<p>I’m planning on writing a book for the next 6 weeks, to be about 250 pages (on a normal 4 x 6 inch book). If I somehow do get approved for being published, when is the earliest I can expect to hear this “approval”?</p>
<p>Why do you want to publish a book?</p>
<p>if you read a writer’s market guide, it will tell you that:
a) “Approval” is very hard to get, considering that your manuscript, regardless of its quality, will end up in a slush pile.
b) If you DO get approval, as a previously-unpublished author, then you would hear from the publishing company about eight weeks later, at the earliest. The writer’s market guides say that sometimes it can take longer than that–a half year or so.</p>
<p>if you haven’t checked out a writer’s market guide, i suggest you do so. they’re really informative–and they usually have some contests you can enter while you’re waiting for your approval letter. </p>
<p>I congratulate you on your perseverance. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Because I have a great idea for a story…</p>
<p>Edit: thanks for the advice terrapin</p>
<p>well-put, piccolojunior</p>
<p>thanks…BTW it’s gonna be science fiction</p>
<p>My sister tried something like this with a business career guide for girls. Over the course of about two years, she contacted successful women in business, conducted interviews, edited, etc. Unfortunately, when she tried contacting publishers (she actually had a few friends in high-ish places), no one was interested. It turned out to be a good experience for her, because she learned a lot about different careers and stuff, but so far, the guide’s unpublished. </p>
<p>So here’s my limited advice: if you have a good idea, write the book for your own sake. Chances of getting pre-approval (especially as a previously unpublished author) are really rare unless you’re really good. I hate to say it piccolo but science fiction isn’t exactly “hot” now and the chances of a story written by a high school student being published are very, very slim. Obviously, though, if you’re convinced the book will sell millions, you could publish it independently, but you could end up wasting money…</p>
<p>-The Unpublished Coot66</p>
<p>piccolo, there are some great novel-writing contests that you could enter. I think there’s one interesting one just for fantasy/science fiction novels, if you’re still interested. I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s called “author of the future” or something like that. If you searched for it on fastweb.com, you might find it.</p>
<p>hey, it takes big dreams to meet big goals. good luck w/your book.</p>
<p>publishing is not something I need, just something I desire. I guess I’ll enter those contests and call some agents near my area (none charge a reading fee) later down the road.</p>
<p>Yeah, what you basically need to do is find a good agent (watch out for scams) to represent you and then he/she will hopefully be able to sell your work. coot66 is right in that it will be difficult to get a publisher, but realize that EVERYONE has great difficulty finding someone to represent and publish their work. J.K. Rowling got turned down I’m sure and look what happened to her, along with millions of other writers. So don’t lose hope and I wish you the best of luck! :)</p>
<p>Write the book first. If you spend all your time thinking about getting a publisher or becoming a super special awesomeo writer-god, you’ll never actually sit down and write it.
That said you can self-publish pretty easily, and more importantly for free, online now.</p>
<p>Lol, I just made this thread to do some mild speculation. I don’t wanna be some legendary writer, I just love a good plot, and I think I got one in the works.</p>
<p>Just don’t pull a Kilgore Trout. ;)</p>