Now what do I do....?

[Guppy]

In this era of publishing cut backs, on demand printing, Amazon, Blogs, forums, etc… what does a first time author do?
Trust his\her work to an agent? Try the big publishing house and fear being eaten up and spit out? Live in the internet praying something big will happen? Any insight would be great! Recent Success stories would be helpful.

[chopper]

while not wishing to appear too cutting, i'd say that a first-time author writes. and keeps on writing. but the main business model hasn't changed completely: you won't be noticed if you don't put yourself out and about (something i'm not exactly good at myself, but meh). agents are still the best way into the traditional markets, and the best part of the inter-email-digital-caboodle is that you're not restricted to "local" markets either.

[K. Riehl]

You might wish to peruse the Aspiring Writers and Publishing sections of this forum.

Welcome to the Chrons!

[Clansman]

I agree with Chopper. Show it to people you respect, and ask for their honest opinion. Get test readers who like the genre in which you are trying to write, and respect their reactions. Ask for nothing less than total honesty. And then, make adjustments that are necessary, edit and create, especially if the feedback is focusing on the same points. Then...

Harden your heart, and send that baby manuscript out into the world to face rejection, and then do it again, and again, and again, and again... and so on. And all the while, keep writing new stuff, refine your craft, and submit new manuscripts to your test readers, edit them, and then submit them to publishers.

Get the Donald Swain book Techniques of the Selling Writer (University of Oklahoma Press). Great book on basic writing techniques that make the text active and engaging. Do not omit this step. He provides some very basic advice that is not taught (like avoiding passive voice verb tenses, and how to create characters with impact, writing dialogue, etc.).

It will hurt, and sometimes badly, but if you keep trying, and if you have some talent, something will break. Persistence and determination is key.

[thepaladin]

I don’t know if it will actually help (as I’m still not published either) but I can relate my experience so far. For what it’s worth I have a situation right now which has curtailed my quest to get in print, so I still live in hope.
But then I’m an old guy so some of it could be senility.
I wrote, story told etc. for years before I ended up disabled and out of my "day job" which was actually one of those jobs that took up like 60 or 70 hours a week without trying. Once off I set out to write the books in a "publishable form".
I have finished 2 novels... have another in what I hope is the last or at least the next to last rewrite. I went through the "Writer’s Market" book lists that were supposed to be publishers who "accept" new, unpublished, and unrepresented writers. I sent out samples of my manuscripts, entire manuscripts I followed all the advice. I always included a self addressed stamped envelope, or 2 one that would fit the manuscript the other that would fit a letter. The replies mostly said the same thing. Get an agent.
So now I’m preparing for an agent search. I got the book on that to. I sent out a few letters so far. The letter form from the "how to contact an agent" book hasn’t seemed to "bowl anyone over". None of the agents I’ve written so far are beating down my door to represent me, so I plan to "revise" my letters.
So I’m there with you and all I can see to do is not quit and keep on (forgive me the trite word but) plugging.

[Guppy]

Paladin...remember "Fight the Good Fight & Be Worthy"

We are on our own quests...

[Guppy]

Clansman,
Thank you for the advise and motivational words.

[GOLLUM]

Moved to Aspiring Writers.

Good luck BTW...

[Guppy]

Thanks Gollum...sorry about that.