Getting Published

[arya1027]

I think our standards are different. My standards for 'good' are 'as good as Stephen King'. If you're below, say, King, in writing skill, than you're mediocre or bad.

Honestly, I feel that Stephen King is an author that has reached a whole different level than most any authors will be able to duplicate. Yes, King is a great author. Yes, there are a lot of authors that are lower than his level. But really, if you're looking for a books and authors that are as good as King or better, you are really limiting your sights. The fact is, I don't think it's fair to say that someone's writing skill is mediocre or bad just because they haven't been writing for twenty some-odd years. Yes, a person's writing skill will increase with time and experience, but there are many cases where a mere teenager's writing ability and the stories they've created has greatly outdone those of people who's been published.

[shikadude]

This is actually one of the better writing sites out there. It does a good job of not hosting absolute tripe. There are some exceptions. Not naming names.
But if you look at all the Harry Potter Fanfic, you'll be hard pressed to find something as amazing or incredible as MWH. Which I maintain as my favorite fanfic ever. EVER. No offence to anyone.

[ColumbiaPhoenix]

A few points I might point out

-If you do believe that teen writers should not being trying to get published now and should only write for fun, and that this thread is pointless for the intent of teen authors, then may I ask why you have spent days researching the publishing market? It just seems rather odd that you continually mention that teenagers should not worry about getting published, and you have devoted immense measures of time researching the subject

-As for the point that all teenage writers all produce 'bad writing', just saying that you are a teenager yourself doesn't give you the right to 'put down' other teen writers. Yes I know the point you made about putting down writers, but this is different. Age does not equal skill or maturity. If you are not confident in your skills, or confident enough to say you need practice, does not mean it is the same case for everyone else. 'Takes one to know one' does not always apply.

-And as your viewpoint on 'good'. Good isn't something that you compare yourself to with such and established author as Stephen King. If you always look at your writing and say 'oh it isn't as good as (insert famous author), so I must not be that good', you will never succeed. I see 'good' as a comparison of your own past occurrences. A measurement of how you have progressed, not how you could be, or how you compare to others.

Just my personal reflections, and by no means do I invoke any form of hostility, critique, or attack.

[Princess Sierra]

I agree with all said above. Must I add that there are teens who have written good books? And adults who started their books as teens? That is where a lot of good stories come from. Creativity develops at an early stage. You don't just obtain it when you reach adulthood. Most of us are here on a fanfiction site to improve our writing so that one day we might be as good as the popular authors of the time. And I have to say that some I know here are pretty darn close and it is NOT fair to put them down just because their writing style differs from the one of someone who has been writing for years. Do you think King became a good author over night? I bet he didn't. Were his first stories perfect? Probably not. There are editors for that reason. And King started as a teenager. Just as we are starting now. And what about you? I hear you have a book you are writing to get published. If teen writers only have bad writing, perhaps you should forget that notion.

[Jarla]

Is anyone thinking of getting published? It doesn't have to be too terribly recent... 

[Otho, Eragon, otho]

I am. I want to get a couple of my works published, and am currently trying to get some poems published, although since it's a rather new endeavor, I've only gotten one rejection letter. (Which I didn't mind at all what-so-ever).

Eventually (being whenever I stop procrastinating and actually get it typed up) I hope to get one of my first stories published, since I've been collecting comments on it for years, from a LOT of people, not just friends or anything, but people who I just met and stuff who decide to read it, and everyone has been saying that it's really good, which has made me kinda hopeful.

[arya1027]

Just throwing this out here, although it kinda is advertising for another site, it goes with the topic. If you have a work that you'd like to see about possibly getting published, I'd check out www.inkpop.com. This is a site where you can post your stories, get comments and helpful pointers on them, and there's a chance at getting the publishing company that runs the site to look at publishing your work. It can take some time before your work can hit the top five to be considered, but along the way you'll read some amazing works.

If anyone has any questions about Inkpop, you can ask me.

[Otho, Eragon, otho]

*Watches story with air of interest* Uh-huh... Well... That's interesting.

I'm trying Inkpop. Apparently I seem to be trying to make my sentences complex... And (as I knew already) I can be incredibly repetitive... But my ranking isn't terrible...

[Fires Light]

Hmm you're right skoc - there's some pretty interesting original fics on inkpop. I like the publishing and ranking aspects of the site. It seems like a good motivator for writers to continually update. Thanks for sharing the site!

[arya1027]

There really are some great stories on there. I've read a lot of interesting stories through swaps, and some of them have been absolutely amazing. And even if you don't continually update (maybe you already have your whole book or whatever written, you just aren't ready to put it all out there yet), you normally receive some really great feedback about your writing that can help you realize your mistakes better so you don't make them as often.

Oh, and if you join inkpop, add me. My screenname on there is The Escapist. Gracie introduced me to that site months ago and I'm pretty much addicted.

[Otho, Eragon, otho]

Yup, 'tis true.

*Points excitedly* The Nightmare Complex is in the 800th ranks! And I only put it up a couple of days ago too...

[arya1027]

Whoot! Great job, Garto! *high five*

[Jarla]

@ "The Nightmare Complex being in the 800th rank": COOL! How does that work, anyway?

Thanks for the site, Arya1027. I might get into it, some day...But for now, I love this site.

[Otho, Eragon, otho]

People read, and either Pick it or put it on their watch lists, and depending on their Trend-Setter ranking (which is decided by how many books they choose that later become really popular) the story/poem/essay moves up a certain number.

I think I got that right, because it's the only thing that makes sense.

Oh, and my story is now in the 500s. Nearly in the 400s though! 4 ranks... 4 ranks more and I'll be in the 400s...

[Jarla]

People read, and either Pick it or put it on their watch lists, and depending on their Trend-Setter ranking (which is decided by how many books they choose that later become really popular) the story/poem/essay moves up a certain number.

I think I got that right, because it's the only thing that makes sense.

Oh, and my story is now in the 500s. Nearly in the 400s though! 4 ranks... 4 ranks more and I'll be in the 400s...

Sweet! *Does high-five with you*