Discussion Post: Publication Strategies
Publishing your writing is the end goal to the creative writing process. It is an exciting step, but it can also be difficult. In order to help writers with publication, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) disseminates information about all aspects of the publication process and provides many services for writers looking to improve and publish their work. This resource and others will help you find a potential publisher for the short story you developed. For this Discussion, you will write a query letter appropriate to the publisher and post it in the Discussion Forum thread to give and receive feedback from your peers.
To prepare for this Discussion:
1) Review the AWP website in the Learning Resources.
2) Consider the information listed about each publisher.
a) What kinds of stories are considered acceptable? What are elements of a short story required by publishers?
3) Review the websites regarding query letters listed in the Required Resources.
4) Consider the following questions regarding writing a query letter:
a) How might you describe your short story in a query letter? How is your story unique?
b) How might you best represent yourself as an author? What are the most effective elements of a query letter to ensure your short story will be considered by a publisher?
5) Choose two of the Learning Resources to write about for this Discussion.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a 2 to 3 paragraphs evaluation of at least one strategy for writing a query letter directed to a publisher. Be sure to cite at least two of this week's Learning Resources and to include the following:
1) Describe how that strategy might be of value when writing a query letter.
2) Explain how you might apply this strategy when writing a query letter representing yourself and your short story.
The response should include a reference list. One-inch margins, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.