Writerpedia discussion

Ok, I need some advice.
I'm writing a book right now, (my first ever in fact), and I don't have a clue how to go about getting it published. If any one has insight on this, I'd very much appreciate it.
Also, how much does age factor in, if at all, when someone is considering publishing your work?

Wait - wait - hold your horses!

I am mainly summarizing Maureen Johnson's advice here, who I will link you to in a bit.

Publishing is not something you want to get into right away. I'm 14 and I've never finished a book either, and even if I did, it would not be published. Ever.

2 main reasons for not getting published:

1. In the "introduce yourself" discussion you mentioned you were 14. 14 is a time of homework, stress, stinky pits, friends, confusion, and more homework. I'm living it, too. Being a published writer is a job. You have a date to be completely finished with your novel, you have an editor to work with, and you have endless hours of fingers tapping on a keyboard between sips of caffeinated tea. Take that job and bury it under gobs of homework and stress and friends and suddenly everything else begins to smell like body odor, too. Whether you're the next J.K. Rowling or the henchman of Stephenie Meyer (god forbid), 14 is not the time to throw yourself into the world of publishing. 14 is the time of preparing yourself for that later on.

2. You have not sucked enough. No matter what age you begin writing, you will suck. You will suck slightly less and less as you go on, but you will still suck for many, many years. This is good. I have been sucking for three years. And I will continue for a very long time. So will countless others on this journey. (Yes, I see you all giggling. I'm giggling too. Potty humor is inevitable. This paragraph still has some meaning.)

Here are the videos in which Maureen Johnson (author of her most recent book, Scarlett Fever) explains all of this much more thoroughly. (Who the eff is Hank? You might ask while watching these videos. Well, Maureen was visiting on a vlog Hank shares with his brother - another writer - and she did a sequence of videos on writing, so references to Hank can be ignored.)

(in order to watch)
1. http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbroth...
2. http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbroth...
3. http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbroth...

Keep writing!
Penelope

Great advice, Penelope. Love point 2. Very true, and applies to all ages.

Personally, the length of time you "suck" is directly related to the number of books you read, in and out of your preferred genre, as well as the word counts you amass. The best advice ever given is to read and write daily. Another way to term this is to study and practice daily. This is a discipline. And once you get into the habit, and the earlier you get into this habit, your writing will improve quicker than those who merely dally here and there. Wish I had a nickel for every time a would-be author said they don't read. I wouldn't have to work for a living.

The other habit to get into early is finish what you start, even if you think it sucks. Revision solves most sucking, but sometimes you have to revise the piece 100 times to get to that level. One good piece of advise regarding revision--when you start putting things back, it's time to quit.

Age doesn't matter near as much to the independent publisher as quality of work--at least to my way of thinking. New York obviously thinks differently and is suffering for it.

Mari

thank you all very much for the advice! everything helps right now . :)

and you are probably right, Penelope, about the stress of being an author AND being in high school. i can't even imagine what my grades might be, if i was stressing about meeting dead-lines for my publisher.
thanks. :)

I have a 22 year old nephew who wrote his first book, having to do with his experience about being a contiencious objector. A good subject, but it's poorly written. He needs to get what one might call his "writing legs." That is, he needs to write and read more, learn to deal with rejection and frustration, and become involved in the writing community. Otherwise he'll never learn.

If you are serious about publishing, you should consider going the self-publishing route. I found this great company who does self-publishing but gets your book into mainstream distribution channels like Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Ingram, and Baker and Taylor.

I've worked with their staff and they are fantastic. Even if you don't want your book to be a huge success, they can help you get your book ready to print.

Check them out!

http://www.eckohousepublishing.com/

Oh Hi! You remind me when I was fourteen, I was so into writing and rushing my book to be published fast! Haha. But that's really it, it's a writer's phase especially in your age and I admire you for that. For now just keep on writing and rewriting more and more stories and read more books of both your genre and not because it will help you a lot. In time you'll be good enough and maybe old enough and probably richer to publish your best book ever. Goodluck!

Edelweiss

I am 16, and I am thinking of getting my novel published as well. But I have heard of all the work and stress and tears that come with it, and I admit I am a little scared. I have been working on my novel ever since I was 13, and I still don't think it's ready yet. It's better than it once was, but it still needs work. But we shall never give up! Sooner or later, all our novels shall be finished and published! Yahoo!

I'm pobably the youngest writer here and I'm in the middle of writing the book, I'm 11 but the whole homework and stuff thing doesn't apply to me because I'm homeschooled , I have no after school work, I finish school at 1:00 and start at 12, so I have lots of time to write. My friend Britney is helping me as my co-writer and the book is coming along.Its only going to be like 60 pages long and 4 inches high but I still want it published and I really need to know how cause by like may at the most it'll be done so I need to know.I can't and don't want to self publish so how can I get my book published and who's the best publisher?????????????

I don't think there's any proper time to pursue publication, but if as an internationally published author (just twenty-two today myself, actually) it would be this: finish the book first.

I know, I know, but hear me out.

When you first set out to write a book, seeking advice on the best route to publication is always first in your mind. However, there isn't a single publisher - large or small (excluding self-pub) that will accept an unfinished manuscript unless your last name is King, Koontz or Steele.

It's easy to get excited about the possibilities - and believe me, it never gets less exciting - but you need to concentrate on honing your craft and finishing the manuscript first.

I hate to be the downer, but call me a realist - you'll thank me later.

Once you've finished the manuscript, head on over to www.absolutewrite.com and link up with the forums. All for FREE (never use a 'learn to write' paid service) - the members can educate you in editing, publishing, securing an agent, and everything else you need to know. That's how I learned - and I advise you give it a shot too.

Lastly, don't give up. Everyone and their sister has a half-finished book sitting in their top drawer and calls themselves a writer. Show the world just how much you want to succeed and prove them all wrong - I know you can do it!

Happy writing,

Grey Dogs: Zombie Survival
Ian D.G. Sandusky

thanks for the help! I'm very happy I joined this group!