Authors - how did you first get ' published ' ?

[worldwidetravel2017]

Just wondering , thanks.

Ive always loved writing
And often been complimented on my ' work '
Did a writing course recently for enjoyment..

I don't know if this is the sort of thing you're thinking of, but I've had a few short stories published. Sent them to literary journals according to each journal's submission guidelines. They paid me next to nothing for them, though, or some cases literally nothing!

I wrote an erotic story that was published in a women’s magazine, then I entered a competition and another short story (not erotic!) was published in a collection. I also write film scripts and now have an agent. I’m ‘on submission’ to publishers which is horrible! It all happens bit by bit - I’d just say keep going and entering things - no one’s story is the same. And the main thing is to enjoy the writing as the rest of it can be very trying at times! Good luck 🍀

Thank you

I wrote several books which I knew weren’t good enough but I was still learning. Then when I wrote something which I did believe was finally good enough I had a 1-2-1 with an agent at a writers conference and she took me on. She then got me a publishing contract.

I self published two children's picture books. They did pretty well and one won an award. They were picked up by a small traditional press and republished under their imprint. I'm now querying agents for my third manuscript so fingers crossed!

Thanks all for your input
Much appreciated

I had a short story published in my early 20's but family then got in the way. I finally got a publisher (in the US) after entering umpteen competitions and finally winning one which came with a three book deal. I'm just writing book number 15 for them right now (not counting two novellas in collections) and have a new deal for five more. I've also done reasonably well with short stories and was short listed in the Bedford Prize last year - so that one is in an anthology too. Keep on writing, and enter competitions. If you're a good writer, scattering your short stories should catch someone's eye at some point.