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Hi, Mila,

Yes! It worked for me. And if you have something that’s truly publishable, it can work for you too.

Go to your library and ask for a book on Writers’ Markets. That book will have the names an d addresses and a lot of pertinent information on every publisher in the English-speaking world. It tells you what the publisher is looking for, and whether or not they will even accept manuscripts that come without an agent.

When your book is finished, give it to someone you know and trust — an aunt, a Mom, a teacher — someone who will give you an honest opinion. If you get that person’s approval, you should put a lot of work into polishing it up so that you consider it perfect. If there are spelling errors, or grammatical ones, any reader will discard it. It must be typed, one side of the page only, and error-free. It should be sent to the publishing company of your choice with a covering letter, introducing yourself and telling a little bit about yourself and your book.

My own experience was over 40 years ago. It might be a better approach to find a literary agent who will, in turn, try to sell your work to a publisher. I have an agent now, of course, but I didn’t back then.

Anyway, that’s what worked for me with my first book. I was 12 at the time, and thought it was soooo easy. It isn’t. Not everything is publishable, or as good as the author(s) think it is. But this is exactly my story.

Good luck! I hope to be writing you and your friend a fan letter one day soon!                                   —Gordon Korman—