You’ve watched the bestseller lists and rejoiced in recent years as it’s become common for urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and other types of genre fiction to rise in the sales charts and hover at or near the top, sometimes for years at a time. You know that your ideas for novels and series are just as good as some of what’s available for sale at the local bookstore. More than anything else, you want to be a success in the world of genre fiction. Here’s a quick roadmap for the beginning stretch of the path towards making that dream a reality.
Become Published
When it comes to writing, your name is all you have. What becomes attached to that name is what can sell you to a publisher. It goes right back to the concept of needing work experience to get work, and it’s not always easy to achieve.
However, there are a lot of options out there for anyone who wants to start out in the writing business. Online, there are several freelancing options varying from paid gigs on websites that allot freelance options to interested writers, to guest blogging opportunities. While it’s always the ultimate goal to only write if you are being paid, taking up a few guest spots on a well-known blog can beef up your resume quickly.
If you happen to know any local journalists, they may be willing to introduce you to an editor or two. If you get lucky, you may get a freelancing gig at a local newspaper and really get your portfolio built up. If you don’t know any journalists personally, don’t give up! Editors are often looking for new freelancers. Just be prepared to be asked for a writing sample.
Learning the In’s and Out’s of Publishing
While self-publishing has become more and more of an option as time as progress and technology has taken off, there are great advantages to being a writer for a publishing house. But before you send out inquiries to every listed editor, you might want to reach out and find more information about the publishing industry as a whole.
You can’t simply Google these things or read a few chapters out of a book, as the industry is so large and varied. A great way to begin learning about the industry is to join a writer’s group or attend a conference. Building a community, the next subhead in this article, is a great way to garner multiple perspectives on a vast and sometimes unknown industry.
The first thing you’ll need to know is that nothing is constant. Two years ago, vampire fantasy may have been the new thing, but the genre might be tired by now. The same goes for Space Operas or urban fantasy. There are also new do’s and don’ts in the world on query letters, and constantly different ways to get noticed or send a letter of interest to a publication. The in’s and out’s change constantly, and as you’re writing, it’s good to join some groups and newsletters to stay on top of the trends as they occur.
Find community with other genre writers
What if you could gather, either virtually or in person, with people just like you who are actively working on speculative and fantasy manuscripts? In addition to the joy of connecting with others who share your passion for genre fiction, you can critique each others’ drafts, exchange information about the business side of writing, and network with fellow authors who may be able to help you with introductions to editors and agents, either now or in the future.
For those of you lucky enough to be acquainted with any well-known authors, see if they would consider being the lead in a new writer’s group. If you don’t, perhaps there are professors or other writers that have the degrees and experience to lend as a group lead. If you don’t have enough writers near you to start your own group, look for and reach out to writer’s groups that already exist.
A writer’s group can be whatever you want to make it. It can be a place where you share success, ask for advice, or somewhere you go to edit your work and figure out what is missing. There are even groups fully dedicated to the love of publishing and the written word that discus the current trends. But overall, the important part is to be near writers, as writers flourish the most when around others that share their passion.
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By Mason McLarsen, a seasoned writer looking to help out some of the new faces looking to break into the market.