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GET YOUR SHORT STORY PUBLISHED! [URL] http://www.wetrybutwefail.com [/URL]
Kidding, unfortunately.
I'm trying to work out what the hell I want to do with my life, and I'm considering trying to become one of these author type people, or a writer, or something like that. I'm still very much interested in animation, but hell, I've got so much experience in writing, I shouldn't let it go to waste, or whatever.
So er, yes. Meka or Paradox might know about this, it's probably just a case of contacting publishers... but any other advice, otherwise? Anyone know of good websites, stuff to look for?
All help will be repaid in blood/flesh in the afterlife.
Kidding, unfortunately.
I'm trying to work out what the hell I want to do with my life, and I'm considering trying to become one of these author type people, or a writer, or something like that. I'm still very much interested in animation, but hell, I've got so much experience in writing, I shouldn't let it go to waste, or whatever.
So er, yes. Meka or Paradox might know about this, it's probably just a case of contacting publishers... but any other advice, otherwise? Anyone know of good websites, stuff to look for?
All help will be repaid in blood/flesh in the afterlife.
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Paradox: wrote:
> FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Well, writing a book is the first thing obviously. I've done almost
> 50,000 words now, and had a look around various sites about getting
> published.
>
> It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not
> from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just
> steal
> your stuff.
> That's about as far as I got.
>
> Is it a novel ?
A fantasy trilogy of all things.
> FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Well, writing a book is the first thing obviously. I've done almost
> 50,000 words now, and had a look around various sites about getting
> published.
>
> It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not
> from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just
> steal
> your stuff.
> That's about as far as I got.
>
> Is it a novel ?
A fantasy trilogy of all things.
I got asked to join Writewords by a member who read one of my stories and I was all set to sign up until I realised I had to pay.
Okay, first things first, the short story market in the UK is not good at the moment.
It's pretty much only the women's weekly type magazines that pay a decent amount, and they're pretty rigid in the type of thing they want, tales about women, perhaps a hint of romance, with a twist at the end, all in just 1000 or so words. Needless to say, I haven't had much luck with them.
There's much more of a market in the USA, Canada and Australia, and they publish all sorts of things, but I've not done too much research in those markets, still don't feel I'm quite getting it right.
Another site of which I am a member, and get an awful lot of really good feedback from is www.writewords.org.uk. It'll cost you to join, but some of the other members will be able to offer no end of advice. There's also a pretty decent directory on there of agents and magazines, and the kinds of things that they accept. Not only that, there's also a section detailing jobs and opportunities. That's where I found out about the ITV sketch show thing I entered. Some listings are proper jobs in writing, others are competitions, and other such things. You can get a trial membership to see if you like it before paying up.
The BBC website is quite helpful too, and that's free.
www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom
www.bbc.co.uk/getwriting
As for longer works, I'll start with novels.
Agents will take a look at the first three chapters of a novel, and from there decide whether they want to read the whole thing. After that they'll either take you on, or reject it. If they take you on, they'll then try to get a publisher involved. It's a long process, and some well known authors were rejected 20+ times before getting their work published.
Factual books, how to guides etc, you'd need to write a proposal document for. Send that to a publisher, and they'll let you know if they want to read what you've got, or whether they're not interested.
www.jbwb.co.uk or www.jbwb.com (not sure which) is not a bad site for raw information on markets and the like. They also do competitions every now and then, and whilst you pay a small fee to enter, you do get feedback. She absolutely crucified one of my stories!
I also joined a writer's group, which started as a course of writing for profit, then TV, and now we just all meet up. As long as you don't mind reading your stuff out loud, I find it pretty beneficial.
Hopefully that'll get you started, and I wish you luck.
It's pretty much only the women's weekly type magazines that pay a decent amount, and they're pretty rigid in the type of thing they want, tales about women, perhaps a hint of romance, with a twist at the end, all in just 1000 or so words. Needless to say, I haven't had much luck with them.
There's much more of a market in the USA, Canada and Australia, and they publish all sorts of things, but I've not done too much research in those markets, still don't feel I'm quite getting it right.
Another site of which I am a member, and get an awful lot of really good feedback from is www.writewords.org.uk. It'll cost you to join, but some of the other members will be able to offer no end of advice. There's also a pretty decent directory on there of agents and magazines, and the kinds of things that they accept. Not only that, there's also a section detailing jobs and opportunities. That's where I found out about the ITV sketch show thing I entered. Some listings are proper jobs in writing, others are competitions, and other such things. You can get a trial membership to see if you like it before paying up.
The BBC website is quite helpful too, and that's free.
www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom
www.bbc.co.uk/getwriting
As for longer works, I'll start with novels.
Agents will take a look at the first three chapters of a novel, and from there decide whether they want to read the whole thing. After that they'll either take you on, or reject it. If they take you on, they'll then try to get a publisher involved. It's a long process, and some well known authors were rejected 20+ times before getting their work published.
Factual books, how to guides etc, you'd need to write a proposal document for. Send that to a publisher, and they'll let you know if they want to read what you've got, or whether they're not interested.
www.jbwb.co.uk or www.jbwb.com (not sure which) is not a bad site for raw information on markets and the like. They also do competitions every now and then, and whilst you pay a small fee to enter, you do get feedback. She absolutely crucified one of my stories!
I also joined a writer's group, which started as a course of writing for profit, then TV, and now we just all meet up. As long as you don't mind reading your stuff out loud, I find it pretty beneficial.
Hopefully that'll get you started, and I wish you luck.
Grix, if you script for your animations, your writing experience isn't exactly going to waste..
That said, yeah, if you have the inclination to write, go for it.
Don't think I have anything else to add :^)
That said, yeah, if you have the inclination to write, go for it.
Don't think I have anything else to add :^)
FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Well, writing a book is the first thing obviously. I've done almost
> 50,000 words now, and had a look around various sites about getting
> published.
>
> It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not
> from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just steal
> your stuff.
> That's about as far as I got.
Is it a novel ?
> Well, writing a book is the first thing obviously. I've done almost
> 50,000 words now, and had a look around various sites about getting
> published.
>
> It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not
> from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just steal
> your stuff.
> That's about as far as I got.
Is it a novel ?
Cyclone wrote:
> Indeed. No offence Paradox, but do you have material relevant and in
> sufficient quantities to write a light hearted book on depression?
> Fair play if you do.
It's around 5,000 words after a week of on and off dabbling with ideas.
I'm getting information sent from the Samaritains and I'm going to gather it from other sources too, though the internet is usually unhelpful. You type in "depression statistics" and get 62,000,000 pages of gay porn.
> Indeed. No offence Paradox, but do you have material relevant and in
> sufficient quantities to write a light hearted book on depression?
> Fair play if you do.
It's around 5,000 words after a week of on and off dabbling with ideas.
I'm getting information sent from the Samaritains and I'm going to gather it from other sources too, though the internet is usually unhelpful. You type in "depression statistics" and get 62,000,000 pages of gay porn.
Grix Thraves wrote:
> ee... that's one hell of a project. I wouldn't want to do something
> like that unless I was some sort of head Professor in Pyschology.
> Someone could turn to it and end up killing themselves.
Samaritains just emailed me to say they wont do it so I'm stumped - I might just get penguin to do it, they'll do anything.
> ee... that's one hell of a project. I wouldn't want to do something
> like that unless I was some sort of head Professor in Pyschology.
> Someone could turn to it and end up killing themselves.
Samaritains just emailed me to say they wont do it so I'm stumped - I might just get penguin to do it, they'll do anything.
Well, writing a book is the first thing obviously. I've done almost 50,000 words now, and had a look around various sites about getting published.
It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just steal your stuff.
That's about as far as I got.
It seems your work won't get a look-in with a publisher if it's not from an agent. And a lot of agents can be pretty dodgy and just steal your stuff.
That's about as far as I got.
Indeed. No offence Paradox, but do you have material relevant and in sufficient quantities to write a light hearted book on depression? Fair play if you do.
Paradox: wrote:
"I'm currently writing a light hearted guide book to depression [Depression, the art of], and I am trying to get it published by a charitable organisation."
ee... that's one hell of a project. I wouldn't want to do something like that unless I was some sort of head Professor in Pyschology. Someone could turn to it and end up killing themselves.
"I'm currently writing a light hearted guide book to depression [Depression, the art of], and I am trying to get it published by a charitable organisation."
ee... that's one hell of a project. I wouldn't want to do something like that unless I was some sort of head Professor in Pyschology. Someone could turn to it and end up killing themselves.
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