Post by Freedom Star on Dec 2, 2006 0:24:34 GMT -5
(Disclaimer: The content on this thread has been taken from www.tamorapierce.com without permission from the FAQ section of Tamora Pierce's website. We do not claim these words as our own; rather, these are the words of a respected author.)
tamora-pierce.com/faq.htm#Publisher
How can a new writer get a publisher?
This depends on what kind of publication you're looking for. If you don't feel you're quite ready to throw yourself on the not-so-tender mercies of the adult publishing industry, but would like to have respectable publishing credits to your name to put on applications to schools and universities, here are four sources you might try, depending on your age:
For writers ages 8 to 14:
Stone Soup Magazine: Stone Soup has been around for a long time as a publication written and illustrated by and for young writers. You can find copies of the magazine at just about any magazine vendor which carries magazines for writers, and you can check the site online to see about guidelines, etc.
New Moon: the Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams: I've had this link on my links section for years. I love New Moon and everything it promotes. Once again, this is largely written and illustrated by and for young writers, particularly girls (though guys might see if they are interested in any writing about girls from a guy's point of view).
For teen writers:
Teen Voices, a magazine for teen and young adult women, an alternative to glossy teen magazines that seem to be about only looks and boys. Like Stone Soup and New Moon, you can find copies of Teen Voices at newstands which carry magazines for writers and for teenagers, or you can check them out online.
Teen Ink, a tabloid newspaper-sized publication with newspaper-like printing, chock-a-block with articles, essays, poems, pictures, and stories from girls and guys. I don't see it at newstands very often, but you can definitely check out the online site for submission guidelines.
If you decide to try a publisher or magazine directly (writers with just one book, or two, try publishers at the same time you look for an agent--if the publisher accepts the book, you can go to an agent and say, "I already have a publisher", which will obviously weigh in your favor!), the book you need is THE WRITER'S MARKET [for the current year--the new issues come out in November] FOR FICTION WRITERS (this covers both book and magazine fiction. These people also publish versions for children's books and poetry). Like the version for agents (mentioned in a separate link), this book will tell you what kinds of writers a publisher or magazine is looking for (some publishers specialize--you don't want to send your novel to someone who publishes only textbooks), what they've published in the last year, whether or not they charge a fee to read manuscripts (if they charge a fee, I wouldn't send anything to them), their address, and how they want you to send material to them. (Some want just three chapters and an outline, some want the whole ms., some want a query letter.) The annual MARKET will also tell you how long it usually takes for that publisher gets back to you. Most important of all, this book gives you the exact format and method for sending work to publishers, from how a page should look to including a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE, for short). I learned everything I had to know about creating a professional-looking manuscript and cover letter from the annual WRITER'S MARKET hardcover.
Now that more publishers and literary agents are online, do yourself a favor and search online for their websites before you submit anything to them. If any changes have happened with that publisher or agent since THE WRITER'S MARKET came out, it will be on the site.
Go on, set your work in a professional format, and send it out. What have you got to lose?
tamora-pierce.com/faq.htm#Publisher
How can a new writer get a publisher?
This depends on what kind of publication you're looking for. If you don't feel you're quite ready to throw yourself on the not-so-tender mercies of the adult publishing industry, but would like to have respectable publishing credits to your name to put on applications to schools and universities, here are four sources you might try, depending on your age:
For writers ages 8 to 14:
Stone Soup Magazine: Stone Soup has been around for a long time as a publication written and illustrated by and for young writers. You can find copies of the magazine at just about any magazine vendor which carries magazines for writers, and you can check the site online to see about guidelines, etc.
New Moon: the Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams: I've had this link on my links section for years. I love New Moon and everything it promotes. Once again, this is largely written and illustrated by and for young writers, particularly girls (though guys might see if they are interested in any writing about girls from a guy's point of view).
For teen writers:
Teen Voices, a magazine for teen and young adult women, an alternative to glossy teen magazines that seem to be about only looks and boys. Like Stone Soup and New Moon, you can find copies of Teen Voices at newstands which carry magazines for writers and for teenagers, or you can check them out online.
Teen Ink, a tabloid newspaper-sized publication with newspaper-like printing, chock-a-block with articles, essays, poems, pictures, and stories from girls and guys. I don't see it at newstands very often, but you can definitely check out the online site for submission guidelines.
If you decide to try a publisher or magazine directly (writers with just one book, or two, try publishers at the same time you look for an agent--if the publisher accepts the book, you can go to an agent and say, "I already have a publisher", which will obviously weigh in your favor!), the book you need is THE WRITER'S MARKET [for the current year--the new issues come out in November] FOR FICTION WRITERS (this covers both book and magazine fiction. These people also publish versions for children's books and poetry). Like the version for agents (mentioned in a separate link), this book will tell you what kinds of writers a publisher or magazine is looking for (some publishers specialize--you don't want to send your novel to someone who publishes only textbooks), what they've published in the last year, whether or not they charge a fee to read manuscripts (if they charge a fee, I wouldn't send anything to them), their address, and how they want you to send material to them. (Some want just three chapters and an outline, some want the whole ms., some want a query letter.) The annual MARKET will also tell you how long it usually takes for that publisher gets back to you. Most important of all, this book gives you the exact format and method for sending work to publishers, from how a page should look to including a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE, for short). I learned everything I had to know about creating a professional-looking manuscript and cover letter from the annual WRITER'S MARKET hardcover.
Now that more publishers and literary agents are online, do yourself a favor and search online for their websites before you submit anything to them. If any changes have happened with that publisher or agent since THE WRITER'S MARKET came out, it will be on the site.
Go on, set your work in a professional format, and send it out. What have you got to lose?