catalogs logo
catalogs.com logo

How to publish your writing

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Learn how to publish your writing and go professional

Learn how to publish your writing and go professional

Writing is an interesting thing. It is a hobby, a profession, and a necessary part of life. 

Many of us would like to break into the world of professional writing but are not quite sure how to go about it. I have a few pieces of advice that I would like to pass on to aspiring writers to help them break into the business. While this guide might not be an exhaustive list of paths to publication, it should provide some productive avenues to pursue and help you avoid some of the scammers praying on eager new talent.

Make Sure Your Work is in Tip-Top Shape

Before you continue reading about the How to publish your writing there is a special announcement we would like to share with you. Catalogs.com has negotiated special medicare rates for our vibrant community of seniors. If you are over the age of 60, you can head over to our Seniors Health Section which is full of information about medicare. All you need is your zip code and a few minutes of your time to potentially save 100s of dollars on your medicare bills.

Get Free Catalogs When You Sign Up

Don't wait, sign up and get Free Shipping Offers, Discount Codes and lots of Savings Now!

Once you have written a piece of work that you would like to submit for publication it is time to begin the editing process. It is best that you do not attempt to do this on your own unless we are talking about a very short work. 

There are plenty of websites that will help you find a freelance editor with verified credentials. These editors are usually graduate students with lots of experience editing long papers. Since your work will probably not be protected at this point it is important to keep record of what you sent to the editor and when to avoid having your work plagiarized. 

~

Get A Literary Agent

Think of literary agents as your connection to the publishing world. They help match your work with a potential publisher and work out the details of having your work published. 

 Once you have a well-edited, complete copy of what you would like to publish you will then send the work (or a sample of it) to a literary agent. Different agents specialize in different literary genres, some might work exclusively in young adult literature or science fiction; most have more than one specialty.

Self-Publishing

If you for some reason cannot find or do not desire a literary agent, perhaps self-publishing is for you. There are a lot of sites that help authors self-publish e-books and make print copies to order. However, it will then become your responsibility to market the book. 

This means you will probably have to buy some ad space and direct that marketing toward your perspective audience. As with literary agents it is important to be careful about who you are dealing with when you self-publish, many of these companies will try to sell you unnecessary hard copies of your work or try to take an undue share of the profits. 

Submit Directly to the Publisher

While most publishers only accept submissions from recognized literary agencies, some will accept author submissions submissions (usually during one brief period per year). As with agents and self-publishing there are some pitfalls to look out for. 

You must make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate publisher and not a ?vanity press? who will print your book, send you the copies and expect you to market them. As with agents no legitimate publisher charges for their service before any books have been distributed or sales made.  

While there is a lot more I could say on this subject, I feel confident that this little guide should cover the basics you need. As you can tell a fair amount of a new writer?s energy should be focused on making productive moves with the right people and businesses. There are a lot of scammers out there willing to take advantage of the inexperienced. That being said, there are a number of options for aspiring writers who are willing to work hard and be persistent.  

 

Popular Savings Offers

 

cc

Top Deals

See All

Recent Posts

Get Free Catalogs When You Sign Up

Don't wait, sign up and get Free Shipping Offers, Discount Codes and lots of Savings Now!

Categories

Saving Tools

Follow Us

Logo

Since 1996, Catalogs.com has been considered the web's catalog shopping authority. Our trends experts have carefully reviewed thousands of catalogs and online stores and have featured only the most respected, distinctive, and trusted ones. From popular favorites to new discoveries, you'll shop and save with exclusive coupon codes!

Invitations for applications for insurance on Catalogs.com are made through QuoteLab, LLC and transparent.ly. Submission of your information constitutes permission for an agent to contact you with additional information about the cost and coverage details of health and auto insurance plans. Descriptions are for informational purposes only and subject to change. Insurance plans may not be available in all states. For a complete description, please call to determine eligibility and to request a copy of the applicable policy. Catalogs.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. By using this site, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.