I am a young age & I want to publish my book. I need help...?

Question

When you get an editor, do they have to be licensed? Some of my friends want to be my editors but I'm not sure how they can become real editors. My most important question, how can I get my book published? I am 13 & I have seen other 13 year olds become authors, even 11 year olds. But I need to know how they do it, I have posted my stories on-line and a lot of people like them, they have suggested that I get them published so I want to know how to publish one of my stories & I really want to do this not because of what people said but because I have faith that I am a good potential writer. I have pre-ap reading & Language arts classes that really help. Can any one help me with my potential career?

Answer 1

It will definitely be harder for you to publish because you've posted your stories online. You can always self publish, but any agencies will be wary of the work already being out there and available for free, even if you deleted them today. You might have screwed yourself.

My advice for you would be to find a publisher who caters to kids/young adults specifically, like Push. You definitely do need an editor, but it would be best for you to use someone who has been educated in the actual process of editing. Your friends could fix typos and things like that, but at 13 they aren't even in highschool yet and haven't learned alot about grammar and composition style, things an editor should know. Don't try to cut corners, unless you just decide to self publish, in which case it doesn't really matter because the only person the finished product has to go through is you.

Answer 2

Emi,

Editors charge a lot of money these days. Some charge up to $5.00 per page. A 300 page manuscript can cost you up to $1500.00. It might be a good idea to see if one of your teachers would be interested in editing your work. I would believe you'd have to keep it pretty clean though. I don't think they'd appreciate any four letter words coming from someone your age.

You can publish your work at your age, but you can't get into any binding contracts without your parents or a guardian being involved in the process.

Here's what you'll need to know and do to give yourself the best chance.

Read on:

Writing a book takes more than just sitting down and putting your idea into words. There are a lot of things that you have to consider.

Keep an eye out for spelling and grammar errors. When typing fast with fresh ideas in our heads, we tend to forget ourselves. Check and recheck your work. Editors are very expensive these days.

You’ll need to know how to write an effective ‘query letter’ to a literary agent. The letter will also include a synopsis that will hold the interest of the agent, and want to make him or her ask for the first three chapters of your work. Never send a manuscript to a publisher or literary agent without querying first.

You’ll need to know how to format your manuscript. This includes the fonts (size and type) that most agents, editors, and publishers want. These are usually Courier New and Times New Roman (12 pt). Short stories and novels are formatted differently. You will need to follow submission guidelines just as they are laid down for your submissions. Anything less will result in your manuscript sent back or destroyed unread.

You will need to know what Point of View (POV) is. Know how to write in First Person Point of View. You’ll need to know the can and can not of each.

Do you know how to write dialogue? How to format dialogue? This is very important and allows the author and his/her characters to communicate with the reader. Remember dialect as well. Dialect is how a person speaks. Your characters may be highly educated or dumber than dishwater. ‘Ain’t got none’ is highly acceptable when used properly by a character who is even less than street smart.

It’s a good idea to know some of the publishing laws. The use of names and places.

These include

o Delivery Of Satisfactory Copy

o Permission for Copyrighted Material

o Grant Of Rights

o Proofreading and Author's Corrections

o Advances and Royalties

o Author's Warranties and Indemnities

o Copies to Author

o Option Clause

Learn how to get a ‘word count of your work. Some novels have a prologue and an epilogue. You’ll need to know how to write them and why they’re used.

Know what the word ‘genre’ means. Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction; These are all genres.

One of the most important issues in manuscript submitting is the proper ‘page set up’ for your work. This includes margins, indents, and paragraphs. Most editors will want to see your manuscript double spaced. This allows the editor to use his/her proofreaders marks between the lines. Most margins will be one inch all around with a ragged right margin and an even left.

Are you prepared to do a lot of ‘research’ involving your work? Remember that many professionals such as, doctors, lawyers, nurses, public accountants, judges, architects, bricklayers, engineers, and police officers read, too.

Do you know what a sub-plot is? This is a plot that comes ‘under’ the main plot. The hero may be after the vampire, but the mob may be after the hero as well. This is a sub-plot.

Can you take rejection and constructive criticism? If you’re easily hurt in the feelings department, then writing may not be your forte. Critics will tear you apart or build you up. The best writers in the world “King, Patterson, Koontz, J.K. Rowling, and many others” have been torn up one side and down the other. You can’t please everyone.

If you decide to hire an editor, remember: Your manuscript will be double spaced, which means there will be twice as many pages. A 600 page novel could cost you around $1800.00, some even more depending on what the editor charges per page. Then there’s the hourly rate that some charge. Usually it’s within the range of $65.00. So, if they work on your book for 18 hours, that’s another $1170.00 + $1800.00 = $2970.00

These are the things you must know to work at your craft. Don’t let these things deter you from writing. There are books in libraries and bookstores that can teach you all of these things. Buying these books (if you want to be a serious writer) is the best thing to do. Why? Well, because you can use a yellow marker to highlight all the points of interest. Then you can use the front of the book to make page references to those markings in order to check back on them at a later date, when you need to.

You’ll need to get a copy of Writer’s Market for the current year. This has literary agents w

Answer 3

Google self-publishing. Just be sure to read the fine print very carefully. Ask mom or dad to help understand the legal jargon. Copyright your work.

Incidentally, online published does not count as 'published stories' etc when it comes to the world of authors and books. As anyone can make a website and throw their work onto it. (Not suggesting you are doing that; just making you aware of how it works.

A published writer is one who can point to a real soft or hardback copy (magazine, etc) of their work.

Answer 4

Both you and at least one parent need to familiarize yourself with the industry.  You'll need to know how to spot a scam before you get trapped in one.  A good place to start is Absolute Writer Watercooler ( www.absolutewrite.com/forum ).  Big site, lots to learn there, and most of it is realitively 'teen safe'.  

There are magazines that accept stories by children (and teens).  Cicada is one (they have several magazines aimed at various age groups. There are many other  magazines that will accept work by young writers, check the magazine or websites for submission information.  

There are some writer's forums which offer opportunities to young writers to learn and be cretiqued.  Offhand, I don't know the name of any of them, but I'm sure the water cooler people do :-)

Online and self publishing are still questionable areas.  Depending on where your work is available online, you may find that either you can't resell it or might not even own the rights to it at all anymore.  Self publishing, even when it's not a scam, has a very low opinion in the industry and among readers.  I'd suggest not going that route.  It won't impress anybody to hear you self published.