[Writers at Stonecoast!](http://kendallgiles.4orion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/lynette_kendall_marial_stonecoast_w2012.jpg)
(PHOTO: by Jim Kelly)

A friend of mine, who writes a lot and is now moving to get their work published, asked me for some help on some writing procedural matters. Not information on how to write, but, for example, how to create a pdf document, how to create Kindle book, and how to format a manuscript for submission. Nuts and bolts questions that are outside the craft of writing, but questions that need answering if one wants to get published.

I think there are a lot of writers like my friend. Gifted wordsmiths who, for one reason or another, are ready to transition from writers-who-write to writers-who-publish.

There’s nothing wrong with the writer who just wants to write for their own amusement and pleasure, then puts their manuscript into a drawer. But many writers wish to share their stories with others, especially by getting their stories published. And that requires some knowledge of procedural matters that may not be obvious to those approaching publishing for the first time.

So, as a partial response, I’ve created here a quick list of resources that writers may find helpful in bridging the gap between writing and getting published. It’s an incomplete list, but for someone just starting out, these links will certainly get them pointed in the right direction.

I’ve tried to group the resources into the following categories: books, software, submissions, funding, and education:

  • Books: useful references on how writers can get published.
  • Software: useful applications, with the emphasis on “free”, to provide writers flexibility and functionality in writing their manuscripts and outputing their documents into commonly-used formats.
  • Submissions: resources for potential places to submit your work as well as resources for getting your manuscript into a format that won’t make the receiving editor immediately dump it into the trash.
  • Funding: a few resources that provide grants or other monies for writers.
  • Education: workshops and more formal programs where writers can learn more about the writing craft, shave time off the learning curve, and make essential networking contacts in the writing and publishing industries.

Books

Software

  • OpenOffice: it’s free and exports manuscripts into a variety of file formats
  • Calibre: it’s free and can convert manuscripts into Kindle format (among others)
  • Scrivener: it’s not free, but worth every penny. This is the word processing and manuscript formatting program I use, everyday, for books, short stories, and screenplays. Extremely versatile and powerful.
  • Kindle Previewer: it’s a free application from Amazon that simulates how your manuscript will appear on the different Kindle devices.

Submissions

  • Standard Manuscript Format: each submission venue often has their own preferred format for submissions, so you should check before sending in your manuscript. But if you are unsure, you can do worse than the Standard Manuscript Format.
  • Duotrope: great resource for submission options, including acceptance-rejection ratios, publishers’ response times, and the ability to track your submissions.

Funding

Education

I hope to add to this list over time–if you know of something critical I should add or have other suggestions, please let me know.