By Debby Giusti
So you want to be a writer, but you don’t know how to make your dreams come true. Here are 5 steps to start you on the road to publication.
READ. What’s your favorite genre to read? In most cases, that’s a good indication of the type of story you might want to write. Or the type of story you should write. Why? Because you understand that particular genre. You know how the plot develops, how the characters change and grow, and how the action builds to an exciting climax and ends with a satisfying resolution.
Ask any romance reader about the various aspects of the
stories she loves to read and she’ll explain how the hero and heroine may seem
at odds at the beginning of the story, even though the reader knows they’re
meant for each other. A series of problems keep them apart until they overcome
the obstacles, declare their love and live happily ever after.
That's a simplistic overview, for sure, yet the reader knows the
various aspects of the romance genre and what she needs to include in her own
story to make it a compelling read.
Therefore the first step in your journey to publication is to read within a particular genre, study how the stories are developed and then decide what elements you’ll include in the story you plan to write.
WRITE. Begin with an idea. Expand that first spark of inspiration
into some type of a story overview, either a detailed synopsis or outline or a
short explanation of the plot and how you want it to develop.
Don’t get too hung up on details. Once you have a general
idea of your plot and characters, start writing. Give your creative Muse free
rein and have fun.
Keep writing until you type THE END. Now pat yourself on
the back and celebrate because YOU’VE WRITTEN A BOOK!!!
REVISE & REWRITE. Fine-tune your story. Work through the pages. Make corrections. Change dialogue. Delete extraneous material. Rearrange sentences, paragraphs and even scenes. Cut and paste. Tighten in some places, expand the narrative in others. Check grammar and spelling.
Then repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the
entire story.
ANOTHER SET OF EYES. Say what?
Another set of eyes means to have someone else read your
story. Your mother will love it, no doubt, but you need a reader with an editor’s
eye for detail. A person who understands story. She doesn’t have to work as an editor,
but she—or he—needs to identify problems within your story and offer
constructive criticism.
Some folks use a beta reader to catch errors and offer suggestions.
Another option is to look for a critique partner or a
critique group. Exchange pages and review one another’s stories. Fresh eyes can
pick out problems you might overlook.
Enter contests that offer written critiques, especially if
the judges are published authors. Getting feedback helps you identify areas of
weakness as well as positive aspects of your writing. Study ways to improve
your craft and change those weaknesses into strengths.
Hire a freelance editor. A number of editors do freelance
work and will provide editorial input for a fee.
SUBMIT YOUR STORY. Agents and publishing houses have websites that include guidelines for submission. Do your homework. Learn what the agent or editor you’re targeting requests and follow his or her directions to a T.
Once you’ve submitted your story, start working on your
next manuscript!
By the way, did you notice the "writers" in the above memes? They're on the road to publication and working hard to make their writing dreams come true!
Tell me about your writing dreams and the steps you’ve already taken on your journey to publication! Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a copy of HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS, my Publishers Weekly Bestseller still available on Amazon.
Happy writing! Happy reading!
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS
Her temporary Amish homecoming
could
get her killed.
Julianne Graber left her Amish life behind after a family
tragedy, but now she’s back to sell the family home— and someone’s dead set on
getting rid of her. With her neighbor William Lavy by her side, Julianne must
uncover dangerous secrets to make sense of the past and present. Can she find
justice for her family—and a future with Will—before the killer hits his
target?
Order on Amazon!
