Sharing what I learned to get published

Michael Davis · Mar 19, 2008

Hello everyone. I'm a new author that has spent the last two years trying to get published, and FINALLY, I succeeded. I wish I would have known about this site at the start. In that light, I plan to return every 3 or 4 weeks to share what I learned that did and did not work for me. My intent is to help, not to say "look at me, look at me." So I hope its taken in that light.

My first novel TAINTED HERO was released in paperback 1/08 and my second FORGOTTEN CHILDREN will be out 7/08. Plus, one on my SF stories was released in the Forbidden Speculation paperback 12/07. Excerpts and blurbs are available at Davisstories.com, plus I now share the writing experience with 15 other authors at TheWritersVineyard.com.

I hope the things I share are not too elementary and actually help other writers. I'll do it in installments as I write em up. If people find them not of interest, just let me know, and I'll stop.

Later

Michael Davis
Davisstories.com
TheWritersVineyard.com

Jake Barnes · Mar 19, 2008

Hey, Michael, links seem to be broken.

Michael Davis · Mar 19, 2008

Thanks Jake

Thanks Jake

I'll have to be more careful next time. Didn't realize the cooler board inserted a bunch of HTML when I tried to link. Its fixed now.

BTW - Jake is a great macho name. It was one on my hello's in an off world SF I recently had published.

Thanks again.

Big Mike

Michael Davis
Davisstories.com - “Stories that touch the heart and mind"
TheWritersVineyard.com
[FONT=&quot]Tainted Hero[/FONT], “Sometimes good people do bad things for the right reasons.” Champagne books,Dec 07
[FONT=&quot]Forgotten Children[/FONT], “Greed is blind to human suffering.” Champagne books,July 08
[FONT=&quot]Blind Consent[/FONT], “Where the heart and mind collide.”, 09
[FONT=&quot]The Treasure[/FONT], “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.” Forbidden Speculation paperback, Dec 07

Jeremy · Mar 19, 2008

Congratulations on getting published!

I look forward to reading your information geared to helping other writers.

Toothpaste · Mar 19, 2008

I don't doubt you have good advice, but being an advice giver myself

, may I suggest you thoroughly go through AW before your start your posting? It's just, there is already a lot of good advice here, on many different subjects, by many different kinds of writers - published many times over, newly published, self published, unpublished . . .

Just to make sure you aren't re-treading any already rather worn paths.

And welcome to AW btw!! And congrats on the success, may things just take off from here!

aka eraser · Mar 19, 2008

Welcome and congratulations Michael. I'd like to echo Toothpaste's fine advice. Please do spend some time getting acquainted with all the Cooler has to offer. Trust me. It'll take quite some time so get comfortable.

James81 · Mar 19, 2008

Congratulations.

I'm battling procrastination right now in hopes to get something finished.

ORION · Mar 19, 2008

I echo the other's sentiments...Each journey to publication is different but there are commonalities. Welcome.

donroc · Mar 19, 2008

Welocme and enjoy.

ishtar'sgate · Mar 19, 2008

Congratulations on publication and welcome to the forum. It's always interesting to hear an author's road to publication. We're all different and a variety of experiences helps those still trying to break into print.
Linnea

Nateskate · Mar 19, 2008

Congratulations on being published, and I'm sure your tips will be appreciated.

Nate

maestrowork · Mar 19, 2008

Congrats and welcome. And do make yourself comfortable here and introduce yourself.

There are many well-published authors here and they all have great stories to tell. I'm glad you'll join us and tell your story.

Karen Duvall · Mar 19, 2008

I agree with the others about posting possibly redundant information. The process of getting published is unique to every writer. A lot of us are looking to make a living wage from our books at some point, and though small press publication can be satisfying, I'm not sure it's the end-goal for most novelists (though I could certainly be wrong). I've been published with two small presses for a number of years, and now I'm aiming for a more substantial publishing contract with a larger publisher that has good distribution. Those of us with similar goals are seeking agent representation, so just "getting published" isn't our ultimate objective.

But I'm happy for you, Michael! You appear to be very satisfied with your situation. Congratulations on your accomplishment! :welcome:

Birol · Mar 19, 2008

Hello, Michael, and welcome to AW. We're happy to have you and your experiences here. Sharing information and experiences is, after all, what AW is all about. As so many others have indicated, we do have authors from all experience levels on AW and the path each of these authors has journeyed and is traveling is unique, although there are a great many commonalities along the way.

Please, make yourself comfortable and feel free to wander around, familiarizing yourself with what we have to offer so that you will be able to best understand how your own experiences can enhance the knowledge and perspective of others.

Cat Scratch · Mar 19, 2008

Aloha, Michael. Congrats on your publication, and thank you for your willingness to share your experiences with other writers. It's nice to be in a community of people who want to help people get a leg up. Though people have mentioned your posts might seem redundant, I think it never hurts to hear another tale of trials and tribulations. Welcome.

David I · Mar 19, 2008

Michael Davis said:
Thanks Jake
BTW - Jake is a great macho name.

Yes. And the poster's handle, Jake Barnes, is, unless I'm mistaken, the protagonist of Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.

That's as macho as you can get. (Well, except for the fact that the protagonist doesn't have a penis...but you can't have everything...)

stormie · Mar 19, 2008

Hi Michael! Welcome to AW. By the way, I like your website.

Saundra Julian · Mar 19, 2008

Welcome, Big Mike! Nice to have you aboard and look forward to your posts!

Michael Davis · Mar 19, 2008

Thanks Stormie

Thanks Stormie on the website. It was one heck of a learning curve. I searched for weeks for a free hosters, then through some bad stories I read (short live span of free web hosters) and the drag and drop interface of Site Builder, I decided to go with Yahoo. Cost about 13/month but I feel save it will be there a long time. Plus I can update myself very easily. Down side is their tech support. Really hard to talk to and explain your problem, plus I keep having a memory problem till I learned to work on one or two pages at a time instead of the whole website at once.

Big Mike

Michael Davis
Davisstories.com - “Stories that touch the heart and mind"
TheWritersVineyard.com
[FONT=&quot]Tainted Hero[/FONT], “Sometimes good people do bad things for the right reasons.” Champagne books,Dec 07
[FONT=&quot]Forgotten Children[/FONT], “Greed is blind to human suffering.” Champagne books,July 08
[FONT=&quot]Blind Consent[/FONT], “Where the heart and mind collide.” 09
[FONT=&quot]The Treasure[/FONT], “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.” Forbidden Speculation paperback, Dec 07

L.Jones · Mar 20, 2008

Everybody seems to have a unique experience in publishing (which is why I cringe when people start talking in terms nevers and always-es and insisting this is the way things work). I love hearing everyone's story (that's the whole writer thing - most authors I know want to hear a good story more than they want to talk about their own books, stories are like food to the creative mind).

SOOOO - I say tell your story of your path to publication (those that are going to learn will learn from it, those who won't ain't gonna learn from anything

) and leave the tips for the threads as they pop up.

but that's just me.

annie jones - The Barefoot Believers - mar 08
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0373786034/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

Charlie Horse · Mar 20, 2008

What? This is a writers forum? I thought we were talking about cooking.

Welcome anyway, Mike. Maybe I'll try this "getting published" thing and see how it works out.

johnzakour · Mar 20, 2008

Congrats on getting published.

I too lean towards the "why not just chip in to other threads" camp at least at first until you see what's already been said.

It's cool to tell your story just as long as you don't think it's the gospel. ;-)

III · Mar 20, 2008

johnzakour said:
It's cool to tell your story just as long as you don't think it's the gospel. ;-)

Unless you happen to be Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John but they had a great Agent.

MoonWriter · Mar 20, 2008

III said:
Unless you happen to be Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John but they had a great Agent.

Wyatt · Mar 25, 2008

Welcome,

I am new to most of AW, so I look forward to learning from these great bunch of folks in the most humble way I can. Sometimes it's hard to take.

I look forward to your story of success.

Sharing what I learned to get published

Infinite in Mystery

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Fish Whisperer

Great Scott Member

Sailed away years ago

Historicals and Horror rule

living in the past

Fear the Death Ray

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

Around and About

The Peacock Next Door

storm central

A work in progress

Speaking in metaphors

Dangerous with a Keyboard

rockin the suburbs

practical experience, FTW