Getting A Novel Published
Getting an Interview
Author: Reggie Mcleod
Once the application has been sent and the resume received the next thing that should happen is that the employer will be calling to test communication skills by means of an interview. Allowing yourself to be given the option on which employer is best fitting the applicant is one characteristic of being pro-active. Consider being called by multiple employers for a job interview in a day a good sign. This means that they were really impressed with the documents you submitted, therefore, deserving a personal communication on how most likely an applicant would land the job.
Resumes can present an individual very well. Seventy-five per cent of employers say that applicants with resumes passing their standards would definitely be invited for a job interview. Allow two or more interviews. How? Here are some resumes tips that would give you not only one but more calls for interview:
1. The position that an applicant is interested in should be placed right at the start of the resume. Having this as an objective shows that an applicant is really focused and career oriented tells that he or she knows what is exactly the perfect career for him or her.
2. One of the best significant ways to get the employers’ attention is by using words that are really powerful that denotes strong capabilities of the applicant. An example of this is, instead of writing, “assigned to be”, write instead “in-charge of,” indicating that the applicant has active leadership skills that can be a step to the management position if there is any.
3. A bullet catches the eye of an employer at one look. Use these in itemizing achievements, career highlights, recognition, qualifications, and skills and interests. Words in bullet form forces the employer to read the information provided. These also create more clear space on the paper making the application form or the resume very neat and outstanding.
4. Make sure that the resume is very selective. Only apply for a certain position in one company or organization one at a time. Do not submit resumes with different job interests and positions applied for at one time. This will be a complete waste of time.
5. Ask a pro. Resumes are written with the help of experts who can actually see the applicant’s strengths and opportunities.
Aside from preparing an impressive resume carefully follow and read all the special instructions like how many spaces are provided for a specific answer or the number of words for the answer. Keep in mind that this is also a test to see how well an applicant can follow simple rules. Not only does it have to follow the steps, the application form should also be neat. Handwriting is also being considered and using a black pen will greatly add to the formality of the answer. As much as possible, never use a liquid paper or fold and bend the application form and paper.
When answering, be careful not to leave blanks unless it really does not apply. Use N/A only if necessary. Be truthful with all the answers but this does not mean that you have to provide a complete or thorough answer for every question. Always adapt the answers to the job being applied for. Only provide the skills and recognition received that will be beneficial to the new company or employer. However, see to it that the answers provided indicate the reason of being more qualified than the other applicants.
Choose references that can provide the applicant an objective description and information. Teachers, friends, and previous employers can be willing and honest enough to provide that information. The application form must be consistent with the resume.
“How to be Invited for Interviews”
Once the application has been sent and the resume has been received the next thing that would possibly happen is that the employer will be calling to test communication skills by means of an interview. Allowing oneself to be given the option on which employer is best fitting the applicant is one characteristic of being pro-active. Consider being called by multiple employers for a job interview in a day a good sign. This only means that they were really impressed with the documents submitted, therefore, deserving a personal communication on how most likely an applicant would land on the job.
Resumes can present an individual very well. Seventy-five per cent of employers say that applicants with resumes passing their standards would definitely be invited for a job interview. Allow two or more interviews. How? Here are some resumes tips that would give you not only one but more calls for interview:
1. The position that an applicant is interested in should be placed right at the start of the resume. Having this as an objective shows that an applicant is really focused and career oriented tells that he or she knows what is exactly the perfect career for him or her.
2. One of the best significant ways to get the employers’ attention is by using words that are really powerful that denotes strong capabilities of the applicant. An example of this is, instead of writing, “assigned to be”, write instead “in-charge of,” indicating that the applicant has active leadership skills that can be a step to the management position if there is any.
3. A bullet catches the eye of an employer at one look. Use these in itemizing achievements, career highlights, recognition, qualifications, and skills and interests. Words in bullet form forces the employer to read the information provided. These also create more clear space on the paper making the application form or the resume very neat and astounding.
4. Make sure that the resume is very selective. Only apply for a certain position in one company or organization one at a time. Do not submit resumes with different job interests and positions applied for at one time. This will be a complete waste of time.
5. Ask a pro. Resumes are written with the help of experts who can actually see the applicant’s strengths and opportunities.
Aside from preparing an impressive resume carefully follow and read all the special instructions like how many spaces are provided for a specific answer or the number of words for the answer. Keep in mind that this is also a test to see how well an applicant can follow simple rules. Not only does it have to follow the steps, the application form should also be neat. Handwriting is also being considered and using a black pen will greatly add to the formality of the answer. As much as possible, never use a liquid paper or fold and bend the application form and paper.
When answering, be careful not to leave blanks unless it really does not apply. Use N/A only if necessary. Be truthful will all the answers but this does not mean that you have to provide a complete or thorough answer for every question. Always adapt the answers to the job being applied for. Only provide the skills and recognition received that will be beneficial to the new company or employer. However, see to it that the answers provided indicate the reason of being more qualified than the other applicants.
Choose reference that can provide the applicant an objective description and information, teachers, friends, and previous employers can be willing and honest enough to provide that information. The application form must be consistent with the resume. Since many of these employers standardize and gauge the information the applicant is providing in his application form and resume, these must be full of complete and honest information. This will be their basis when considering to have a one on one interview to see if what they read is true enough. Arm oneself with positive strategies and knowledge to get those invitations for interviews come after you. Remember that this will also be a marketing tool that any applicant can use for other future job hunting experience.Since many of these employers standardize and gauge the information the applicant is providing in his application form and resume, these must be full of complete and honest information. This will be their basis when considering having a one on one interview to see if what they read is true enough. Arm yourself with positive strategies and knowledge to get those interview invitations coming to you. Remember that this will also be a marketing tool that any applicant can use for other future job hunting experience.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/getting-an-interview-2581446.html
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– Finish the book. By that I mean proofread it a couple of times, make sure its perfect. You only get one chance to make a first impression.
– Get a copy of something like Writers Markets. The book will have listings of reputable publishers and agents. Check their websites for their submission details and make sure you follow them to the letter.
– Usual practice is to send a query letter first, along with a full synopsis. Sometimes they also ask for sample chapters and / or your writers CV. There are a number of sites and books that tell you how to write the perfect query / synopsis / CV.
– They will take up to three months to respond with a yes or no answer, sometimes asking to see the whole book if they’re interested. This isn’t a guarantee of a yes; they sometimes still reject you afterwards. If you haven’t heard anything after about two months, you can send a polite enquiry and ask if they have had the chance to read your work yet. Most don’t like multiple submissions to other publishers either.
– When you finally get a yes, and an offer of a contract, read it carefully. Make sure you have no doubts about anything in it. Publishers are happy to explain points to you if you are unclear (after all, they’re there to help. Without your book, they don’t get their percentage). There are also many websites that can help you out with understanding contracts. If you have an agent. they can do this for you too.
– Once you’re signed, the publisher will start with information and cover designs etc. You have input in the cover from the questionnaires they get you to fill out but they get the final decision.
– Then the editing begins. You can go through rounds of edits before both you and they agree that your book is ‘finished’.
– After that its a case of waiting for the release date.
People will tell you that you need an agent. You don’t. I have two publishers for two different books and I don’t have an agent; I deal directly with the publishers. Many of the larger publishers are unwilling to read unsolicited material but there are a lot out there who will if you look for them.
Other things-
Don’t take rejections to heart. I have piles of rejection letters that I have received over the years (yes, years) and if I took them personally, I would have given up ages ago.
If a publisher says that you will be charged a reading fee or such, stay clear. A good publisher does not ask you for money; the editors and such are in house and it is part of your contract with them. That’s part of what their percentage pays for. The same with agents. They shouldn’t be charging you reading fees, and also look at what percentage they take. Most take about 10-15% but I’ve seen a few who take 20%.
Hope this answers your questions.
For a first novel, you want to actually have a manuscript finished. Then you either hire an agent to market your novel, or try to obtain a contract yourself (either through query letters or writers’ conferences). After that, there is a lengthy revision process.
After the first novel, you can start writing up proposals for book ideas, and marketing those to publishers, through your agent. Or just writing up another manuscript.
I think you’ve missed the point.
Writing is something you get better at with practice. If all you’ve ever written is “a novel”, it’s vanishingly unlikely to will get it published – it will be something you have written as a complete beginner.
If you’ve written a bunch of short stories first, you’ve had a fair amount of practice and your novel will be better written.
It takes most people a million words of practice to get to a publishable writing standard. If you’re not going to write them in the form of short stories, how _are_ you going to get the practice you need? You can’t expect the first thing you write to be publishable. You just can’t.
No agent particularly cares whether you have writing credentials or college. They care whether your novel is written at a publishable level.
ONce you have a book that is polished, edited and ready to go, you need to start with a copy of Writers Market. But Writers Market is a mere drop in the bucket compared to Literary Marketplace – the industry standard. It costs 300 dollars, but most libraries have it as a reference book so bring along a notebook and take plenty of notes. Search for publishers and agents currently reading work in your particular genre. Remember you cannot get through to the major publishers directly. They only deal with agents.
Then you need to learn how to write an extremely compelling query letter and synopsis. They are essential because that is the first thing any publisher or agent wants to see. If they are interested, they will request a partial or complete manuscript and a book proposal. You need to learn how to write a great proposal. There are many books out there. It is your #1 selling tool.
But before you send anything to anyone – you need to do your research. Check the publisher or agent out through Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write Water Cooler’s Bewares and Background Forum, Writers Wall, Writers Weekly and Anne Crispin’s website to start with. If there are complaints against the publisher or agent, pass them by. You will find many.
Beyond that, grow a hide thicker than an elephant’s because you will need to learn to deal with rejection and criticism. The nature of the beast.
You will find on my profile I have starred many great Q and A regarding the publishing business and writing in general. Print some of them out to read and study. I add new ones every time they come up. Many have signed me on as a fan and are making notebooks of the starred pages as a reference book for themselves. It is easier than weeding through Resolved Questions.
Good luck. If you have any other questions, please ask so we can get answers and share them with the many other novice authors here. Pax – C
my first novel was 92,000 words. generally they ask between 90,000-100,000 for first time authors. make sure every chapter has an important event related to your overall plot. include subplots to keep the reader interested and eager to see how even minor things play out. once you are finished, buy a guide to writing your own query letter before you even think about sending it to agents, if that’s the route you want to take.
when you have drafted an excellent query, send it in to a lot of agents. if you are a first time author, you could even try to send it in to small publishers. generally, they offer some feedback as long as you include a SASE.
When I sent my first novel in, the first person I sent it to was Tom Doherty Publishing. They offered amazing feedback and gave me the incentive to add an additional chapter. After, I sent it to penguin young readers group publishing and they accepted my book. I’m currently editing the another book in the series (due to come out in July).
I didn’t go through an agent. I dealt with publishers because usually in unsolicited manuscripts they ask for the first three chapters so you end up having your foot partially in the door so to speak.
if you choose to go with an agent, here are a few good ones I know (although I’ve never dealt with them myself):
anderson literary management, authentic creations literary agency, the axelrod agency, and bookends, LLC
Self-publishing is NOT a “no-lose” situation. You do absolutely lose something when you self-publish; you lose your all-important First Publication rights. First rights are what publishing houses are generally interested in.
Yes, it is possible–remotely–that your self-published book will do well enough to attract a major publisher. Sales that would attract a major publisher would be in the 5,000+ range. How will you sell 5k copies of a book without getting it into bookstores? Without reviews in the major trade publications (Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, etc.?) How will you sell 5k copies when nobody knows about your book? How will you promote the book? How will you pay for that promotion? Will you advertise it? How? How will you pay for that?
Yes, it has happened. I can think of three titles it happened to. Three, out of hundreds of thousands. You have a better chance at winning the lottery than you do of having a self-published book hit the kinds of numbers that equal major-house interest.
Your best bet for getting the book published in a way that will earn you money, instead of costing you money (Lulu is a great self-publishing option, and is free, but you still have to pay for copies of the book to distribute, for advertising, etc. etc.) is to polish and polish the book. Find places where you can post samples for critique (Absolute Write is a great forum for this, with lots of published members). Take those crits on board and edit and polish some more.
Start submitting to agents. if the book is good enough–like, good enough to sell 5k copies as a self-published title–an agent will agree to represent you. They then submit it to publishing houses for you, while you work on your next book. Hopefully an editor will like it enough to make an offer. Then they pay you. They handle advertising and marketing. They get it into bookstores. They do all of that while you write the next book.
Self-publishing can be a good option for some people; mostly non-fiction in a specific field. An example I’ve used before is if you’re a model-train enthusiast, and write a book on a specific topic in that field. A major house will likely not be interested because the market is too small, but you could probably do very well selling to fellow model-train fans.
First printing rights are valuable and important. They’re what publishers want.
Writing a book people want to buy is hard work. It takes a lot of time and research and effort. But it’s worth it.
The average self-published book sells 150 copies. 150. And the author of every one of those books was probably convinced their book would be different, their book would be a breakout.
Ultimately of course the decision is up to you. But I urge you to aim for real publication first, before giving up your first rights and self-publishing a book that will likely have disappointing sales. Don’t sell yourself or your work short like that.
Good luck!
http://www2.xlibris.com/requestkit/index.asp?src=ocpc&OVRAW=publish%20a%20book&OVKEY=publish%20a%20book&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=9959853011&OVKWID=12883756011
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http://www.bookhelpdesk.com/
http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/publishing%20book/publishingbook.htm
http://www.tombird.com/
http://www.publishabookandsellamillioncopies.com/
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1) Rewrite. Stephen King’s formula – Rewrite = first draft – 20%. Learn to be able to “murder your darlings” and take out unnecessary information – even if you love it.
2) Hire a professional editor. They are worth their weight in diamonds. Especially for a novice author.
3) Read Writers Market. Resist the urge to go right to the listings and really read it.
4) Check my profile for starred answers. You will find I star all good Q and A on publishing and writing. Many successful authors have posted here. Listen to them. Print some answers out and study them.
5) Become a great reader. Stephen King says in ON Writing – an essential read for any author – that you cannot become a good author without first becoming a great reader. Learn from both the good and the bad you read.
Pax-C
First,
Finish your book (I know it sounds obvious).
Edit it a lot (multiple times) to make it as good as it can be. Put it away, and don’t even think about it, for a month or two, then take it out and edit it some more.
Type it in proper manuscript form (visit http://www.writersdigest.com for details on what is needed).
Think about joining a writer’s group (online or local) to get feedback from other would-be writers.
Have your book proofread by someone who knows what they are doing (relying just on spellcheck is a bad idea).
There are very few publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts (those that don’t go through a literary agent), so you need an agent.
At the library or bookstore, look for Bowker’s Literary Marketplace, Guide to Literary Agents (published by Writer’s Digest) or Writer’s Market 2009 (or visit http://www.agentquery.com ). Look for agents that handle your genre, and are looking for new clients. Read, and follow, their submission guidelines.
Learn how to write a query letter, which is what you send to the agent, first (those books will have something about it). It’s part synopsis of your book, and part explanation as to why your book deserves to be published. You have just that one-page letter to wow the agent, so take the time to make it a good one.
Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and expect lots of rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they will send your book to publishers, not you.
The whole process of getting an agent is FREE, except for postage, until your book is bought by a publisher. That is when the agent gets their cut, usually 15%, of the money that goes to you. Run away from any agent that asks for money upfront.
Good luck!
First, write your story.
Edit your book several times to make it the best it can be, type it in proper manuscript form (visit http://www.writersdigest.com to find out what is needed), consider joining a local writer’s group to get feedback from other would-be writers, and get it proofread by someone who knows what they are doing (don’t rely just on spellcheck). Edit it some more.
There are a tiny number of publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts (those that don’t go through a literary agent), so getting an agent first is a really good idea.
At the library or bookstore is Guide to Literary Agents, published by Writer’s Digest, or Bowker’s Literary Marketplace (or visit http://www.agentquery.com). Look for agents that specialize in your genre, and are looking for new clients. Read, and follow, their submission guidelines. In those books will be something about writing a query letter, which is what you send to the agent, first. It’s part synopsis of your book, and part explanation as to why your book deserves to be published. You have only that one-page letter to wow the agent, so take the time to make it a good one. Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and expect many rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they will send your book to publishers, not you. The whole process is free, except for postage, until your book is bought by a publisher. That is when the agent gets their cut (usually 15%) of the money which would go to you.
Good luck!
How much money can one earn in getting a short children novel published?
please tell me all the details?do we need to give any money to the publisher for getting a book published?how can we get our book published on our own self and do its publicity?is it a very costly procedure?
What’s the best way to go about getting a novel published?
I’ve been writing for many, many years, and have had articles and interviews published in magazines, and a poem published in a poetry anthology. Those were submissions to contests/requests, so there really wasn’t much involved. I’d like to try and get a novel published, but I’m at a loss as to where to start. Obviously I have to finish the story, but what’s the next step? Are there any guidelines that need to be followed?
How to approach getting my novel published…?
I am a 15 year old who has loved to write forever. I have been in many national writing competitions and such, and had articles published in newspapers, but I dont care about that stuff, I just love to write. I am now 95,000 words into a novel that I am working on and it will probably end up being around 120,000 words. I was just wondering how someone as young as me should approach the world of publishing? Thanks in advance….
How do I go about getting a novel published?
Hi, I had an idea for a book a few weeks ago and have started to write a draught manuscript. Once I’ve completed and proof-read it, does anyone have any experience with the next stage of getting my book published, eg approaching publishers? Thanks!
Veteran writers, what are your suggestions for getting a first novel published?
I’m working on my first novel, a tale of taboo love and murder, and want to find the right publishing house to pitch the idea to. I’m also taking the first steps towards becoming a professional writer (still have a day job, but hopefully will be cutting it back by this summer).
Where should I start looking, and are there any almost-fatal pitfalls you can help me dodge?
Thanks!
How do you go about getting a novel published?
I have a few questions regarding a novel….for one, how many words do I need to have in total? The biggest question is of course; how do I get it published?
How do I go about getting my novel published?
I have been working on a manuscript for the past year and I am almost ready to prepare it for publication submission, however I’m not entirely sure how to go about this. This will be my first attempt at being published and I want to go about this as professionally as I possibly can. Any help concerning this matter would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
What are the steps in getting a novel published?
I wrote a children’s novel for ages 8-12 and i want to know the steps in getting my book published. I live in San Diego and don’t have the money to go anywhere for anything or get an editor.
Would short stories help me out in getting a novel published?
Ive heard that the more writing credentials you have under your belt, the better off you may be at finding an agent or getting your novel published. Or could it possibly be a waste of time and I would be better off just writing my novels and sticking to just those and find the right agent that is willing to work with someone that has no writing credentials or college? Thanks for any help.
What is the process to getting a novel published?
I would like to know the process of getting a novel published for a term paper I’m doing. Thanks:)