YA Must-Reads discussion

If you don't mind my two cents here but I have seen a few postings here for potential reviewers. I am one myself! They either post the link or request that the reviewer contact them and send us the file. Hope this helps. Oh, and I do have a book blog and I can post on Goodreads!

There's always something new to learn! =^)

Hi Ella. I joined an online writing workshop and posted my novel there chapter by chapter. I got tons of helpful feedback, which helped me make it as good as it could be. Without that workshop, I'm not sure it would have been solid enough to land a publishing contract, which it did. Let me know if you want the name of that write site, or poke around online and find a good one. It was fantastic help.

All the best to you!

Suki

great idea Suki. Workshops are great, but the writer will need thick skin. I tend to get my feelings hurt in workshops. I keep doing them because I get feedback that I just can't get anywhere else.
Good luck Ella

I am really hoping the story I wrote could get published but I really dont know where to start. I guess I am just hoping to get lucky.

P.D. - I know what you mean. I DON'T have a thick skin, but my co-writer/partner does, and he got me through the tough times. It really helped us get published. Stephie - it's a long road to publication paved with rejection, no matter how good your story is - you just have to persevere until you find that one publisher or editor who believes in you. Let me know if I can help you figure out where to start.

I will be willing to take any advise or help when it comes to getting it published. I wouldnt be disappointed if it didnt though since I am happy that I was actually able to finish the story. It just would be really cool to have it actually into a book with my name on it haha.

How long is the story, Stephie? What is it about?

So far its 118 pages and 54,643 words but I am working on edits so that number will change a bit...

16 year old Christina is lost in life after her parents died in a
car accident when she was young. She lives at the boarding school her
parents sent her too. After a new girl Mary shows up and becomes her best
friend she gets her life thrown upside down. She not only finds out that her
new best friend but is also her fairy protector since she is a fairy
princess. Not only is she a princess but she is also one of a kind as she
can control all 5 elements (wind/air, plant, water/ice, fire, and earth)
where everyone else could only control one. After the banished king Apollyon
finds this out he sets out to get the secret of the elemental power no
matter what. She now has to save her kingdom, friends, and her love William
by going to Abaddon and confronting Apollyon.

It sounds really interesting, Stephie, and you have so much written - that's fantastic! Once you finish it, you'll need to find someone with experience to read it and give you suggestions for polishing it up and making sure it's the best it can be, but you have to make yourself be open to honest critique. Then you can write a query letter and send it to agencies and publishers who accept direct submissions. If they're interested, they'll ask for the first chapter or first 50 pages, whatever. If they like that, they'll ask for the whole manuscript, then you just have to wait for their response. There are lists online on where to submit your story at Duotrope.com and many other places.

Hope that helps.

Suki

Thanks for all of that. Its a great big help. Now to finish editing...

All of this us really great advice! Using goodreads is a good way if you're in a group. Many groups have sections for authors, like we do.

I love to write, but I also like to help others who are starting out because I've been down a very long road and it's finally paying off. By the way, if anyone's interested, my YA Urban Fantasy, The Apocalypse Gene, is coming out on 10/17 by Parker Publishing, Inc. There's a giveaway going on now, so please enter! Thanks kiddos.

Suki

Congrats Suki on getting published. I havent really been on lately. Been preoccupied by other things. But now I am trying to get back on track with editing my story. I hope your book take off and is a big hit!

Thank you Stephie! ME TOOOOOO. ;-)

Hi, all! I, too, have been working on a YA book for a while. On a Wing and a Dare has been picked up and will be published in March 2012. I am so excited! I'm watching Suki's release promos very closely so I can steal her ideas. :)

Busted! :-]