How to Get Published

by John Bowers

It takes a really good query to get a publisher’s (or agent’s) attention, but what really sells your book is the book itself.  The query might be a masterpiece, but if the novel isn’t at least as good, you’re going to be rejected.

Agents and publishers are inundated with material, most of it bad.  If you’re going to rise above the mob, your book has to have something special.  A compelling, well-plotted story is obviously necessary, but it’s amazing how many well conceived stories are just plain badly written. To sell your story, it needs to be written well, and the best way to do that is to write it tightly.

Tight writing, like tight pants, gets noticed. (more…)