Becoming a writer with published work out there in the world is immensely rewarding and fulfilling. The thrill of seeing your words in print, your name on a cover, in a shop, online or physical, never gets old – it’s food for the writing soul. And now you’re ready to take that first step on the path… it’s exciting to have come so far as a writer! But, before you take that big, deep breath and press send – just pause for a moment.

You mostly only get one shot with each agent or publisher.

Are you really sure you’ve ticked all the boxes? Would perhaps just a little more time and a bit more insight make a bigger difference to your chances of being picked up for publication?

Before you do anything else, have a think about the following:

The work

Be completely honest – is your work the best it could possibly be? Is a tiny bit of you hoping an agent or editor might fix anything not entirely working? Of course, your judgement is the final call. But there’s a lot to be said for checking off absolutely everything, and the benefits beta readers or a final ‘industry standard’ polish might bring. Not least that one last chance to fix any issues before you send it out.

The pitch and the package

So, you’ve polished your prose until it’s practically gleaming. But can you nail your pitch in a single sentence? It’s never a bad idea to ensure your synopsis or proposal does what it says on the tin, or check your query letter shows you and your work in the best possible light. Or, in the event you find yourself in that metaphorical elevator with a publishing pro asking, ‘So, what’s your work about?’, you can just smile and confidently clear your throat…

Have you done your research?

Finding an agent or a publisher is a tough gig. The landscape shifts constantly, and myths and legends abound. It’s good to be aware of ALL the options currently out there – and to think intensively about what, and who, might be the right fit for you. And once you’ve found that, how to give yourself the best chance of securing it.

Have you asked yourself the right questions?

It’s easy for writers to think so much about the writing we forget about the reader. But who is it you’re writing for, what is your target audience – and why do you write? Asking yourself what success looks like for you, and where your work fits into a busy and mercurial marketplace helps your submission, for sure. But it also helps you stay the distance in what is famously often more of a marathon than a sprint.

Keeping it real

The realities are not always pretty. If you’re going to write, you’re likely going to be rejected – it’s what ‘real’ writers do. It can be tough to build the right toolkit to deal with all the ups and downs, and even harder to keep going. But there are strategies to help cope and build resilience, and there is a whole community out there waiting for you. And this course is a pretty good place to start…