Do you want to get published? Getting your written work seen and read
published: Monday | September 29, 2003

Getting your written work seen and read

AT THE 2003 award ceremony and exhibition for the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, which was put on by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Ian Randle, as the evening's guest speaker, took the time to dole out advice to aspiring writers.

The ceremony took place in the Hilton Ballroom in New Kingston on Thursday evening, and 19 gold, silver and bronze awards were given for novels, essays, plays, short stories and poetry.

Randle is the managing director of the publishing house Ian Randle Publishers. Noting that he was glad to get the chance to speak, since publishers are usually left in the 'shadows', he advised the writers gathered in the room of what to do if they wanted to get published.

First, he pointed out that being realistic was of optimum importance. Included as a part of this advice was the instruction that authors should have friends or someone else read and evaluate their work before it is sent to the publisher.

ONLY A SAMPLE NEEDED

Randle went on to advice that no manuscript should be submitted in its entirety the first time an author makes contact with the potential publisher. He explained that publishers are not interested in reading all of a book in which they are not interested. Instead, authors should submit a sample of the work along with a description of the full work, and its unique selling point.

It is also important that an author knows about the publishing company they are submitting to, Randle went on to explain. "There is no point sending poetry to someone who does not publish poetry," he advised. Randle also agreed with a growing sentiment that poets are especially suited to self-publishing.

"If all else fails, why not publish yourself?" Randle asked. Randle explained that the best seller for poetry, is the poet, and so poetry easily lends itself to promotion when self-published. He also argued that it is regardless of the genre, a self-published work is no longer deemed inadequate. "Vanity publishing is no longer a dirty word," he said.

NEVER GIVE UP

His final piece of advice, was that no matter what, aspiring writers should never give up. He pointed out that five or even 15 years of one's life is not too short a time to wait to become a recognised author.

Even so, Randle made sure to point out that opportunities to get published are far greater now than a few years ago. "There is a greater chance of good writers getting published," he said. He argued that though there are still too few books being published, the increase in publications is worth noting.

While the winning works will be a part of an exhibition to be taken across the island, Saturday, October 11, will see the second staging of the 'Festival of the Written Word'. The festival will once again take place at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, and will feature the writers reading excerpts of their works.

GETTING YOUR WORK OUT

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