Whether we write for work or pleasure, deadlines are necessary in the game of Get It Done. Unfortunately, there is a stigma that comes with the dreaded D-word, and it often causes writers to drag their feet until they’re behind schedule.

Here are some tips to keep yourself on track so you can meet those deadlines with ease:

It’s no big deal. One of the biggest reasons people procrastinate is because their minds make monsters out of duties that really aren’t that bad. Stay positive and recognize the fact that the sooner you finish, the sooner you can move on.

Establish a half deadline. It’s Monday and your goal is to write six chapters of your book by Saturday. It’s tempting to put it off, but you know you’ll end up spending your entire Friday night pounding out pages. Break up the work into smaller pieces. Set out to write three chapters by Wednesday, and finish the rest by Saturday. Who knows? Maybe you’ll hit a productive stride and finish early!

Do your chores. Why is it that when we have work to do, it suddenly seems like the best time to rearrange the refrigerator? If you know you have a deadline approaching, get everything tidied up ahead of time. Not only will a tidy workspace help you focus, but you won’t be tempted to meticulously dust each knick-knack in your living room.

Keep a list of tasks and prioritize. This can work differently for different people, so make an honest assessment of your own work habits. For example, if you like to ease into things, do the simpler tasks first and use them to build momentum for the larger tasks on your list. If, on the other hand, you're the kind of person who prefers to pull a Band-Aid off quickly, front-load your schedule with the hardest tasks—with the bigger time commitments out of the way, the easier tasks will feel like a breeze to complete.

There's a reason Post-its were invented. The colorful ones are the most fun!

Allow yourself breaks. Don’t think you’re chained to your desk. Know that it’s okay to get up every once in a while and rest your eyes. It may feel like you’re wasting time, but it will actually help keep your productivity level up.

Give a hoot. If you don't care about what you're doing, the chances of you caring about your deadline are slim to none. Even if you have no choice in the matter, think about why your assignment is important. Eliminating the frivolity factor and recognizing that other people might be depending on you to get things done can lessen the urge to procrastinate.

Make sure not to bite off more than you can chew, and remember to do your best. Your best is different from day to day, but if you put your head and heart into a task, you’ll find that meeting deadlines is easier than it sounds!

Want help staying on track with your self-imposed deadlines? Want a reason to write more regularly? Writer’s Relief helps keep our writer clients on track with both their writing and submissions (plus, we help them increase their chances of publication too!). Learn more about how Writer’s Relief can help you get published.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. 

1. SUBMIT YOUR WRITING IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. Most agents and editors are reading at this time of year.

2. STOP STALLING. Start making submissions now! Make a pact with yourself to send out X number of submissions at given intervals. Our Full Service is the most inclusive and most beneficial level of service. However, if you can't afford it, there is an alternative. With using one of our A La Carte services, you’ll make 25+ submissions within a matter of days and significantly increase your odds of acceptance! The more you submit, the more likely you’ll find a home for your work.

3. WRITE EVERY DAY. Whether it’s three words or thirty pages, write every day. Can you do it? Can you make that kind of commitment to be your most creative and productive self?

4. STUDY YOUR CRAFT. Why not make a promise to yourself to improve on the techniques that will get your writing noticed? Set a specific goal (I will go to one writing conference, or I will attend one local writer’s event per month).

5. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. Writers have it tough when it comes to asking friends and loved ones to understand the demands of the writing life. But this is the year that you can get the help you need to accomplish your goals. Commit to finding a critique partner or hiring an editor. Ask for advice from those who know. And consider giving yourself the gift of being able to focus on your craft by partnering with Writer’s Relief.

Get your work into the right hands—fast—with our A La Carte Services! Let us research the 25+ best-suited markets for your work! Our A La Carte Services are affordable, there’s no long-term commitment, and you don’t have to go through the Review Board. Save time and money! Combine your legwork with our expertise to keep costs down. Put our expertise to work for you!

Basic A La Carte Service: $100 Let us research markets that specialize in your type of writing AND prepare 25+ mailing labels for your submissions. PLUS, you’ll get an important step-by-step Submission Guide to achieve professional results. Partner with us to get your work into the right hands AND save time for writing. Learn more: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

A La Carte PLUS Service: $200 - $250 Along with the step-by-step Submission Guide and targeted mailing labels, you’ll also get 25+ personalized cover/query letters—each strategically composed AND individually addressed. We’ll rescue you from the tasks that eat up your valuable time: writing and designing your cover/query letters; researching addresses and agent/editor names; individually addressing and printing each letter; PLUS making coordinating mailing labels. Learn more: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Want-Us-To-Create-Your-CoverQuery-Letters.aspx.

When your work gets into the right hands, it’s more likely to be published. Get the professional advantage you need.

Our A La Carte Services are a great way to combine your do-it-yourself abilities with all the knowledge we’ve gained since 1994. Call us TODAY at (866) 405-3003 to send your work to the appropriate markets—it’s easy, fast, and affordable! Or e-mail info@wrelief.com. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Agents and publishers are receiving more manuscripts than ever, and a writer needs every advantage to get noticed. A professionally formatted, well-polished manuscript has a much better chance of discovery than a manuscript riddled with grammatical problems and typos. It goes without saying that a writer should only submit work that has been carefully edited and proofed. The following tips and hints will help you find the right freelance editor to critique your fiction or nonfiction writing.

When should I hire an editor?

      •     Self-published books are not edited or proofed in-house unless you pay for the service. If you’re having a book edited by the book production company’s editors, you will likely have a choice between different levels of editing—from a line by line review (copy edit) to a more extensive edit (content edit). You can also hire your own freelance editor outside of your production company.

      •     An agent will tell you if your work needs revision before shopping it around. Many times these revisions are something you can take care of yourself. Other times the scope of the revision may require an editor’s helping hand.

      •     If a publisher requires revisions that are beyond your ability, a freelance editor may be able to help.

What type of editor should I hire?

Copy Editor. If you’re simply looking for someone to clean up your grammar and spelling, a good copy editor will not only go through your work line by line, correcting punctuation and grammatical errors, they will also flag inappropriate word choice, confusing sentences, redundancies, and other stylistic issues. Copy editors will standardize a manuscript, verifying that your characters’ names and location references are spelled consistently. They will perform fact-checks and alert you if there are any inconsistencies in the manuscript, such as faulty time lines.

Content Editor. For a more complete overhaul, you’ll need a content editor (often referred to as a book doctor). A content editor specializes in analyzing the work overall, making larger revisions and suggesting more sweeping changes. This may include a review of consistency of style, mood, or presentation of content; consistency of point of view and tense; clarity and effectiveness of content or story sequence, including support and resolution. A content editor will also examine the flow and transition (the continuous pace and progress) of the story and evaluate sentences for clarity, flow, and readability.

Substantive Editor. If you’re simply looking for an evaluation of your book to determine its marketability and general appeal, a substantive editor can help. Former acquisition editors at publishing houses and literary agents are well-qualified for this job.

Tips for choosing the right editor.

Match your genre. Editors specialize in many different areas—academic writing, magazine article writing, nonfiction, and fiction, for example—and in the general fiction category, editors tend to specialize in specific genres. If you’ve got a mystery, look for an editor who has experience in this style.

Ask for references. When you’re considering an editor, check his or her track record. Good editors will have editing experience in your genre or category and should have a list of published books they’ve edited under their belt (self-published books don’t count). Take a look at the quality of these books and judge for yourself. Also, take a look at the editor’s qualifications: education, previous experience, etc. If you find an editor who has worked at a large publishing house, all the better.

Recommendations. Ask colleagues, members of your writers’ group, members of university writing programs, or published authors for the names of well-qualified editors. Sometimes authors thank their editors on the acknowledgment page of their books.

Look it up. The Literary Marketplace has a listing of editors, updated annually, and The Editorial Freelancers Association (www.the-efa.org) maintains a Web site of freelancers who are generally well-screened. You can also take your chances on a general Google search, but keep an eye out for less-than-qualified freelancers and scam artists. No editor should ever promise they can get you a publishing contract, and make sure you are comfortable with their credentials and the quality of their work (with a sample edit, for example) before you send a check. (Most editors will ask for a certain percentage up front, with the balance due once the project is completed.)

Get specific information up front. Make sure you and your prospective editor are clear about what is expected. Do you want a line edit or an overall edit? What would each entail? What exactly will the editor be looking for, and what will they not take on? One way to make sure you’re on the same page is to ask for a sample edit. Most editors will edit a small section at no charge, say 5-15 pages, which you can then review. It’s important that the editor is able to follow your particular style and improve your writing without changing your voice.

If you do engage the services of an editor, take the time to study their changes and learn from them. Not only will it help your future writing, but you may have the confidence to make the edits yourself on the next go-round.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting: http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx 

Imagine yourself in a secluded cabin overlooking a peaceful lake. With laptop in, well, lap, you gaze out at the local wildlife as you work, uninterrupted, on your novel. The only other people around occupy the cabins nearby, but they are also quietly pursuing their writing projects. Sounds ideal? This is the beauty of writers’ colonies.

The demands of everyday life often leave little time for the actual craft of writing. Between day jobs, errands, family, and the never-ending submission process, it’s hard to carve out time each day for creativity. This is why many writers seek residencies or writers’ colonies. They offer a place for writers to live in a community of fellow writers and artists for a specific period of time. They offer instructors, discussion groups, and direction for those who want it; best of all, it’s a place where writers can set their own schedule and concentrate on craft. Personal space and free time for creative writing—who wouldn’t jump at the chance?

Here’s how to begin the search for the perfect retreat:

There are hundreds of writers’ retreats and residencies to choose from. Would your muse take flight in a cabin in Alaska or in the southwest desert regions? Perhaps even overseas? Keeping transportation costs in mind, narrow your choices to those areas that appeal to you. Search the Internet for “writers colonies,” “writers retreats,” or “writers residencies,” and you’ll be amazed by the diversity of choices. The Alliance of Artists Communities (www.ArtistCommunities.org) maintains a comprehensive database for a small yearly fee. Also check out www.writing.ShawGuides.com.

Start the application process early, as spaces are highly coveted and limited. Be prepared to go through the application process, which can be lengthy. You’ll provide samples of your work and a mission statement outlining your goals and/or projects. You may be asked to submit details on a specific project, although some colonies are more flexible and writers can work on whatever they choose. You’ll also submit professional references and, of course, an application fee. Some programs offer scholarships as well.

Your work will be judged by a panel of professionals who will choose the most outstanding candidates. There will also be a short list to replace candidates who are unable to take their spots.

Apply for residencies that pertain to your genre or area of interest, and make note of what they’ll require once you’re there. If you work best in total and utter silence, do not choose a residency in which you will be sharing a house with six other people. Some people are stimulated by urban settings, while others flourish in the mountains. Some programs offer more amenities than others, and some can be more like camping trips. Are you prepared to hike your food in to a remote area, or do you require Internet access and close proximity to a Starbucks? Are you looking to network with other writers or simply hoping for total seclusion?

If you want to work with writing gurus and have your writing critiqued, look for programs where this type of interaction is available. You should also be aware of any expectations—will you be expected to lead a group, teach a class, or share your work with others?

To improve your chances of acceptance, apply to as many programs as you can afford. Summer residencies are the most popular, and you might have more luck applying for spring, fall, and winter programs. Include a few high-end residencies in your application process, plus a few that might be easier to get into. It’s a competitive venture, but one well worth investigating…especially when the cat is throwing up on the carpet, the plumbing’s on the fritz, the car won’t start, and the kids want dinner.

The gift of free, uninterrupted time is yours if you want it.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx 

1. Get the look. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to present yourself in a serious way. When making your submissions to agents and editors, skip the bright-colored paper, the “clever” query letter intros (editors get sick of them fast), the thumbnail image of your face on the manuscript. Just be brief, straightforward, and businesslike. Also, follow industry standard formatting and have your work proofread. Interestingly enough, it’s often the veteran writers who are more inclined to appreciate proofreading than the newbies—but that’s probably why they earn veteran status to begin with.

2. Write to the right people. The first mistake of making submissions is taking the “blanket” approach: wallpapering the whole country with your query and cover letters. A few well-placed and specific queries truly mean much more than 50 that are almost well-placed. Queries that are almost well-targeted will almost get you published. Do the research (or hire someone who will) to make your submissions matter. (NOTE: We’ve found that writers who take this seriously tend to be more successful. Submitting selectively is a sign of a writer who knows what she or he is about. Selective writers put so much love into their manuscripts that they won’t submit to just anyone. Selectiveness is a very good sign because it demonstrates the right attitude for success.)

3. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Make submissions part of your writing habit. Submitting your work in dribbles and drabs is NOT a strategy; it’s a crapshoot. Sustainable and steady wins the race. To a certain extent, submissions are a numbers game. When you submit more regularly, it’s likely you’ll get published more often and more regularly. And the more you build up your bio, the more likely you’ll be well-received. Don’t give up on a story just because twenty places rejected it. Plan to submit to at least 100 markets. AND create a schedule to lock yourself into making submissions. When you create a calendar for your submissions (and deadlines for your writing so that you can make submissions) you will see your publication rate increase.

4. Organization is your friend. Some people are naturally well-organized but others are not. To truly make the most of your submissions, you need to keep track of who read what, who liked what (and why), who rejected what (and why), who wants to see more work from you, and who acquired what rights. It is a TON of work (that’s why Writer’s Relief takes on this burden for our clients). When the acceptance letters start coming in, you’ll thank yourself for the extra effort.

5. Chin up! Last but not least, work to maintain a good attitude. Negative thinking, getting glum about rejections, and believing yourself less than worthy... It’s easy to fall into those traps. Positive thinking takes real work when you’re getting bombarded by rejections (and you WILL get bombarded—it’s part of the process). Start looking at your rejection letters as proof of your dedication, devotion, and all-around awesomeness. Attitude is often the only difference between a nobody and a rising star. Every rejection brings you closer to acceptance, so submit regularly and chip away at those numbers. If you’d like to stay positive and motivated, we’re willing to give you a free E-book, Rejoice in Rejection (details here). We know it will help!

If you’re not able to develop a submission strategy on your own, or you just don’t have the time and patience for it, do yourself a real favor and check out Writer’s Relief. We can take on as much or as little of the submission process as you like so that you can focus on what you love: writing.

At Writer’s Relief it’s our business to work with our clients to develop a submission strategy that 1) keeps them focused on writing, 2) eases the stress and frustration of the submission process, 3) circulates manuscripts regularly (with no spamming) to generate interest, and 4) targets the BEST literary agents and editors (those most likely to enjoy the writing in question).

For more tips on making strong submissions, visit:

How To Write Cover and Query Letters That Get Attention 

Why Length Matters When Submitting Your Stories And Poems For Publication

How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

If you have written a book or novel, you’ll want to be sure that your book meets the basic criteria of book publishers and literary agents. If your book follows the “rules” of your genre (whether romance, Western, thrillers, or horror), you will be more likely to be published.

The Rules Of Genre Fiction
Genre fiction refers to books that are published widely for popular appeal. Publishers tend to place high value on genre fiction books, especially when a writer shows a palpable enthusiasm for his or her particular genre. Usually, genre books are published in the smaller, mass-market book size.

Genre writing is all about crafting great stories that appeal to a distinct audience who have particular preferences. Do your research and learn what is expected from your genre. Read widely in your genre. Join a creative writers’ group. Research recommended book lengths and what publishers are buying—and not buying. Again, you don’t have to be a slave to the standards, but—just like with grammar and punctuation—a professional writer must know the rules in order to effectively break them.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the below is an overview of generalized genre guidelines: always research information about your specific project for the best results.

The Rules Of Romance Genre Novels
A romance novel ends with a happily ever after. It starts with the introduction of characters and the conflict, and at some point the relationship is consummated in some way. The story usually emphasizes the heroine’s experience, and the reader should be drawn into caring about the characters and cheering on the eventual romance.

How long is a romance novel? A single title (or stand-alone) romance novel runs between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A category romance novel (like those published by Harlequin) is generally shorter, and each “line” or “imprint” will have its own strict specifications. Save yourself a lot of trouble: Research before you write!

Subgenres of romance include: paranormal, erotica, Regency, historical, contemporary, women’s fiction, Christian, time travel, erotica, fantasy/science fiction, and more.

The Rules Of Fantasy Genre Novels
Create the rules of your fantasy world in advance and stick to them. Design the environment (geography, weather), the characters (race, creatures), and other rules, such as magic, the history of your environment (wars, etc.), and limitations of powers. Avoid clichés in your characterization (no The Lord of the Rings impersonators), and let your theme (good vs. evil?) be consistent yet subtle. Pay attention to publisher guidelines: One publisher specifically states caveats such as “no time machines, please.”

Fantasy novels can be a little longer than traditionally published novels, and they are sometimes serialized as trilogies. Fantasy novels can be between 80,000 and 150,000 words (approximately).

Subgenres of fantasy include: alternate history, urban, dark, high, historical, steampunk, wuxia, fantasy of manners, and more. Be sure you’re familiar with the subgenres before you attempt to position yourself as an expert author in your field!

The Rules Of Western Genre Novels
Westerns should be set in the Old West (west of the Mississippi River and before the year 1900). Historical details should be accurate, but the story is what really counts: Focus on three-dimensional characters and strong plots, with the hero facing some sort of conflict. While Westerns are very specialized, take care to be sure that you’re not relying on clichés!

How long is a Western book? Westerns tend to be on the shorter side of fiction books, anywhere from 45,000 words to 75,000 (loosely).

The Rules Of Historical Fiction Genre Novels
The details are important in this genre. Set the stage carefully and accurately so that your 18th-century character doesn’t wear clothing and/or use products that weren’t around at the time. Pay attention to social customs, holidays, transportation, and food, and make sure they are relevant to the period. And don’t judge your characters by modern standards—a person’s behavior should be dictated by the customs and society of your time frame. Careful research is especially important for this genre.

How long is a historical novel? Generally, a stand-alone historical may be 85,000 to 100,000 words. For first-time writers, submitting a book longer than 100,000 words is especially difficult, but historical novels have been known to be longer than 100,000 words.

The Rules Of Mystery Genre Novels
Pay special attention to plot in this genre. Introduce the murder or the crime early in the story, and research the methods by which the crime was committed (is it really possible for a five-foot woman to decapitate a large man?) and how the investigation proceeds. Research forensics, criminal justice, and detective procedures to lend credibility. Avoid supernatural or unbelievable methods of solving the case, and create a solvable puzzle for your readers—mystery novels are supposed to be fun to read and fun to solve, and if the reader isn’t provided with plausible clues to follow, they’ll lose interest.

How long is a mystery novel? Mysteries vary in length depending on subgenre. Single-title mysteries may be between 75,000 and 100,000 words. Cozy mysteries, like those in a mystery series, may be on the shorter side of the genre.

Subgenres of mystery include: hardboiled, supernatural, crime, true crime, amateur sleuth, police procedural, cozy, and more. Be certain of whether or not you are writing a mystery or a thriller.

The Rules Of Thriller Genre Novels
Thrillers are designed to do one thing: thrill. Strong characters, tight plots, and an emphasis on action over flowery prose drive this genre to daring storylines. Thrillers often feature determined protagonists and clear antagonists, and they can be set in nearly any location imaginable. Thrillers can be graphic (gritty) or somewhat more subtle, but focus is always on suspense.

How long is a thriller novel? Thriller novels hit the genre-standard sweet spot of 90,000 to 100,000 words for new writers (loosely). Thrillers tend to go a little longer as well, but new writers will tend to see better results with shorter books.

Subgenres of thrillers include: action, conspiracy, disaster, crime, eco, political, erotica, legal, and more. 

The Rules Of Horror Genre Novels
Horror novels capitalize on emotion (fears, phobias) more than plot. Create a feeling of dread for your reader, and sustain the suspense throughout until you reach a climactic conclusion. Avoid clichés, like the monster that seems dead but really isn’t.

Horror novels vary in length, but generally, a stand-alone novel will be between 80,000 and 100,000 words.

Subgenres of horror include: psychological, ghost, weird menace, erotic, body horror, occult detective, and more.

The Rules Of Young Adult (YA) Genre Novels

Young adult (YA) fiction targets boys and girls between the ages of 12-18. The tone, style, and content of YA novels changes significantly, depending on the specific age a writer is targeting. YA writers write for a specific audience without "talking down." The genre can tackle G-rated issues or it can be very edgy. In all cases YA provides a safe place for young readers to explore the challenging situations that they may face in real life.

Young adult novels vary in length depending on demographic, but generally run between 40,000 and 75,000 words.

Subgenres of YA include most of the same subgenres of adult fiction. "Edgy" YA tackles especially controversial or difficult issues.

CLICK HERE FOR PART TWO: How Do You Know If Your Novel Is Literary Or Mainstream Fiction? How Long Is A General Fiction Book?

Editor's note: This article pertains largely to self-publishing with a third-party publishing house, as opposed to starting a publishing company from scratch. Both processes present their own difficulties and advantages.  

Thinking of self-publishing your book because you’re tired of the stress and frustration of making submissions to literary agents and editors? Feel like self-publishing is the easiest way of making your dreams of being a published novelist come true?

Self-publishing is NOT necessarily the easy route to achieving your dreams. Self-publishing companies strive to make the process of typesetting, binding, and printing your book appear stress-free and easy. But when you buy into the easiness hype, you may be opening yourself up to even more difficulties than if you’d continued trying to publish the traditional way. Here are just a few of the reasons self-publishing isn’t always as easy as it seems:

HYPE: Publishing with a self-publishing company is simple and stress-free.
FACT: Self-publishing is NOT necessarily simple and stress-free. First, you have to research self-publishing companies. We get calls and e-mails all the time from optimistic writers who naively got locked into bad (or just plain disappointing) contracts. To self-publish, you must be able to read, negotiate, and interpret contracts, you must research distribution packages, you must develop and implement a marketing plan…in short, you must develop as much business know-how as if you were seeking a traditional book deal. It’s not impossible develop all the knowledge you’ll need to be successful, but it’s far from easy.

HYPE: Self-publishing will easily satisfy your desire to share your story with the world.
FACT: Unless you have an amazing (expensive) book distribution company in your corner, your book won’t make it to the shelves. And even if it does physically get on the shelves, readers won’t buy your book unless they already know it’s there. Very few sales are made because readers stumble across books. Many self-publishers offer to list their books on Amazon.com; but be warned: it’s unlikely that anyone will buy your book from Amazon.com unless you’ve already enticed them to go there and buy it. You’ll have to do a lot of hard work to get your audience to notice your book; writers who are looking for the instant gratification of being an overnight success will not likely find it in self-publishing.

HYPE: Self-publishing your book could “make” your writing career.
FACT: For every self-publishing success story you hear, there are literally tens of thousands of self-published books that get no attention at all. How hard and long you work to sell books relates directly to your book’s success. For that reason, self-publishing appears easy, but is not necessairly the path of least resistance.

The Truth About Self-Publishing
If you’re trying to figure out where you’re going to get the most bang for your buck in terms of reaching your dreams, the answer may or may not be self-publishing. Our advice (based on watching industry trends) is to exhaust all avenues available to you before you decide to self-publish. If you haven’t queried 100 literary agents for your book project, you don’t have enough information to make the decision to self-publish.

If you self-publish because it seems simpler, be aware that literary agents and editors tend to be somewhat suspicious of the writer who can be tempted to take the easy way out, or the writer who chooses instant gratification over perseverance. If you self-publish, you’ll need to work extra hard to distinguish yourself and your writing. You’ll need to make some serious sales or get some truly reputable and impressive reviews in order to be taken seriously.

The Moral of the Story (aka The Good News)
Self-published books (and all early-career books) are very important in the life of an aspiring writer. Writing a book is a huge accomplishment and should never be dismissed! If you’ve written and self-published a book, celebrate your accomplishments! Literary agents will view your first books as very important life credits, even if they don’t end up being important publishing credits.

The good news is that even in these tough economic times, more books are being published now than ever before!

• Are you ready to commit to spending more time doing what you love (learning about writing and improving your techniques)?
• Can you get your submissions out effectively (can you send them to the right people in a professional format)? 

If you can do those two things, you may have a shot at getting a book published. Not all writers achieve a pie-in-the-sky book deal with a major New York publishing house, but those who quit too soon NEVER have a chance.

Visit www.WritersRelief.com if you would like to learn how we can make the submission process easier and more effective.

We’re so excited to tell you about our newest E-book, Insider’s Secrets: A Step-by-Step Guide To Proper Proofreading in the Creative Writing Industry! Our E-book will tell you everything you need to know to start or expand a professional proofreading business. If you’ve thought about starting your own freelance proofreading business, or if you want to hone your own proofreading skills, this E-book is for you.

If you’ve asked yourself:

• How do I start my own freelance proofreading business?
• Where do I find proofreading jobs?
• How do I expand my freelance proofreading or editing business to include creative writers, such as poets, novelists, and short story writers?
• What do I need to know to proofread my own writing?
• How do I become a better proofreader?
• Where can I learn to proofread specifically for creative writers?
• What are proofreaders’ marks (proofreading symbols)?

We have the solution for you. We know you don’t have a lot of time, so our E-book cuts through the “filler” and gets right to the point. Improve your proofreading skills and your freelance business.

Click here to learn more: http://www.WritersRelief.com/proofreading-manual-for-creative-writing-and-publishing-industry.aspx.

Are you looking for the best literary agent to represent your book manuscript or novel so you can get published? Are you researching the literary agencies most likely to enjoy your particular type of writing? If you’re wondering how to get published by landing a literary agent, look no further. Writer’s Relief has helped hundreds of writers (novelists) just like you reach the literary agents who are best-suited for their book manuscripts or book proposals. Our goal is to help you land a literary agent and get published.

Writer’s Relief is an author’s submission service, not a literary agency, publisher, or publicist. We prepare and target our clients’ submissions to the best-suited literary agents and editors. Working with us is like working with a team of industry-specific personal assistants who save you time and who know the strategies that work. In other words, we help our clients get literary agents and get published.

Writers face many hurdles and difficulties during the submission process. All the hours and hours it takes to prepare successful submissions can get very discouraging, especially for writers working alone. Here are just a few ways Writer’s Relief saves our clients from the burden of making submissions to literary agents:

Problem 1. “I’ve been spending endless hours researching via Web sites, directories of literary agents, and market books (like Writer’s Market and Guide to Literary Agents) to find listings of the best agents. It’s discouraging and it’s a headache, and I’m not getting the results I want. Plus, it seems like I have no time to write and work on my books anymore!”

The Writer’s Relief solution: Our job is to save you time and stress. Our professional advice, research, and support can increase your acceptance rate. We prepare your query packets in the proper way and we target your submissions to the literary agents who will be most likely to appreciate your work—you just sit back and wait for the results to come in.

Problem 2. “How do I know if literary agent listings contain outdated contact information, especially if I’m looking for literary agencies on the Internet? I want to send my work to the right agents and be sure that I don’t get roped into a trick, scheme, or scam, but the information out there is unreliable and it wastes my time! Who can help me find a literary agent for my book?”

The Writer’s Relief solution: There are many online writers’ resources (and lists of literary agents) to help you land a literary agent, but many of them are out of date. Our database contains thousands of literary agents and agencies that are updated on a daily basis and are cross-checked through many sources. We carefully vet each agent or agency in our database, and we don’t submit to literary agents who are less than trustworthy. We’ve got our ear to the ground in the publishing industry at all times, and we help protect our clients from getting scammed. Also, we receive personal feedback on thousands of literary agent responses (rejections and acceptances) from our full client base—so we have detailed, personal information on literary agents and editors that you won’t find anywhere else!

Problem 3. “How do I write a query letter that gets a literary agent’s attention without looking like I’m trying too hard? Should I mention my self-published book in my query, or not? Should I mention if I’ve never been published? How do I write a ‘book blurb’ that will make agents pay attention to my novel?”

The Writer’s Relief solution: When you become a Full Service client of our submission services, we help you with the entire process of submitting your book or novel to literary agents. Our submission strategists will write an effective cover or query letter based on the strengths of your book. We KNOW what phrases, information, and organization works in cover and query letters to literary agents and editors. Our clients see results and are frequently asked by literary agencies for complete manuscripts for further review.

Problem 4. “I understand that I need to submit a lot of queries to literary agents before I should start expecting results. But it’s overwhelming. Once I start submitting, how do I keep track of all my submissions and responses? It’s such a pain and I’d rather be writing than doing paperwork!”

The Writer’s Relief solution: Let us do the tedious legwork for you. We have an effective system of targeting submissions and tracking literary agents’ responses. We help you develop a submission strategy that works. Please note that approximately 80% of writers who approach the Writer’s Relief Review Board are turned away. Our staff must feel confident in your book manuscript in order to ethically help you submit your writing to literary agents.

For pricing, packages, submission guidelines, and FAQs about Writer’s Relief, visit http://www.WritersRelief.com/.

If you’re interested in trying to get an agent without the advantage of professional assistance, here are some articles that may help:

• Top Reasons to Query Literary Agents before Editors.
• Do You Need an Agent for Your Book Project?
• How to Spot a Literary Agent Scam (part one).
• How to Spot a Literary Agency Scam (part two).
• The Query Letter.
• The Query Letter from a Marketing Standpoint.
• How to Write Cover and Query Letters that Get Attention.
• Savvy Salutations in Query and Cover Letters; How to Address an Agent.
• Submission Do’s and Don’ts.

Writer’s Relief was born with the intention of helping creative writers (poets, short story writers, novelists, and others) make well-prepared and well-targeted submissions to literary agents and editors. We’ve prepared query letters and query packets for thousands of writers seeking literary agents, and we can help you too. If you want to land a literary agent, you’ll need to use every tool available to beat the competition. We know we can help.

Take a moment to see how we can improve your submission strategy at www.WritersRelief.com.

If your dream is to land a publishing contract with Random House and see your book in stores across the country, we recommend that you consider building your publication credits by submitting shorter pieces to journals and magazines.

Some folks believe that it’s not important to have published any short works before approaching an agent. If you’ve written a fantastic book that can stand on its own, you may well be able to find an agent without any publication credentials at all. But getting shorter pieces published before querying an agent is a strategy that gets your foot in the door, and based on our experiences in preparing submissions since 1994, writers who can boast publication of shorter works tend to have an easier time getting agent interest.

There are a number of reasons publishing your individual poems, essays, and short stories can help you get ahead.

1. Being published shows agents that you can manage submission deadlines and guidelines and that you are a serious writer with serious goals. You establish yourself as savvy and in-touch by being published in smaller markets, and you lay the groundwork for a career in lengthier fiction.

2. If editors like publishing your short works, it means they believe that their readers will enjoy your writing. When an agent sees that other people are getting excited about your writing, he or she will be more likely to want in on the action.

3. Having credentials in the small press market may help you get a leg up on the competition. Most agents are aware of how difficult it is to secure one single publishing credit. It may be enough to sway an agent into representing you. If an agent is offered two books of equal merit—with the only difference being that one author has a history of publishing short works and the other doesn’t—you can guess which book will get the contract.

4. Not only will publishing your shorter works make you a more interesting prospect, having those publications is emotionally rewarding. Acceptance letters from literary magazines go a long way toward keeping you motivated as you write your book. A short story can be written in less than a week, whereas the novel can take years. Keep your dream alive with smaller publications of short fiction.

5. Also, publishing in literary magazines might help you directly with getting an agent. A number of our clients have been approached by big New York agencies because an agent read a story in a literary magazine. Getting your work, your name, and your bio out there can get you noticed in the same way that a model might get noticed simply by hanging around at the hottest nightclubs. Add a blurb to your bio that you are “currently working on a novel,” and those who have enjoyed your work can be on the lookout for future projects.

6. Collections are especially difficult to place for writers who have not published any of the works within the collection. Because collections are generally not considered as lucrative as other book-length forms, agents and editors like to be assured of an author's potential for "popularity" by seeing some selections from the longer work published.  

At Writer’s Relief we help our clients build their portfolios as they work toward publishing a book. Some of our clients publish stand-alone works from within a larger book in order to show that their book is marketable. Others write stories that are entirely separate from their books.

There are literally thousands of journals and literary magazines out there, and it should not be an impossible task to find a home for one of your short stories or poems—provided your writing is strong and your submissions are targeted and professional. We have an up-to-date database containing detailed information on hundreds of nationwide publications, their editors, and their guidelines, and we’ve helped hundreds of writers reach their publication goals.

Here are some general tips for submission.

Research carefully. Find the perfect home for your work by submitting to magazines and journals that publish work like yours. Don’t waste your time (or an editor’s) by not doing your homework or blindly submitting to any old publication.

Start small and work your way up. Naturally, if you’re confident, feel free to go straight for the big guns, but most writers start with the smaller markets. You may have to forgo paying markets at this time in order to get your foot in the door.

Follow guidelines to the tee. If the magazine is looking for work under 4,000 words, do not submit 5,000 and hope that your work is good enough to be accepted despite the length or assume that the editor will be willing to cut it down to size for you. Pay attention to submission dates, submission formats, seasonal themes, the genre and style the magazine accepts, and any other rules they set forth. Follow them carefully.

Submit to the proper person. Again, do your homework and make sure you have the most current editor’s name for your submission. Details like this go a long way in impressing an editor and can increase your chance of being noticed.

Call Writer’s Relief (or e-mail us at info@wrelief.com) if you’d like us to help you build up your publication credits. We’ve helped writers fine-tune their personal submission strategies since 1994. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!