After reading my last post I thought it’d be a good idea to run through ‘the steps’ you need to take once you’ve finished your manuscript.  Or at least the steps as I see them (opinion – not law)

• Make sure your manuscript is finished
• Decide what genre your manuscript is (you may have done this earlier – but double check anyway)
• Write a synopsis – here’s a helpful link http://www.author-network.com/synopsis.html and you can read mine if you want another example
• Write a query letter – the easiest way to learn about query letters is to go through my list of favourite blogs.  Most have articles dedicated to query’s.  Think succinct and catchy
• Start looking online for Literary Agents (see my links list!)
• Read their FULL bio’s – you don’t want to send a fantasy book to an agent who only works with non- fiction etc
• Set up a table so you can track who you’ve sent queries to, when you sent them and what their response is.  This stops you from sending to the same agency twice (usually a big no-no unless their site states otherwise)
• Through out all of these steps be polishing your manuscript.  Do this continually even when you think you’ve done it – read it again
• Get someone who is big on grammar/spelling/punctuation to edit it.  This could be a friend or even your old English teacher (suggest it as a project for their class *lol*)
• TALK IT UP! Tell everyone you know and more that you’ve written a manuscript and are trying to get published.  It’s often said ‘it’s not what you know but who’.  You’ll be surprised at who knows someone – I continually am
• Write a blog (HA! Your turn now ; p)
• Once you have a selection of agents you believe would be suitable, then send them your query.  Don’t send a mass generated e-mail, make sure each query is personalized and adheres to their submission guidelines (everyone is different)
• Keep working on your manuscript! Don’t sit there chewing your nails waiting for responses, do something! If you can’t face your manuscript again then write something else or read a different style of book to broaden your own style
• When you get a response for a partial, reply promptly and do EXACTLY WHAT THEY ASK

and this is as far as I can take you… at the moment *grin*  Stay tuned for my next installment of the steps!