Who's going to 'How to get published'?

For someone who has just started wetting their feet in writing this last year your comments are spurring me on and very helpful.

Good luck with your submission :)

I attending "Getting Published Day" by Writers Workshop and their York Writing Festival this past year. Both were immensely helpful. Since I was a complete novice in the publishing world, Getting Published Day really helped me to get my feet wet, to get feedback from both editors and agents in the industry (information that my copious amounts of research couldn't really answer).

Now, I'm at the point that I'm submitting work, getting small projects published, and getting ready for the big submission. So, I feel that attending industry panels isn't as helpful as taking courses either from industry leaders, published authors, etc.... I'm ready to really keep honing the craft.

There are several things that are important when attending these events (I assume you've never been): take loads of notes, don't take all advice at face-value, let it soak in over a few days. Believe in the work you've undertaken, and the ability for it to grow from professional input. I have seen where writers have really grown from taking on great advice from people who love reading and want to see writers succeed. And I've also witnessed the opposite: individuals who just want validation that they are brilliant writers...when every agent, editor, published author, are all in the trenches selling books. Their advice is invaluable.

That being said, you aren't expected to agree or edit your book 100% to someone else's dictates, but I found, after talking to four different agents about my book, that it has grown into an entirely clearer beast for me.

My baby is ready to set sail in a few months...and I can thank these industry conferences for this. It was money very well spent (and mind you, I live in Germany, so it is rather a sacrifice with airfare, lodging, etc...)

I hope this helps!

Best wishes,

britta