I want to get published. How do I start?

Well first of all, if you want to get published you need to have something to publish. Publishers these days, especially the ones whom you have to pay to publish you work i.e. iUniverse, Authorhouse, Xlibris, Booksurge and Trafford. They all tell you that they'll publish whatever you've got - stories, poems, photos, illustrations... what-have-you. But needless to say, all will be for naught if you have nothing to begin with. You'll be throwing money away, spending on a publishing package (if you choose to pay for publishing) or wasting away your dream of becoming a best selling author if you don't start now.

Communication experts say that an average person speaks enough words to fill 2 pages single spaced everyday. That means people actually talk a lot, and if you put your mind to it, you can probably write a whole lot more. Everybody has a book in them. Everybody has a story to tell. And I quite agree. However everyone also has the tendency to procrastinate and everybody (well almost everybody) also needs a day job (or money anyway) so life's everyday obstacles actually get in the way of fulfilling the dream of becoming a successful author.

Well first of all, be realistic. Why are you writing? What are your motivations?

• Is it for money of fame? Do you want to launch your writing career?
• Is it to capture important life events? Are you writing for family and friends?
• Is it for professional recognition? Are you an expert at what you do?

When you know your book's purpose and its audience or potential market, you will be able to decide how much time, money and effort you can allocate to making your book. So that's step number one: identify your book's purpose and your audience.