Getting Your First Sale: Helpful How to Tips

Do you crave that first sale? Do you envy other writers who seem to get their work published effortlessly? Believe me, published authors work hard to get their poetry, etc. into publications. Even if they seem like they are overnight successes, they aren't. Years of revising, submitting again and again go into that occurrence. Some writers have had their work rejected many times, but still keep trying.

Nothing is easy and nothing is a free ride. That is the difference between a published writer and a non-
published one. The one who is willing to persevere and continue sending in their manuscripts despite
rejections, is the one who will eventually be published. When I finally saw my work published in a magazine, I realized I had 'made' it. How? By learning my craft and constantly improving my work. I paid more attention to rhyme, meter and other aspects of my submissions. I created more exciting conflicts in short stories, and watched my grammar and spelling in articles to make sure it was as good as it could be.

Studying the work of other writers that interests you really helps improve your work. You will learn a lot from them as to form and style. Even though the editors never commented on any of my rejected pieces, except for that occasional, "Try again," I felt they helped me enormously-to study and learn in order for me to become a published writer.

If I had given up, I would have stayed at the beginner's level, which meant my work might never have seen publication, or would only have appeared in small presses, if I were fortunate enough. They, too, expect quality work. The old saying, "A winner never quits and a quitter never wins," is a very important lesson. Perseverance also is one of the main ways to seeing your work online or in print.

Don't just wish you could be a published writer, make that wish come true by doing your 'homework.' Research your markets, and when writing short stories create characters that are riveting and ones that will make the editor want to buy them.

If you don't have a writer's group in your area, get together online with one already in existence or form your own with some experienced writers who you know. They probably would be happy to help you with your manuscript and you would help them with theirs.

Don't send in your work the moment you write it. Instead, stay away from it for a few days and then come back to it. You will probably find things in it that can be revised and typos you didn't see before. You will have a fresh outlook on it too.

Most importantly, if your dream is to be a writer, be one. Don't just daydream hoping that it will come true. It won't. You have to be the springboard to make it work.

If you follow the above tips, you are bound to see your first sale. You will know the thrill of holding your first check in you hands.