How would I get published?

[Trinityisgod]

I fancy myself to be a young (I am in my early 20’s) theologian and apologist. I also have many theories pertaining to what started the Protestant reformation (for one, I believe Martin Luther had what is now called Asperger’s syndrome), and have a candid defense of the Catholic faith using scripture and 2000 years of tradition. The only problem is this: How do I get these things published? I honestly think it’s very important information to share this information. Occasionally, I will write something, and leave it up at the payphone by the gas station (same thing the JWs and Baptists do), but I normally only write one paper at a time (I do not have a computer, and if I did I would not have the resources to print all of these), so how do I go about getting this work published? I know this might sound stupid or desperate, but the whole world needs to know, and you got to start somewhere.

 

[Gertabelle]

I have never been published, nor even tried. My knowledge actually comes from the music field, so it may not be the same as the word field. But here are the basic steps:

1. You write something.
2. You submit it to a publisher.
3. You wait.

Those are the basic steps. For information on exactly how to submit your manuscript, you would need to either contact individual publishing companies, or you would need to go to their websites. I actually did some research of this sort a couple years ago, and what I found out was that each publisher had their own rules.

Some companies did not want any unsolicited manuscripts.
Some would only work through a literary agent.
Some wanted only a sample (one chapter) of the completed work.
Some had other specifications.

In other words, if you really want to get published, you’re going to have to do the research on different publishing houses and make sure you meet their guidelines. If you don’t follow their guidelines, they’ll just send back your manuscripts unread. Be persistant. Be persnickity. Be impeccable. Be patient. Be prayerful.

God bless you.

Gertie

 

[edwest2]

I fancy myself to be a young (I am in my early 20’s) theologian and apologist. I also have many theories pertaining to what started the Protestant reformation (for one, I believe Martin Luther had what is now called Asperger’s syndrome), and have a candid defense of the Catholic faith using scripture and 2000 years of tradition. The only problem is this: How do I get these things published? I honestly think it’s very important information to share this information. Occasionally, I will write something, and leave it up at the payphone by the gas station (same thing the JWs and Baptists do), but I normally only write one paper at a time (I do not have a computer, and if I did I would not have the resources to print all of these), so how do I go about getting this work published? I know this might sound stupid or desperate, but the whole world needs to know, and you got to start somewhere.

Hi,

Since I don’t know you, please pardon my questions. Do you have a degree in Theology? Do you have any other degrees? I ask only because a publisher of such material would be more likely to look at your work if you had such credentials.

I suggest you use a library computer to write your work and save it to disk. Find out from a Librarian about publishers of Catholic books and pamphlets, or if you know of a Catholic publishing house, contact them. Tell them what you want to do. You might want to include an envelope with a stamp on it and your address.

Be patient.

Peace,
Ed

 

[CatofAlexandria]

I agree with the previous poster about researching the individual journals. Wikipedia, of all places, has a very large list of theological journals and periodicals (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_theological_journals).

Also, as someone with experience selecting and editing articles for a scholarly journal, I have a few more points to add:

First, you will want to make sure that all of your submitted pieces are well researched and cited. Credibility is one of the main things that editors look for across the board, and, since you’ve never been published before, you will want to be especially attentive to this. Additionally, make sure that the citation format you use is the same as the one the journal currently uses. This may be on their website, or you might have to read some of their published articles and follow the same format.

Second, you will want to, if at all possible, associate yourself with an academic institution. This goes to credibility, and will dramatically increase your chances of getting published.

Third, you will want to make sure that your abstract, introduction, CV (if required), and cover letter (if required) are absolutely flawless. Some journals receive hundreds of submissions a day, and the editors cannot read them all. Instead, they will only read these parts of your submission to decide whether they want to read more. You don’t want your article to be one of those “hidden gems” where the real novelty comes out in the middle of the analysis – make it known from the beginning that your submission is special!

Finally, if you are not published, don’t give up. In this modern era, there are many other ways to get your work out there. For example, you could start a blog (which might actually have a broader readership), or create a profile on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN), which is a popular place for authors to get their work out there and noticed. Also, don’t forget about submitting your work to online journals and magazines. These will be much more open to accepting submissions from a previously unpublished author.

 

[CatofAlexandria]

I agree with the previous poster about researching the individual journals. Wikipedia, of all places, has a very large list of theological journals and periodicals (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_theological_journals).

Also, as someone with experience selecting and editing articles for a scholarly journal, I have a few more points to add:

First, you will want to make sure that all of your submitted pieces are well researched and cited. Credibility is one of the main things that editors look for across the board, and, since you’ve never been published before, you will want to be especially attentive to this. Additionally, make sure that the citation format you use is the same as the one the journal currently uses. This may be on their website, or you might have to read some of their published articles and follow the same format.

Second, you will want to, if at all possible, associate yourself with an academic institution. This goes to credibility, and will dramatically increase your chances of getting published.

Third, you will want to make sure that your abstract, introduction, CV (if required), and cover letter (if required) are absolutely flawless. Some journals receive hundreds of submissions a day, and the editors cannot read them all. Instead, they will only read these parts of your submission to decide whether they want to read more. You don’t want your article to be one of those “hidden gems” where the real novelty comes out in the middle of the analysis – make it known from the beginning that your submission is special!

Finally, if you are not published, don’t give up. In this modern era, there are many other ways to get your work out there. For example, you could start a blog (which might actually have a broader readership), or create a profile on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN), which is a popular place for authors to get their work out there and noticed. Also, don’t forget about submitting your work to online journals and magazines. These will be much more open to accepting submissions from a previously unpublished author.