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How can I get my novel published traditionally and find a publisher and editors that suit me financially and professionally and with my art?
I am 16 years old (a junior in high school) and have been writing my since I was 3 years old. I wrote my first novel in 3rd grade and have dreamed about being a published author for so long. My goal right now is to get published by the time I graduate or the summer of my freshman year of college. I am currently working on developing my first draft of my manuscript. I don’t have a developmental editor yet but I am hoping to find one that I can afford and can help me meet my goals.
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5 answers
Updated
David’s Answer
My answer starts with a question. What is at the heart of your dream? Is it to see your book in a shop window? To be seen and known? To tell stories that move people? To express? To feel connected? The traditional publishing model can be disappointing. There are trade-offs most writers have to choose between. Talent does not translate directly to success. Writers choose different paths. My very best advice is to put all your energy into your work. Keep telling stories. Keep trying to make connections, but temper your expectations. If publishers tell you NO, will you stop? Or press on?
As a practical matter, write a one-page introduction to your book and yourself. Send it to anyone and everyone you can, see if good conversations get started. If they ask, send them sample chapters. Keep knocking on doors. Keep learning. Keep writing.
As a practical matter, write a one-page introduction to your book and yourself. Send it to anyone and everyone you can, see if good conversations get started. If they ask, send them sample chapters. Keep knocking on doors. Keep learning. Keep writing.
Thank you so much, you have reminded me of what’s most important — my art. I feel like when someone has a dream and a goal they become blind to why they actually wanted to do it in the first place. I’m writing for that little wide eyed girl who used anxiously to watch her mother read her stories. Thank you so much, I am truly grateful.
Mila
Updated
Greg’s Answer
Traditional publishing can be an uphill battle, and you may want to look at other avenues. The world is your oyster with the internet, and even self-publishing can turn into something different: just look at Silo from Hugh Howey or The Martian from Andy Weir, just to name two of the biggest success stories. (There's also John Scalzi's Old Man's War, which was published on his website first before the publisher reached out.)
At this point, however, I think it's too early to commit to a publishing path. Let's get that manuscript finished. Find a good editor, and find readers. You'll need beta readers (and alpha readers even before that) to give you feedback. I'd start with the readers. Join writing communities, where you can read the work of others in exchange for them to read yours. You'll get familiar with the editorial process and how to handle feedback, which is paramount in developing your final book.
After an editor, you'll need an agent, who can help you sell the thing once it's in its best possible shape. The road to that is also long and challenging, and can perhaps be sidestepped through self-publishing.
Good luck!
At this point, however, I think it's too early to commit to a publishing path. Let's get that manuscript finished. Find a good editor, and find readers. You'll need beta readers (and alpha readers even before that) to give you feedback. I'd start with the readers. Join writing communities, where you can read the work of others in exchange for them to read yours. You'll get familiar with the editorial process and how to handle feedback, which is paramount in developing your final book.
After an editor, you'll need an agent, who can help you sell the thing once it's in its best possible shape. The road to that is also long and challenging, and can perhaps be sidestepped through self-publishing.
Good luck!
Thank you so much! This will definitely help me with my journey and my decision to self or traditionally publish. Being so young and having such a big dream and expectations, I feel like not many people what to take the time to help or take me seriously, so I am truly grateful that you took the time to respond to my question. Thank you!
Mila
Never give up your dreams!:) They're the only way to change the world.
Greg Fazekas
Updated
jose’s Answer
There's a lot of ways to go about this-
One: write query letters to agents. In traditional publishing, agents are not a must, but they help a lot. So... try to get an agent. and to get an agent, write query letters.
Two: self publish. Self publishing is a great way to get your voice out there either as an endgame or as a stepping stone. Try it out. anyone telling you that is not the same is lying or is jealous that you're doing things yourself rather than relying on publishers. (As someone who has done both, I will tell you there's pros and cons, but also they're both very very legitimate.)
Three: follow instructions. If you see that a publisher says "No unsolicited manuscripts" follow that direction. otherwise your manuscript will end right in the trash as soon as it's received because you've shown the publisher you do not follow directions.
Four: hang out. go to events. go to conferences. go to workshops. Form a writer's group and help each other out. Eventually you will meet someone who knows someone who's friends with someone who'll give your manuscript the time of day. And that's great.
Hope this helps. Best of success to you. And most of all: Keep writing.
One: write query letters to agents. In traditional publishing, agents are not a must, but they help a lot. So... try to get an agent. and to get an agent, write query letters.
Two: self publish. Self publishing is a great way to get your voice out there either as an endgame or as a stepping stone. Try it out. anyone telling you that is not the same is lying or is jealous that you're doing things yourself rather than relying on publishers. (As someone who has done both, I will tell you there's pros and cons, but also they're both very very legitimate.)
Three: follow instructions. If you see that a publisher says "No unsolicited manuscripts" follow that direction. otherwise your manuscript will end right in the trash as soon as it's received because you've shown the publisher you do not follow directions.
Four: hang out. go to events. go to conferences. go to workshops. Form a writer's group and help each other out. Eventually you will meet someone who knows someone who's friends with someone who'll give your manuscript the time of day. And that's great.
Hope this helps. Best of success to you. And most of all: Keep writing.
Thank you so much for responding to my question, it has been very helpful. This has changed my perspective a bit concerning self vs. traditional publication which definitely lowers the stress of feeling like I’m running out of time. Thank you so much!
Mila
Updated
Amy’s Answer
Oh friend, first of all—I love your fire. Sixteen and already chasing publication? That’s incredible. Don’t lose that spark, because the publishing world needs writers with passion, purpose, and a little holy determination.
Let me start with this: your dream is 100% possible. But publishing—especially traditional publishing—isn’t a sprint; it’s more like a marathon with scenic detours, unexpected road construction, and a few divine surprises along the way.
Here’s the truth: before you worry about finding the right publisher or editor, your first job is to finish your book. That’s your golden ticket. The stronger and more complete your manuscript, the easier everything else becomes. So pour your heart into that draft. Revise it. Polish it. Pray over it.
Once you’ve got a solid manuscript:
1. Learn the business side. Read about querying literary agents (they’re the bridge to traditional publishers). Agents usually don’t charge upfront—they earn a small commission only when you get paid. That means the right one is invested in you.
2. Research your genre. Look up books similar to yours and see who published them. That’ll help you target publishers who already love your kind of story.
3. Editors: For now, don’t rush into hiring one unless it’s a mentor-level investment you can afford. There are amazing writing communities (like His Light Shines 😉) and critique groups where you can get feedback for free. You can always hire a professional editor later when you’re closer to submission.
4. Keep learning the craft. Every sentence you write makes you better. Every story you finish shapes your voice.
And financially? God will open the right doors. I’ve seen it happen over and over again. When you walk in obedience, He provides the means, the mentors, and the moments you need—right on time.
You don’t need to have it all figured out by graduation. You just need to keep showing up. Keep writing. Keep trusting that if He called you to write, He’ll also call the right people to walk beside you when the time comes.
So write that book, sweetheart. The world is waiting for your words.
Let me start with this: your dream is 100% possible. But publishing—especially traditional publishing—isn’t a sprint; it’s more like a marathon with scenic detours, unexpected road construction, and a few divine surprises along the way.
Here’s the truth: before you worry about finding the right publisher or editor, your first job is to finish your book. That’s your golden ticket. The stronger and more complete your manuscript, the easier everything else becomes. So pour your heart into that draft. Revise it. Polish it. Pray over it.
Once you’ve got a solid manuscript:
1. Learn the business side. Read about querying literary agents (they’re the bridge to traditional publishers). Agents usually don’t charge upfront—they earn a small commission only when you get paid. That means the right one is invested in you.
2. Research your genre. Look up books similar to yours and see who published them. That’ll help you target publishers who already love your kind of story.
3. Editors: For now, don’t rush into hiring one unless it’s a mentor-level investment you can afford. There are amazing writing communities (like His Light Shines 😉) and critique groups where you can get feedback for free. You can always hire a professional editor later when you’re closer to submission.
4. Keep learning the craft. Every sentence you write makes you better. Every story you finish shapes your voice.
And financially? God will open the right doors. I’ve seen it happen over and over again. When you walk in obedience, He provides the means, the mentors, and the moments you need—right on time.
You don’t need to have it all figured out by graduation. You just need to keep showing up. Keep writing. Keep trusting that if He called you to write, He’ll also call the right people to walk beside you when the time comes.
So write that book, sweetheart. The world is waiting for your words.
Thank you so much Amy! I feel truly inspired and in love with my art. Your response was so heart felt, I am truly touched. I am so so grateful to you, thank you thank you for taking the time to respond to me question, I really appreciate it!
Mila
Updated
Maria’s Answer
Mila,
I'm an award-winning author with over 20 years of publishing experience, and I've also mentored a number of teens like yourself.
Please PLEASE slow your roll. I know this is your dream, I get it, but you're still developing your voice. The truth is that you have decades ahead of you to face rejection and harsh criticism. This is not the time to subject yourself to that. Work on your voice, your craft. Share your work with mentors and teachers. People who will give you nurturing feedback. Go to a college with a strong writing program. There's a huge amount of pressure on teens to publish and it's completely, 100% bonkers. A friend's niece texted me out of the blue a few months back demanding to know how to get published when she had a "manuscript" that was only a second draft. She got angry when I suggested that she put that manuscript aside and write something else before coming back to it. That's what professionals do. She then decided to self-publish, which is a complete waste of time at that point in the process and only feeds the ego.
Goals are great! But ask yourself why this one? Why not have the goal of being the best writer you can be and gather the life experience to create the most empathetic, complex characters you can? Writing is easy. Good writing *really* hard. Success even more so. Be kind to yourself. Feed your dreams with reading, journaling, and writing. The time will come.
All the best,
Maria
I'm an award-winning author with over 20 years of publishing experience, and I've also mentored a number of teens like yourself.
Please PLEASE slow your roll. I know this is your dream, I get it, but you're still developing your voice. The truth is that you have decades ahead of you to face rejection and harsh criticism. This is not the time to subject yourself to that. Work on your voice, your craft. Share your work with mentors and teachers. People who will give you nurturing feedback. Go to a college with a strong writing program. There's a huge amount of pressure on teens to publish and it's completely, 100% bonkers. A friend's niece texted me out of the blue a few months back demanding to know how to get published when she had a "manuscript" that was only a second draft. She got angry when I suggested that she put that manuscript aside and write something else before coming back to it. That's what professionals do. She then decided to self-publish, which is a complete waste of time at that point in the process and only feeds the ego.
Goals are great! But ask yourself why this one? Why not have the goal of being the best writer you can be and gather the life experience to create the most empathetic, complex characters you can? Writing is easy. Good writing *really* hard. Success even more so. Be kind to yourself. Feed your dreams with reading, journaling, and writing. The time will come.
All the best,
Maria
Thank you so much! This was exactly the kind of response I was looking for. I feel like when it comes to someone dreams people don’t want to be fully honestly and tend to sugarcoat or shelter, which is not how I can grow and actually some day get published. I hope you know grateful I am to you for taking the time to respond to my question. Thank you, have a nice day!
Mila
You're welcome, Mila! Good luck! And thanks for asking your question. I bet many others are wondering the same.
Maria Alexander