WordWise Media owner and literary agent Steve Hutson believes any writer that wants to publish a book needs to attend conferences to get educated on writing craft and the industry. He also recommends that he or she join a critique group or have a mentor. While these efforts will require commitment, time away from other parts of your life, and maybe an investment, they will go a long way in preparing you - and your manuscript - for publishing. Being a writer means you are a self-employed business owner, says Hutson. As an agent, he can immediately tell which writers have done their due diligence and which haven't. The ones that have are more likely to get his attention.
That is key. If you haven't done it yet, be sure to take advantage of The Book Launch tool. It gives you a way to set a date when you want to hold a copy of your book in your hands. Research shows that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to reach them.
Despite the issues I struggled with to publish my first book, I will continue to write until I see all of my works in the stores