A Rambling Raconteur

Basics

a.     The target audience for this pathfinder is middle school-aged students and up to adults. It is for anyone seriously inquiring into the process of having his or her written work published. The task of getting a novel published can be an arduous one to navigate and this bibliography aims to help the aspiring novelist as they seek to make their dream of publication come true.

b.     This pathfinder is made up of resources for navigating the tumultuous world of publication, from looking for agents and writing query letters to a wide assortment of tips and hints from those who have already succeeded in having their work published. The articles and books mentioned are easy to navigate and read and are of the utmost use.

Written Resources

a.     The Guide to Literary Agents – This indispensible book has the full listings of over 500 literary agents. It has a by-agent breakdown of who to send a manuscript or query letter, as well as how to contact the individual agents and what sort of material they are seeking. It even describes to the reader how the various agents are paid from successful submissions and publications. Also discussed are any successful books that that specific agent may have under his or her belt.  Each agent has listed in their entry the various genres that they accept. The book begins with a guide on how to use it for the best results. A glossary of terms is also presented in the back pages of the book so as to familiarize the new novelist with the terms of the trade. Also included is an index of conference available to aspiring writers and established authors alike.

b.     Writing a Query Letter – This guide to writing a query letter is an indispensable guide for the aspiring author, whether they are seeking to publish a fictional novel or a non-fictional memoir. Most agents, publishers, and other venues for publication require a query letter before a submission can be sent. Many agents and publishers will not even look at a manuscript that has been sent without first receiving a query letter from the author. This guidebook breaks the process of writing a query letter down into simple terms and then breaks it down further, depending on the subject behind the query needed. The guide is broken up into seven chapters, with each chapter further explaining the process. There is also a glossary of terms to explain away any confusion rendered with the introduction of new terms. Most helpful is that the guidebook not only explains how to write a query letter, it explains in great detail how to send one and to whom to send it.

  Thomas, W. (2008). The Writer's Digest guide to query letters. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books.

c.     What is the Business of Literature – This article offers extremely important food for thought for the aspiring writer. What kind of impact is technology having on literature? Will your book be read on a portable tablet like device or will it solely be in print, hard copy edition? This article raises an important and encouraging question: what are “Exceptionalists” trying to protect? Is it the physical book that is of great import or is the intangible story within? Is a book still a book when it is not in physical form? This article explores how the publishing industry has changed and reacted as the nbook itself has changed over time.

  Nash, R. (2013). What Is the Business of Literature? (Cover story). Virginia Quarterly Review, 89(2), 14-27.

d.     Is There A Secret to Getting Published? – It is guaranteed that at some point in the quest to get published, a writer will become discouraged as they realize just how difficult and disheartening the who thing can be. Enter “Is there a secret to getting published?” It is a dose of confidence for the struggling amateur writer. The writer of the article encourages the reader by sharing her own struggles and reminding them that it is the in-between part, the middle, that make a story good instead of boring or depression. The parts between “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after” are what makes a good story and good story.

   Paterson, K. (1992). Is there a secret to getting published?. Writer (Kalmbach Publishing Co.), 105(7), 13.Writer's Dilemma. Virginia Quarterly Review, 89(2), 28-41.

e.              10 Tips for Getting Your Novel Published – This article is chock full of really useful tips for writers just getting started. From the basic “write what you know and love” to “find a writing community for support,” the article expounds upon some necessary and helpful tactics for those wishing to be published. It discusses the process from writing all the way through publication, encouraging writers to educate themselves not only in the area in which they are writing, but also in the business that is the writing industry. It gives some tips on how to do just that, such as newsletters that are easy to sign up for that deal specifically with the industry. The article also talks briefly about the marketing process for a novel and explains what it is, generally speaking, that agents are looking for when it comes to accepting submissions.

Allen, M., & O'SHEA, C. (2012). 10 tips for getting your novel published. Writer (Kalmbach Publishing Co.), 125(3), 43-44

Online Resources –

a.    The Writer’s Union of Canada – Even though I am not Canadian, I found the “Guide to Getting Published” offered by the Writer’s Union of Canada to be a really great resource on the subject. It is presented in a clear, easy to maneuver website that is full of links and is easy to understand. There are sources not only for publishing a novel, but also for publishing in a journal or literary magazine. The Writer’s Union of Canada website also offers pages dedicated to understanding the process of finding a literary agent as well as to understanding the ins and outs of contracts and what to be weary of therein. It offers a contract self help package as well. The website also discusses copyright, which can be a confusing subject at the best of times. While there are a few resources available only to those who are members of the Writer’s Union of Canada, the website is still extremely useful to the aspiring writer—no matter their country of origin.

i.               Union of Canada. (n.d.). Guide to Getting Published | The Writers' Union of Canada. Home page | The Writers' Union of Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2013, from http://www.writersunion.ca/content/getting-published

b.       Writer’s Digest Blog – The “There Are No Rules” blog is great resource for writers. Writer’s Digest is an in print magazine that almost always has interesting articles, useful tips and hints, and interviews with published authors on their trade and the work put into their success. This blog is no different. It has reviews of writing conferences right alongside posts such as “Four Things Star Trek Can Teach Us About Writing.” It is entertaining and informative. Having multiple authors of the post keeps the blog from being stagnant or repetitive. Fresh perspectives lend sound voices to topics such as self-publishing the importance of captivating first lines.  There are writing challenges that are issued and problems that creep up with writing are discussed—such as excuses given for not writing or problems that occur with plots and storylines. To do and not to do lists are presented but all of these posts have one thing in common: they seek to aide the writer in writing.

ii.   Francis, S. (n.d.). To get your fiction published, hone your craft | WritersDigest.com. Write Better, Get Published, Be Creative | WritersDigest.com. Retrieved July 17, 2013, from http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/best-advice-for-getting-your-fiction-published

b.     The Guardian UK – This article from the Guardian is an interesting one. It depicts and describes the troubles, the ups and downs, which come with a writer’s first novel. While the article could be disheartening to some, but it serves as a very real look as the the problems that most authors face in today’s publishing industry. The article discusses the difficulties with selling both the book and the author behind it—assuredly tucking away the notion that of authorial obscurity. It mentions the difficult truth that an astounding number of novels just simply never get published. While it can be difficult to swallow, it is a truth that needs to be heard by the aspiring novelist. But it is not all bad news. There is also advice offered on how novelists can seek and work to make their novels not be one of those that remain unpublished.

i.     Kellaway, K. (n.d.). Kate Kellaway: That difficult first novel | Books | The Observer . Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian . Retrieved July 17, 2013, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/mar/25/fiction.features7

c.     9 Things To Help Get Your Novel Published – The Writer’s Digest article “Nine Things to Help Get Your Novel Published” is a great read. The points presented are succinct and encouraging. They may seem overly simply to the non-writer, but after slogging through a first draft, or simply trying to find the energy to write the story of your wildest dreams, these tips and suggestions are a great jumping off point for a writer and novelist. Especially helpful are the points that remind the writer of the absolute necessity of passion about the story which they are writing. That, and the strong work-ethic needed if one wants to make a serious attempt at noveling writing as a career.

i.               Sambuchino, C. (n.d.). How to Get a Novel Published | WritersDigest.com. Write Better, Get Published, Be Creative | WritersDigest.com. Retrieved July 17, 2013, from http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/9-things-that-will-help-get-your-novel-published

d.     Huffington Post – This article is extremely enlightening. It takes an honest look at the world of publication from someone with first hand experience. It explains the way that certain aspects of the publishing industry have changed since many of the books on said subject were originally written. Now, one might obtain a book publisher before finding a literary agent to represent them, and that the marketing and promoting of one’s first book may end up taking even more time than the writing of the book did. There is no such thing as an overnight success story and this article elucidates that fact. It also says that while such things as agents and publishers and editors are extremely important factors in publishing a book, the writer must be passionate about their work or all the rest will be for naught.

i.     Choi, S. (n.d.). Nataly Kelly: Six Things I Learned About Publishing a Book That Very Few Books Will Tell You. Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 17, 2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nataly-kelly/six-things-i-learned-abou_b_2412322.html

Summary

I chose the topic of "Getting Published" because it was a research process that I went through myself. I wrote a novel and wanted to see it in print. I had no clue where to start, so making this Pathfinder was a way to pool the resources that I have discovered over the past few years into one place so that they may be accessible to other aspiring writers. I was quite successful in finding information on my topic. There is an abundance of resources out there, although it may be difficult for a novice to know where to start.