Submissions

Kasie asked me yesterday if I would do a post on how I find places to submit.

That's an interesting question as most writers have a variety of places--but I'll share with you what I do.

The first book I purchased as a new writer was Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market Guide. The second book I bought was the Writer's Market. I write for the Christian market as well as the secular so I bought each and studied them--underlining any places that accepted the kind of writing I did.

That was the first action I took--the second thing I did --was go online and google submissions, writer's guidelines, publications etc and I came up with a ton of sites that listed places or the site itself with the information I needed. I try to do that each month.

I also joined several online writing groups and some of those have listings of submissions and I regularly visit those forums.

I attend conferences and gather up all the freebie stuff that shows publications needs.

BUT the most important way I find new places to submit is through NETWORKING. I have had so many of my writer friends share their sources with me and I do with them in return. Many of the anthologies I got in were the direct result of a friend telling me about it. I can't stress the importance of sharing a submission call-out with a friend. If you don't get in--maybe your friend will and they will pass on submission needs to you in the future. There are plenty to go around.

One site I frequent as well is www.anthologiesonline.com Also check out my writers group site where I post any and all of my finds.

Please feel free to e-mail me with your needs. If you've written in an area I've submitted to in the past--I'll share it with you. Happy Submitting!

The Party's Over

I loved writing my book. I loved thinking up plot lines, characters and settings. I could do anything I wanted with it. Slash a few paragraphs--maybe a whole chapter.

Well, the party's over.

I had originally planned to submit it myself but the more I browsed publication houses, the more I think maybe going the way of an agent is better. Maybe--the jury is still out. That's why I had to clean up the leftover pizza boxes, turn off the music and pick up the streamers.

I've managed to save a few websites of literary agencies I would use should I ever decide to go that route. I pulled one up today and took a long look at the submission requirements.

Okay. I have my work cut out for me.

But my rational is that if I do all this paperwork, I may be able to use it elsewhere like at a conference or if I self-submit so why not grit my teeth and do it?

(Is there an Easy Button somewhere for this?)

That's where this whole post is going. I'm going to start the process next week. My pile of references and printouts sit next to me. Is there any drier reading than proposals and synopses?

Pray for me. Pray hard--as you might hear some screaming next week.

A great week

Overall-- this was a fabulous week as far as submissions go. I got a letter in the mail yesterday that another story I wrote for Chicken Soup-- the high school book -- is now at stage two in the process which means I had to agree or not agree to the edits. Of course I agreed. The editor does a fantastic job.

So that makes two more definite, one almost definite and an article in the magazine. Ok-- so that means I can sit back and take a break . . . I don't think so.

I have the writers' group on Monday at our local library to get ready for over the weekend. A reporter contacted me today and wants to sit in and do a story on us. May I say that really puts me out of my comfort zone???

Please be praying for the next meeting that we fill the room with writers and want-to-be writers who write for the Lord.