The Writer's Forum

Ask and Answer

Over the last 12 months we've received loads of e-mails from people asking for help and advice. So in an effort to help as many people as we can Martin will be posting the most common questions and his answers right here. We shall be posting the three most popular questions each month right here.

So E-mail us your questions to: info@writers-forum.co.uk

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Q: How do I get my work published?

This can depend. Firstly, do you want to self publish? Are you looking to get a novel published? My most common answers to this question are broken down into bullet points below.

• Self-Publishing - Never use services like lulu.com. This may sound harsh and has no reflection on the company but it can be very expensive for writers. My best advice is to pop along to the local printing companies that you will be able to find in your area and get a quote direct. Be under no illusions that if you want to sell in bookstores it will be difficult but not impossible. Many of the books I have reviewed have been self-publish and of them it is the writers who have looked around and found a good printing company that produce the best quality product.
  
• Magazines/Newspapers  - This can vary from area to area, but start at the beginning, send a poem or short story to your local paper with a covering letter. They may not print it but you never know! The best way is to buy a copy of the magazine/paper you want to be printed in and find out the contact details and/or submission guidelines. Do your research first, don't just send anything. Take the time to find out what the paper or magazine wants or needs.
  
• Publishers - This can be a difficult place to start. Even some of the most popular authors got rejected at first. There are generally two routes to getting published through a publisher: through an agent, or direct submissions. Beware of companies offering to print your work for a fee. Many class this as vanity publishing. The way I did it was through an agent. If you are applying to an agent take the time to find out what they are looking for and who the best person to contact in that agency is. Also prepare a 1-page synopsis. It should be quick to read and tell the publisher/agent everything they need to know about your book in one glance.
  
• Online - Well The Writer's Forum is a great place to start! We have our brand-new writer's showcase, which is broken down into 4 easy sections: poetry, stories, articles and scripts.
  
  Other places to look are: Suite101 or www.writeoutloud.net
  
  Perhaps do what millions of others are already doing and blog! (Blogger, Wordpress)

Answered by Martin Nelson

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Q: How do I write a book?

By far the most popular question we get asked. I don't think we can give a definitive answer here so I'm just going to answer this based on how I wrote my book.

• Plan Everything - Whether it's a novel or an anthology, everything should be planned out. If you are writing a novel planning out the storyline will help you keep everything in order. The better you know where the story is going to more likely you are to stay focused. If you are writing an anthology plan which order the writing will be placed in. You don't want to start with an angry story or poem that will put off any casual readers who happen to be browsing. Likewise you don't want to put anything too angry at the end. Remember first and last impressions count.
  
• Know Your Genre - If you know what genre your book is it will help you better understand your audience. Sci-Fi audiences are huge but unforgiving when you let even a minor technical error through! If you are writing a comedy you don't want the audience to be too depressed, but you must also give them room to catch their breath.
  
• Be Patient - You won't write a book overnight. It's a long process. Many people ask about shortcuts and things that can help but even the best techniques won't get a book done quickly. Don't put together an unrealistic timescale, nothing will be worse for your confidence than seeing your schedule fly by and not having a book at the end of it.
  
• Edit Everything - Okay, maybe not everything, but make sure you know that everything in the book could be edited. Often that passage you lovingly spent crafting until it was just right, could be the source of a problem. Many people call this "cutting your darlings", it's painful but sometimes you do have to cut them out.
  
• Be Focused - If you want to write a book now, start. If you have trouble writing celebrate the small victories. Maybe you didn't write anything, but did you have an idea, make and edit, or think about how to design the cover? If you did celebrate it. Writer's block happens to all of us, don't let it put you off, just do something, anything, related to your book if you find yourself unable to write.
  
• Be Comfortable - This really shouldn't need saying but there is no right place to write for everyone. Some like writing at a desk, others on a train, some even write in bed! Wherever you are going to be writing make sure you are comfortable, and have a glass of water to hand.

Most of all Good Luck!

Answered by K Danes

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