When I was signed up by a publisher, I remember telling a friend of mine about it and saying "I hope people like my book when it comes out". His response was, "Who cares, you're a published writer now!" Sometime later, I went to another friend's house, he'd just had a baby and was kind enough to let me have a hold of his beautiful little girl. As I held her, he stood back, folded his arms and smiled proudly. "There you are," he said, "Now, you can say you were held by a published author."

Don't gag, please. I could tell you more trite stories that would make you lose your lunch...but I'm not that cruel.

I'm trying to make a point: to some (not all, by a long shot), getting published is like the Mecca of all achievements. I thought it was, too, until I signed the publishing contract and felt exactly no different to the moment before I scribbled my signature on the dotted line.

My friends, bless them, were so proud of me; especially those that had tried, but failed to get their work published. To them, I was different. But to me, I was the same. The next day I still had to go to work, I still had to pay bills, I still had to fill my car up with petrol, I still had to do the usual day-to-day stuff any other person at my job did. It was here, at my job, that I really noticed that things hadn't changed. I worked in the construction industry. When my book came out, one of my staff came up to me and said, “I was in Borders with my missus on the weekend, and do you know, there’s a writer with exactly the same name as you?” I shook my head and leaned back in my chair, a definite look of surprise on my face. “Fancy that,” I replied.

One day, I was introduced to a woman through a friend. She told me she was trying to get her book published but had been cut down by a very, very nasty rejection letter from a publisher. "What did it say?" I enquired and, after literally pulling teeth to get the answer, she replied, "(sniffle)...it said 'thank you but we're not publishing this genre at the moment'. Can you believe their cheek?!"

No big a deal, right? Obviously, by her long face, it was to her. "Well, why not publish it yourself and— "

She held up her hand. "Oh, please," she said, "no thanks." Naturally, I walked away shrugging. Incidentally, she is still 'trying' to get her book published. Actually, it's a good book.

The point I'm trying to make is that it's a hell of a lot easier to get published than many people think. Fortunately, people are starting to recognise this little gem called 'self-publishing' but it's a long way off total acceptance.

I actually tried to self publish my second book. But, if you remember that little thing I said I signed at the beginning of this rant – the publishing contract – well, in doing so I also gave my publisher the first right of refusal on my next work. When I asked to go my own way, they had me send my next novel through and, lo, they loved it. Now, please don't think I hate my publisher, quite the opposite, actually. They were great, and are great, but if you need to, there is more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. There are lots and lots of people who have tried every which way to get published and have found out some brilliant avenues for the newbie to travel down.

As a new writer, you need to 'get in the know'. I used to be one for thinking that writing groups, centres, guilds and associations and were...well, 'stuffy'. Fortunately, I've been disabused of this. Groups of writers are best and they don't have to be formal, either. Just a bunch of people who like writing is perfect. But it's better if some of them have walked the road to publication so they can help you with some advice, if that's what you choose (and not everyone strives to be 'published' either!).

Quite factually, I could have been greatly helped by these groups and the help and services they provide. Instead, however, I did things the hard way and re-invented the wheel on my way to getting a book published. It worked for me, but I was very lucky.

If you're just starting out, you don't need to travel such a hard path. In Australia, there are heaps of groups. You only need to pick up the Australian Writer's Marketplace to see that there are hundreds of them from retreats to centres.

I suggest to all that they get in a group. Online is a great place to start. Try our one: www.writersworld.com.au and sign up for the 'writer's community'. The people on it are an absolutely great bunch of people.

Cheers.

Anthony Santoro

Anthony is the founder of the Writers’ Resource Centre (www.writersworld.com.au). In 2005 he released his first novel, The Deception which quickly become a bestseller in the crime-fiction genre. In 2009, he co-authored the Get Your Book off the Ground with publisher Suzanne Male (www.sminkworks.com). In September 2009, Anthony’s second novel, Last Decent Man, was released to all major bookstores.