Writing need not be a solitary task. Now that you’ve worked your way through the writing process, try reaching out to other writers and agents as you explore your publishing options. There’s a whole world out there!

 

Do you have a Twitter account? Even if you don’t, there is much to learn from heading over to Twitter and searching for and following hashtags such as #amwriting, #amquerying and #pitchwars. You’ll discover a world of people talking to each other and to agents about the process of writing and getting published. Why not ask a few questions yourself? It might make all the difference to pick a few brains before you send your submission out into the world.

 

And don’t forget , you can always talk to us at @futurebookself

Jurgen Wolff, author of Your Writing Coach

‘The writing life’

‘Remember what’s really important’.   Adapted from Your Writing Coach, Jurgen Wolff   The Writing Life “There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.” —Logan Piersall Smith   If you’ve worked your way through…
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‘The writing life’

Sam Copeland, literary agent

‘Never have agents and agencies been more public-facing’

  My main tip is: write a fantastic book and don’t worry about ‘how to get published’ blogs on the internet. That’s it. There’s no big secret, no cabbalistic set of rules that will allow the doors of publishing to swing open. Yes, if you write a terrible pitch letter it won’t help your cause.…
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‘Never have agents and agencies been more public-facing’

Maddy Price, editor at Hodder & Stoughton

‘Don’t be a stalker, but be personal’

So you’ve whipped your manuscript into a sugar-spun showstopper and if you make one more tweak to it you will spontaneously combust along with your laptop and your passion for writing – it’s time to send that baby out into the world. It’s a good idea to find a literary agent. Most publishers just don’t…
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‘Don’t be a stalker, but be personal’

Louise Welsh, author of novels including The Cutting Room and A Lovely Way to Burn

Katherine Grubb, author of Write a Novel in Ten Minutes A Day

‘Avoid common mistakes when pitching’  

When you approach an agent or publisher, don’t fall into these traps…   from Katherine Grubb’s Write a Novel in Ten Minutes A Day   The most common mistakes in queries   People can easily make serious mistakes in their query letter without realizing it. Here are some of the most common:   Writing an…
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‘Avoid common mistakes when pitching’  

Mike Gayle, author of novels including Turning Thirty, My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr. Commitment

Juliet Mushens, author of Get Started in Writing Young Adult Fiction

‘How To Find an Agent’

  ‘Choose your agent carefully and get your submission right’   Adapted from Get Started in Writing Young Adult Fiction by Juliet Mushens   How to find an agent The best way to find a list of all agents currently working in the UK is to invest in a copy of The Writers’ and Artists’…
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‘How To Find an Agent’

Jen Campbell, author of The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night

'Someone who is passionate about what you’ve written'

What should budding authors look for in an agent? Someone who is passionate about what you’ve written, excited about what you might write next, and someone who you get on with. You don’t have to be best pals (in fact, you shouldn’t be) but, given your agent will hopefully represent you for your entire writing…
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'Someone who is passionate about what you’ve written'