Trying to get published

[thymeoperator]

Hi, I'm new on Mumsnet - hoping to meet some nice new people!

Also, I've read a few people talking about trying to get published on here and I thought I'd try this - I'm a writer myself, it's pretty much the only thing, career-wise, that will ever make me happy and I'm desperate to get it going as soon as I'm able so I can get rid of the 9-5.30 job and have more family time, etc.

I thought I'd try my hand at self-publishing a book of short stories and get it around locally at first and just get myself some attention before I try the agencies/publishers again (I've had one rejection and two places not bother to respond at all and it just seems impossible at that rate, when you consider most people get rejected 30+ times before landing their big deal!). But I'd love to have public reviews of things, just get an idea of what people think, so a while back I made a myspace where you can read a few stories in the blog and then comment on them there. Please anyone interested, help me out! It's at:

www.myspace.com/vrindabarker

Thanks!!

I'm in a bit of a hurry, will try to look at your stuff later, but http://www.youwriteon.com/ this website looks like an interesting route to getting published - it's free, you share fiction with other writers, and comment on each other's stuff. The highest-rated stuff gets looked at by Actual Publishing Type People.

wow thank you very much, that's useful to know!

it wont let us on the www.youwritethis.com site for some reason.

so when you send your book to the publishers, do you send the whole book or the first few chapters??

have been thinking of this for a while too, but have no idea how you go about it.

or even www.youwriteon.com

ok sorry, i worker all last night and need to sleep now i think!! im not normally thick

Dear all,

I am bumping this up as I am interested to meet other people who would like to get published. I have written two teen novels (both 80,000 words) a series of short stories and radio plays, despite a lot of effort none of these are published. Would anyone else like to chat about work they have done / are doing.

I am 27 weeks pregnant and exhausted so am finding it hard to join writing groups in the area which meet at night.

Hoping there is someone out there.

Cheers,

NS

I would recommend paying for a professional critique -if you are good, they will probably give you hints and tips on attracting an agent etc. If they think you aren't they will be honest and you can have a rethink (but never stop writing ).
Or if you fancy doing a romance, the Romantic Novelists Association will crit your book in their annual competition, winner gets read by some seriously good contacts.

Dear Buckets,

Thanks for writing back, they are good sugggestions. Unfortunately we haven't money for a critique at the moment having through the whole IVF thing.

I have tried short story competitions, radio play competitions, writing classes, agents and publishers. Most of the time the work does not seem to be read. I ring around and ask about specific requirements and follow the requirements to the last detail. Then 8 months later I get a rejection, saying they aren't looking for teenage fiction, even though they have said over the phone / writers and artisit's year book that they do accept teenage fiction.

I might well ask for a critique in the future before self publishing, which seems to me to be the only option at present. In the meantime if there is anyone else out there who is writing and would like to share work...would they be interested in talking on a thread.

NS XXXX

I only know stuff because my mum is a writer, she was over 60 when she finally got published after decades of infuriating "loved it but not right for us" rejections. So hang on in there .
Good luck with the babymaking BTW, hope you can turn all the heartache into inspiration one day.
Re teens: have you heard of Barrington Stoke publishers?

Dear Buckets,

I think I have heard of Barrington Stoke I'll try that some time.

I definately think I can turn all the heartache into inspiration. One of my projects is to write about my experiences of infertility in England and Ireland.

I am glad your Mum made it. If your not known it's an incredibly difficult journey, isn't it? I love writing and have every intention of continuing. I always thought my infertility and quest to get published were travelling along at the same time. Happily infertility ended after my first IVF cycle last September. I am delighted. Delighted to be expecting after 4 1/2 years. Maybe sometime in the future my journey to conceiving a book will also end, but I don't want to ask for too much!

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
NS XXXXX

I can imagine what you mean. Fertility is a limited resource but your writing will only get better with age (esp combined with parenthood I think). Congrats.

I was signing books at an event last night and the other author, Angela Young, told me she'd sent her book to The LIterary Consultancy and they were brilliant and really helped her.

I think it's expensive but money really well spent. It probably saves you time in the long run, too.

You could also try Writers Services. They gave me readers reports on a couple of my novels.

Hi,

Eliza2 is the Literary Consultancy a self publishing agency?

I wonder if there is anyone on Mum'snet who would like to share work over the net (although I am not sure how to do this)Maybe you might know of a writing forum? I have tried to join one before but have not had much success. I am waiting for my work to return from Ireland so will not have it available for a few days.

Love NS XXXX

No, they are editors with a lot of publishing experience and published novelists who look at your work and advise you on what you need to do to make it of publishable standard. Occasionally (rarely) they recommend you to an agent.

WRitewords is supposed to be a good writers online site, but I don't belong to it myself. I belong to Backspace, a US writers online site. There are lots of published and agented writers there giving useful advice, which is what you need if you are trying to break into the market.

Hi Eliza2,

Thanks. Will check into that when my work arrives.

NS X