A Writer’s PathBy Loretta Moore, writer/playwright/author/composer

Writers must connect with publishers, editors and producers. Make yourself aware of that process!

Only seek publishers looking for your genre. You want to avoid wasting your time and efforts, and setting yourself up for disappointment--rejection is your worst enemy! Also, as you pursue publishers, and the others, beware of the ones that mean you no good.

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​Submitting your work usually starts with a ‘synopsis,’ an introduction to your story, and you! Everything hinges on a ‘synopsis’ for it tells the editor what the story’s about in a brief presentation. If you’ve presented your story idea well enough to spark the publisher’s interest, you’ll receive an invitation to submit more…a couple of chapters, or the entire manuscript for review.
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​Editing matters! You’ll find that editing is a huge part of creating a story that sells, and it’s important to listen to editors for they make your manuscript more worthy. They provide a critical service since they know what readers want. Also, listen to editor’s guidance about style, grammar, using active voice, and other elements about which you might neglect. As a matter of fact the procedure editors perform is ‘surgical’, as they get rid of what the manuscript can’t use, or does harm, and insert what’s needed. In the end they’ve made your manuscript more appealing to an audience of readers.  

Getting with other writers and with writing organizations can offer writers clarity and support. The interchange has benefits.

Rejection plays a heavy role in a writer’s life. Every submission has a high possibility to be turned down. Publishers, editors, producers and others have to decide whether a writer will produce a ‘seller’ or nor, a decision that carries a lot of weight. Personally, my ‘rejections’ could fill a dresser drawer, but I continue to submit!

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​Lastly, but very importantly, once you’re published, it’s vital that you become heavily involved promoting and marketing. Your work is an isolated project when you’re ‘creating’ and becomes a ‘public’ endeavor after. Be prepared to seek out interviews, venues for readings and signings, public appearances of all sorts, libraries, universities, churches, magazines, social media, organizations…any possible means of access. Also, websites that advertise writers’ work can be a good source for broadening sales. I’d suggest you look for the ‘free’ ones. I discovered several ‘free’ sites online. You have to consider every opportunity if you’re going to have any success as a writer. They’re many outlets available for your work. It’s up to you to go after them.
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Keep Writing, and Good Luck!!!

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