Aspiring writers can't be blamed for balking at
apparently insuperable hurdles to becoming a published author. Modern technology has made actual process of writing much easier than ever before. Perhaps this is why so many believe they can use their word processors to achieve fame and fortune. Unfortunately, number of traditional publishers is shrinking rapidly as small houses are swallowed up by big boys. Herein lies a mathematical problem of course: more writers chasing fewer outlets. It's enough to make you want to change your mouse for, well, anything that has fewer odds against success.But before you throw in towel take a look at your strategy. Yes, strategy. If you don't believe you need one, then stop reading this now but at same time forget about becoming a published writer. The truth is that serendipity has very little to do with writing success. You need to plan your path. And if you're saying right now, so, okay what success have you had? Well, I can say with all honesty that my strategy is working very nicely. As I'll explain in course of this article.
So what's first step? Simply learn your craft. No matter how much talent you may have, you still need to learn a lot - about writing techniques and about outlets and markets for your work. Nobody need lack access to a creative writing class nowadays. If you can't attend one physically, then sign up for a correspondence course or access one on Internet. You also need regular feedback on your work from other writers and you can do this by joining a local writers' group or by finding an Internet critique board. Believe me, you will see your style develop and your professionalism grow.
When you have knocked a few pieces into shape enter some competitions. Study them carefully. Local events are a good start. I won my first competition by entering an article in local evening newspaper's competition. I was then able to point to this success when I started sending out my initial pieces for publication. You don't even have to win first prize to claim success. Being a runner-up still puts you ahead of game.
Now start finding markets. Start small and look for magazines that specialize in what you do. I wrote a story I really wanted to publish but, not having a track record, I didn't expect it to get into a high-profile publication. I did, however, succeed with a well regarded magazine publishing only women's fiction. Okay they paid peanuts, but I had another success for my portfolio.
Next you need to look at ways of proliferating your published material. Don't go for any kind of vanity publishing: remember you want to be paid for your work, not pay somebody to publish it, and if it's good enough, you will eventually sell it. But do look at new opportunities that modern technology affords. Electronic publishing is in its infancy and, although you may not feel same about seeing your work on screen as you would about holding it in print form, e-publishing can at least raise your profile and that's what you need now as your next step. Having had a couple of print publishers expressing an interest in my first novel, I realized it had something going for it. Ultimately, when it came to crunch, they turned it down, but I then had it accepted by an electronic publisher and then I won an EPPIE award for it. As I had sold only electronic rights I didn't lose sight of finding a print publisher, as I explain later.
