JAMES ROLLINS

• A first-time writer needs to have the ENTIRE novel done before approaching an agent or publisher. Print it in proper manuscript format. You can find guidelines in most how-to-write books.
• First, identify the right agents for your book using resources like Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents, which includes agency Q&As on their preferences. Circle agencies that fit your material to avoid wasting time and money. Then, follow submission guidelines by including a one-page query letter (with a story hook, your qualifications, target market, and any publishing credits), the first 50 double-spaced pages of your novel, a brief synopsis (5-6 pages), and a self-addressed stamped envelope for their response.
• Then start sending it out ... and sending it out!
• Be cautious of scam agencies. Never pay any upfront fees—whether for reading, copying, or editing. If an "agent" asks for money, discard their response immediately, as it's likely a scam.
• So that's the skinny on "the agent hunt." Be wily, be persistent, be patient ...
• Rejections are a tough reality for unpublished authors, but they're part of the process. Sending your manuscript out often leads to rejection, and it’s something every writer faces, often multiple times.
• I handled rejections with persistence. For every rejection, I sent out another batch of ten query letters, each one offering more chances to get published. This approach eased the sting of repeated rejections.
• I'm a supporter of critique groups, finding them valuable for feedback. I’ve been with the same local group since my short fiction days, and even after 20 published novels, they remain my trusted "first readers." Their input is crucial, and no page gets published without their review.
• If you can't find a good critique group, start one or gather trusted "first readers" for honest feedback. Beyond praise, you need input on what works, what doesn’t, and where your story might be weak or illogical. Even after years of writing, my group still surprises me with their valuable insights and expertise.

Becoming a published author basically boils down to a few key actions: Read, Write, Persist.

Read everything in the genre in which you want to write, but don't limit yourself. Read broadly. The best teacher of writing is a good book.

Write Every Day. Even if it's only a few paragraphs, set aside some cracks in time to spoil yourself with the luxury of writing. If you write every day and read every day, your own skills will improve constantly. As you write and stumble on a scene or ponder some technique to develop character, you'll find the answer in the next book you pick up and read. You'll hear yourself constantly saying, "Oh, that's how you do that!" So let me repeat: The best way to learn to write is simply to read.

Be Persistent. Once you're happy with your project, chuck that baby out and keep sending it out there until someone notices. Also, allow the power of networking to help you: go to conventions, writing conferences, book signings. Talk to authors, agents, publishers. Sometimes this can be the back door into getting your own work noticed.

So there you have it: read every day, write every day, and persist in your dream.