Mark Pryor
The first thing I'd say is, don't rush it. I see a lot of folks hurrying to get their book finished and out into the world, and that's a mistake. Whether you self-publish or try to find an agent/publisher, a good product takes time.
The first thing that takes time is learning your craft. Learn the rules, use them when you write. Sure, break them if you want to but make sure you know them first. In almost every profession, it takes time to become good and writing is no exception. In my opinion, rarely is the first book one writes a gem - I should know, I wrote three novels before THE BOOKSELLER. Three novels that no agents had any interest in. Why? I'm guessing they weren't very good. :)
The second thing you need to take time with is the manuscript itself. More than following the rules of writing, make sure it's polished and presentable. Whether you're trying to win over an agent or a reader, a story full of typos will be off-putting.
The other piece of advice I have is specifically for those seeking an agent and traditional publisher, large or small. Keep at it. Don't give up. Those three novels? I wrote them over a period of three years, and earned myself several hundred rejections over that time, and not one word of encouragement. My wife couldn't believe I'd go through all that again with THE BOOKSELLER. I kind of agreed with her!
Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and launched myself back into the agent-hunting process once again. Only this time, I found success. So if you want to be an author, gird your loins for rejection, because it'll happen.
But the dream can come true, always remember that. I'm living proof. Good luck!
The first thing that takes time is learning your craft. Learn the rules, use them when you write. Sure, break them if you want to but make sure you know them first. In almost every profession, it takes time to become good and writing is no exception. In my opinion, rarely is the first book one writes a gem - I should know, I wrote three novels before THE BOOKSELLER. Three novels that no agents had any interest in. Why? I'm guessing they weren't very good. :)
The second thing you need to take time with is the manuscript itself. More than following the rules of writing, make sure it's polished and presentable. Whether you're trying to win over an agent or a reader, a story full of typos will be off-putting.
The other piece of advice I have is specifically for those seeking an agent and traditional publisher, large or small. Keep at it. Don't give up. Those three novels? I wrote them over a period of three years, and earned myself several hundred rejections over that time, and not one word of encouragement. My wife couldn't believe I'd go through all that again with THE BOOKSELLER. I kind of agreed with her!
Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and launched myself back into the agent-hunting process once again. Only this time, I found success. So if you want to be an author, gird your loins for rejection, because it'll happen.
But the dream can come true, always remember that. I'm living proof. Good luck!
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more