Write your story

Apr 7, 2022 | Blog

I have seen quite a few posts recently from people wanting to publish a book and not knowing where to start.

My advice is always to start by writing the story. Most publishers want to know there is a completed manuscript waiting for them if they love what you submit to them.

The requirements for publishers vary depending on what sort of book you’re writing. Some want the whole manuscript, others want just the first few chapters, others want a book proposal. Whatever the requirements, having a full manuscript ready to go will mean that you’re ready once a publisher asks for it.

Once you’ve written your story, then edit it, so that whatever you submit is as good as it can possibly be. If the publishers only want the first five chapters, for example, then spend most of your time on those chapters. Once you’ve started submitting your manuscript, you can work on polishing the rest of the manuscript as it takes time for publishers to get back to you.

If you are wanting to self-publish, it still needs to be written and edited so it’s as good as it can possibly be.

If you are wanting to publish a book, the way you get started is to write your story.

If you would like some support in getting started, or any part of the publishing process, I am available to help you. Click here for details.

Latest Blogs

BTS – Swallow Me, NOW!

BTS – Swallow Me, NOW!

Let's start at the beginning with my first book, Swallow Me, NOW! Back in 2012, I joined a number of challenges, including the Chapter Book Challenge. This was a challenge in March to write a children's chapter book, junior fiction, or middle grade book. The goal was...

What I’ve Read – February 2026

What I’ve Read – February 2026

February was a big month for reading with 11 books, bringing my total so far to 18 books for 2026! This month there were audiobooks, picturebooks, novels, novellas, and a junior fiction thrown in too. Here's what I read: Belle's Secret by Victoria Purman - if you've...

Magic Lantern Story

Magic Lantern Story

Back in 2012, I participated in the first Chapter Book Challenge. This was one of the first writing challenges I did when I got back to writing fiction. The goal was simple, to write a draft of a novel for children in a month. I wrote a story where a kid named James...