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The Secret to getting published

As an author, I've been asked "How did you get published?" a lot. I have a couple of pat answers for people who don't really know me, and they're perfectly good answers. Just not complete answers.

1) The long answer. I say, "Write a book. Submit your queries and while you're waiting to hear from all the agents and editors that you (of course) researched to be sure you've targeted the right people, write another book. Rinse and repeat until someone asks to see more. Send the best proposal or full manuscript you're capable of crafting at that time. (Be sure it's whatever they ask for, exactly as they ask for it, and no more or less than what they ask for.) Write another book. Rinse and repeat until you get an offer. I don't go beyond that point, because people don't really want to know about contracts, etc. They just want to know how to get 'the call'.

2) My other answer is, "Work your tail off, and Don't. Give. Up." It's just a more succinct way of saying the same thing. 

I promised you the secret. The one that I don't share unless I'm in the mood to go out on a limb. Well, I'm in the mood, so here it is-It's the law of attraction. If you want it so bad you can taste it, visualize it, and believe in it, you can attract it. If you haven't heard of The Secret, it's time to look into it. I get a quote from the author delivered to my inbox regularly. Here's the one I got today:


A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne
Creator of The Secret

From The Secret Daily Teachings Your body is exactly like a movie projector, and the film running through the projector is all of your thoughts and feelings. Everything you see on the screen of your life is what has been projected from within you, and is what you have put into the film.
By choosing higher thoughts and feelings you can change what you see on the screen at any time. You have complete control of what goes into your film!
 
I like that. I can relate to it. I believe we can rewrite or revise our lives anytime we want to. Life is change. In one of my bios I talk about writers having a theme, whether they're aware of it or not. My theme involves characters who reinvent themselves.

Two questions for you...Authors...Do you know what your theme is? What message seems to show up in all of your books? Readers...What do you really want to know about how an author gets published? Or have you ever thought about it?"

Another question I'm asked is "How many books have you written?" The answer is "I don't know. I'm too busy working on the next one to stop and count." Here's my latest:
Links to all the books available on Amazon and B&N as of this wiriting:


B&N Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ashlyn-Chase/Ashlyn-Chase?store=book&keyword=Ashlyn+Chase

Comments

  1. Yes! And then you get a hunk like on your cover, Ash. Yum!

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  2. Great post, Ash! And what Terry said, too!

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  3. Great post. I like your answer about working your tail off. That continues even after you are published!

    I have thought about my theme. Right now it seems to focus on self-discovery and worth. My character seem to want to think about what it is that makes them worthy of love.

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  4. Awesome theme, Shana! We all need to discover our worth. Sadly, I don't know if everyone does.

    Thanks for the comments and compliments Terry and Carolyn!

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  5. Fabulous interview. I like Terry's advice too :-)

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  6. Great post. I have never really thought a lot about publishing. I am definitely not a writer at all, just a reader.

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  7. We need our "just readers" Chris! You have no idea how much we love you guys.

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  8. I love your answer to how many books have you written... In a business where rejection of one sort or another is always there (bad reviews, rejection letters) you do need something to remind you to think positive and keep on writing.

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  9. Thank you! It's always great to see how you as an author think. I like the never give up. That applies to so many things in life not just writing. Sometimes it takes someone to remind us of that. Thanks again! By the way everyone How to Date a Dragon is a great book!

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  10. You said it, Sharon! It's so easy to get discouraged. Sometimes it's really hard to turn off the "I suck" messages in the brain.

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  11. Thank you for the kind words, Alicia. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it.

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  12. Great post! Good luck on the new release, it looks yummy!

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  13. Wonderful post! I think my themes are discovering one's truth self and true love from the haze misconceptions and expectations. Very zen.

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  14. You make some good points, Ash. Especially that working your tail off part. I'm always working!

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  15. Great theme, Susanna! True love often reveals the best in us...I think that's our true selves. Perfect!

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