When I first started this writing lark I was given some great advice that, out of the goodness of my heart, I’m going to share with you today. There are two key elements, which will save you time, money and angst. What is more, I think you’ll find the principles apply to most things in life that you want to do well.

1. Do your homework
Thanks to the marvels of technology it’s not difficult to visit the websites of publishers/agents/editors to find their submission guidelines, and what they’re looking for. If they say they want the manuscript in Times New Roman 12pt, double spaced, with no gap between paragraphs and a large margin on the left-hand side, they mean it. Don’t think, ‘That’s just a rough guideline and as long as it looks neat, it’ll do.’ It won’t. If they say they don’t do fantasy/crime/children’s/medical text books… they really mean it. Don’t think, ‘But my manuscript is so fascinating, they’ll want to snap it up.’ They won’t.

2. Try to Do it Better
If you can, sign up for a workshop or two or go to some classes. If you’re agoraphobic (my big word for the week) there are plenty of online courses. Make it your aim to keep educating yourself (professional development). We should aim to continually improve at what we do. Don’t be satisfied with second-best. (You may think you’re absolutely brilliant and you know everything you need to know, but…come on now!) There are also some wonderful books on the craft of writing. My favourites are: ‘The Lie That Tells a Truth’ by John Dufresne; ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King, and ‘Self-Editing for Fiction Writers’ by Browne and King.

If you do these two things you will impress the publisher/agent/editor with your commitment to the craft, and with your professional attitude. It’ll help lift your work just a little higher up in the slush-pool of life. Of course, once the foundations are laid; the structure’s in place, and the research has been done, you still have to produce something that will take our breath away. But, that’s for another day.