where are some good publishing companies for articles and novels?

That really depends on what kind of articles you write or what genre of novels you are looking to publish. If you look through Writer's Market books, those would be a good start.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that the projects you're attempting are likely going to be a lot of work if you choose to to do them correctly, as I'm assuming you do. There are folks who do this purely for enjoyment (as I often do) but there are other instances where you will be publishing in a profession situation (which I often do). If you want to be a commercial or professional success, you must apply due diligence. And this should normally require a lot of effort, refinement and experienced reviewers. It's normally impossible to review and critique your own work effectively. Other professionals will always provide essential input and review. These may be others in your field, members of your intended audience, professional literary agents, reviewers or the publishers themselves. If your only goal is to have a book published, you'll be approached by all sorts of vanity publishers and publications who will appeal to your vanity or desire for notoriety of being published. Be prepared for lots of rejections, but be very appreciative of those that come with real critiques and advice, since folks who reject your material have little to gain from spending their time and effort providing it unless they consider your work worthwhile to improve. A way to get this sort of critique, which is extremely precious in my opinion, is to not just have friends look it over. Friends will usually consider your feelings first and the true quality of the advice second if at all. Most of the input you'll receive will be like that. Accept it graciously with the good intentions it was given with. Look for people who will tear into it with actual effort. A way to get this sort of input is to look over the internet for writing sites, fora, clubs, etc. and join up. You'll have the largely free input from many people who, like you, spend considerable effort immersed in writing. Finally, after you've satisfied yourself that your critics have helped you hone your project as best as it can be, you can try a site like Amazon. Amazon will publish your work and provide you printed copies. They will also market your work in hardcopy and as ebook material. You'll get actual money, which will make you feel good. But better, you'll get people reviewing your work. When you're convinced that you have a marketable or at least valuable product, send it to potential agents or publishing houses. There are many, but realize how big your competition is. It costs a lot for a publisher to publicize and distribute writing. A lot. In the meantime, if you're truly a writer -- and I've often recounted the quote of a famous author who said that a "real writer" is someone who simply can't resist the compulsion to write -- and you're willing to put in the work, you'll have a real blast doing it. And all the while, even though it may take a lot longer than you hoped, you'll get that tremendous rush from knowing that you're making progress as a real writer. Good luck!!!

Hi Maurice! I'm so excited to help with some tips. I've been writing a long time and just got my first novel self published. You're starting an amazing journey!

Where you submit depends on your specific work. For novels, you can also consider self publishing. I recommend doing a lot of research and learning while you're practicing your craft. The right path can be different for each person. To get you started, I'll share some of my personal favorites. I've learned a lot from them.

Novel Marketing (podcast)

Writing Excuses (podcast)

Grammar Girl (podcast)

www.aerogrammestudio.com

www.deanwesleysmith.com (And any book on writing by Dean Wesley Smith)

www.writersdigest.com

Those are just a few of the ones I really like. I'd recommend doing a lot of reading on the craft while practicing. Also, read in your genre(s) of writing.

There are a lot of resources for freelance writers too (for articles).

One thing to keep in mind, you will never have to pay up front to get published. If a publisher is asking you for money, run the other way.

Contests, on the other hand, often do have a submission fee. Just do research to make sure it's legitimate.

And follow authors you admire. Goodreads.com is a great place to do that.

Best of luck!