A question I’m starting to get more and more: I’ve written a manuscript. Now what?

First, congratulations! Pat yourself on the back and take some time to celebrate. Most people who say they want to write a book never even get the first draft on paper. You have already distinguished yourself from many. As for what’s next, I’ll assume you mean you’ve written fiction and that you don’t want to self-publish (mainly because I don’t have much advice to give on the rest, though some of this may apply). There’s so much great advice on this subject, you should take what I say here as just a starting point. My first bit of advice is to do what I did: browse the internet, the bookstore and the library.

Read some industry magazines or blogs – they aren’t hard to find. I list a few blogs under Links on my website. Many literary agents and editors blog about the business on a regular basis. Their expertise can be a goldmine to new and seasoned writers alike. If you do check out those blogs, you’ll probably notice the first thing recommended is to set your manuscript aside a month or two. Come back to it with a fresh eye for editing and revision. The worst thing you can do (and believe me, I learned this the hard way) is to be overzealous and to send out a manuscript before it is ready. There is no race to the finish line. You’re much better off making sure your book is the best it can be before you send it off.

One of my favorite books on revision is Theodore A. Reese Cheney’s ‘Getting the Words Right’. If you take time to explore, you’ll find lots more. Look for similar threads of advice and think hard about following the common themes. Other useful resources for revising are local or online writing groups in your chosen genre. They too are abundant on the internet and in most major cities, and many offer free, trial memberships. It’s amazing what people (other than your spouse, friends or mother, that is) will point out to you. When something rings true, consider acting on it.

Once you feel your manuscript is ready, you’ll probably want to start looking for a literary agent. Do you have to have a literary agent to sell a book? Well, no. Do you want one? Well, yeah, but you want the right one. First, you can do yourself a favor by researching the agency and agents before you submit to them (are you seeing a common theme here? Research.) If an agency is selling mostly non-fiction self help books, is that the best place to send your vampire fantasy? Probably not. Most agency websites have information about what they are…and aren’t looking for posted right there. Writer’s Market is another good resource for this, as well as Query Tracker (which offers a free basic membership) and some of the professional affiliations (more on that below).

To get an agent, you’ll want to write a polished query letter—and there are some pretty standard ‘rules’ about writing one. Think of this as the cover letter for a job interview. You don’t want the kind of attention that dowsing it with perfume or sending it in on purple striped stationary will buy you. Not to mention if you send it with a bunch of typos. You want to be a professional, and you need to put yourself out there as one. Again, there are lots of advice sites about query letters – most coming from literary agents themselves, which is very nice. It’s sort of like having the answer key to the final exam. If you knew it wasn’t cheating, why wouldn’t you want to follow it? One of my favorite sites about writing queries comes from Janet Reid–Query Shark. Her advice is not for the faint of heart, but it is for someone who wants to find success in obtaining a literary agent.

In your zeal to obtain a literary agent, don’t forget there are some out there you’d be better off without. A good rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t have to pay a literary agent out of pocket for anything other than maybe postage or nominal copying charges. Before you submit to any agent, I’d recommend a site such as Preditors & Editors which suggests agencies to avoid. It’s also a good idea to connect with other writers to learn from their experiences. Unfortunately, there are people out there who would prey on a writer’s hope and enthusiasm. Don’t let yourself fall victim to something like that.

The last thing I’ll say here about getting a literary agent, is that you should not put all your eggs into one basket. Agents are used to writers querying widely. Query in small batches (maybe 8-10), assess your results, tweak your query if you need to, then try again in another batch. However, do not mass query (send one letter to a whole distribution list of agents). I haven’t heard of a single agent who appreciates that sort of thing.

Once you have an agent, or even a publisher (much of the same advice applies if you are submitting to publishers directly), your work will have just begun. There is typically more writing and lots of waiting. But when you get to that point, you’ll be the one writing about publishing advice!

A parting thought — writing is a solitary activity, but you don’t have to go it alone. Consider joining a professional organization like Romance Writers of America, or the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, or Sisters in Crime. The possibilities are endless. At minimum, you’ll get to network with other people who have similar goals and aspirations. Or, you might get that ultimate boon and develop some lifelong friendships.

And most of all — don’t forget to celebrate!