back cover summary you see on most books you buy, try to summarize what your book is about in a few words. This can be difficult but it must be done and done in a way that grabs an editor's attention. Some publishers will allow you to submit a query letter and a few chapters of your work or your entire book. It is important that you use the correct font, you can't go wrong with courier new 12 pt and a double spaced manuscript. The query letter can use the same font but there is no need to double space it.
Let's now take a look at self publishing. Self publishing has become quite easy with the advent of self publishers like Lulu. At http://lulu.com you can publish your work for free. However lulu does take a small commission of anything you sell. Lulu also sells ISBN's for around $100 U.S. dollars. An ISBN will make your book available for international sale. It will become available to places like http://Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and hundreds of other distributors worldwide. When you self publish you set your own price and your age never becomes a factor as it will be with some traditional publishers. If you decide to self publish everything falls into your hands, from editing to formatting. Lulu provides several services for these publishing details, however the costs can add up for young writers. The good news is that with patience and determination you can do it yourself. Lulu provides templates for formatting your book. If you can find a teacher, friend or parent to help you with editing you are well on your way without breaking the bank. Lulu makes making your book cover as easy as possible although you are responsible for finding your own image if you do not wish to use their images.
Finally, there is nothing like seeing your work in print and the opportunities for young writers are greater than ever.
Related Articles
Young Writers
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Writing
If you are between the ages of 8 to 18 and love to write, be it short stories, plays or poems, then you are a young writer. For the writer nothing is more satisfying than finishing a story, play, poem etc. In fact some young writers decide to make it...
Burying Your Novel's Message
By: Holly Lisle | 21/05/2008 | Fiction
Part III of the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Learn how to use the themes you've discovered without being preachy or obvious, and without writing a Message Book.
Why Anyone Can Write a Book
By: Bob Burnham | 16/10/2007 | Article Writing
Many people believe they can't write a book because they don't have the writing expertise. This is one of the biggest myths out there. If you can hold a conversation you can write a book. Conversational style writing is easy to do and understand and best of all anyone can do it. Get started now by writing your own book and create miracles in your life
Playing Chicken With Your Story
By: Holly Lisle | 22/05/2008 | Fiction
Part IV of the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Learn how to take the personal risks in writing that will keep your readers glued to their seats turning pages.
Dig Deeper With Your Novel's Subthemes
By: Holly Lisle | 22/05/2008 | Fiction
Part V of the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Find out three ways to bring in more of your passions and fears, and use them to make your story richer, and add layers of surprise and meaning.
Interweaving Your Novel's Themes and Subthemes
By: Holly Lisle | 22/05/2008 | Fiction
Part VI of the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Learn three of my favorite techniques for balancing themes and subthemes while writing your novel.
Planning a Heart-stopping Story
By: Holly Lisle | 22/05/2008 | Fiction
Part VII of the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Learn how to outline the bones of your story using theme and subthemes to keep things moving
Life, Passion...deadline: Writing Under Pressure
By: Holly Lisle | 22/05/2008 | Fiction
The Conclusion to the 8-Part BRING YOUR NOVEL TO LIFE Series
Learn how to hold on to your story and its heart while working to a deadline.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Writing Articles
Writing a College Essay 101
By: Daniel Millions | 20/08/2008
Being able to write a college essay is a necessity.
Learning How to Write a Letter of Reference
By: John Grant | 19/08/2008
Have you ever experienced writing a letter of reference and not knowing what to write? Has anyone approached you requesting a letter of reference and you felt you had to say no? Have you ever wondered how to write a letter of reference?
This letter is generally meant to help someone...
How to Keep a Really Useful Journal
By: Mervyn Love | 19/08/2008
As a writer you may already keep a journal, or diary, and that's excellent. For those who don't as well as those who do I want to explore some of the exciting benefits of keeping one that you may not have realised.
Trucking School
By: Richard Ide | 19/08/2008
The more I pondered the mystery, the deeper it grew: big trucks everywhere...around me every day of my life. Yet I found I knew nothing about trucking or the people manning the cabs - outside of one hokey Hollywood film that threw an ape in there with the driver. How...
How To Write A Dissertation Paper
By: Daniel Millions | 18/08/2008
Don't worry it's not as hard as you think to write a great dissertation paper.
Are You Ready to Write a Thesis
By: Daniel Millions | 18/08/2008
Writing a thesis can be a long drawn out ordeal if you don't know a few simple steps that will make the process easier.
The Advantages of Color Brochure
By: Elaine Edwards | 16/08/2008
What a good way to present your business with a color brochure. It is a way of presentation of your company, what it is all about, and what its got to offer. A nice color brochure is attractive to people, hence, it provides interests to your readers and inspires them to avail of your products or services. Your color brochure will tell all what you have to say about your business.
Why You Ought To Write An E-Book
By: Victor Epand | 15/08/2008
This article explains why you should be writing e-books compared to normal hardcover ones. The article also explains how you should promote your e-book.
More from Simone Mary
Reading Tips For Parents Of Reluctant Readers
By: Simone Mary | 14/01/2008 | Parenting
Education is more than just what students learn in school. Education begins at home where parents are the first primary teachers. Parents therefore should never have a hands off approach about any part of their child's education. In fact children who are struggling in school need the support of their...
Teaching Phonological Awareness
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Education
Phonological awareness shows beginning readers how to divide language orally into smaller units. This ability is developed through an understanding of rhyme, sentence and syllable segmentation as well as onset and rimes. Phonological awareness is the first skill which students need to learn even before phonemic awareness is developed. Phonological...
Writing Book Reports
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Writing
If you are a student, writing a book report is something you will probably have to do at some time whether you want to or not.It has never been a favorite activity for most but it is always valuable. It is valuable because it allows you to think about the...
Young Writers
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Writing
If you are between the ages of 8 to 18 and love to write, be it short stories, plays or poems, then you are a young writer. For the writer nothing is more satisfying than finishing a story, play, poem etc. In fact some young writers decide to make it...
Writing Stories
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Writing
There's nothing like writing a story. It is a truly satisfying creative process. In order to write a story that people will enjoy. You need to understand the key elements that all good writers use in stories. In this article we will explore these elements.
1. Brainstorming
Ask yourself these questions:
What are...
Reading Comprehension Strategies
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Education
Comprehension should always be the chief concern when teaching reading. What good is reading if the child has no understanding of what is read? In this article I will outline key reading comprehension strategies and show how they should be used.
Before reading you should allow children to make predictions about...
Developing Reading Fluency
By: Simone Mary | 07/01/2008 | Education
How many times have you heard a child reading aloud and it sounded like they were counting instead of reading? This is a problem that many teachers and parents face. It is caused by a lack of reading fluency. While it has long been recognized that fluency needs to be...
Writing 
