Good evening,

I realize it hasn't been too long since my last update, but I've been working on something. The attached is a tutorial giving you most of the steps on how to become a great writer. It has a rather cheesy title but it should give you all the information you need.

The tutorial includes information on where to post your work, how to make sure your work is ready to look for a literary agent, how to find a literary agent, how to submit a query letter, etc. and much, much more. This is basically a safe guild and tutorial all in one. It tells you some things to be careful of and gives you some advice.

Now, so I don't get so many emails explaining everything, I'll answer all common questions now,

1. Why did you write this?

I wrote this because I get many, many questions about when people can look for literary agents and similar as well as if I know of any writing contests. These two categories of questions are why I wrote the tutorial.

Often, people don't realize that there is more to a literary agent and contests, etc that they don't see.

For example: Did you know that a literary agent is NOT a publisher? Rather, the literary agent is the person who is the go between you and the publisher.

Another example: Did you know that by submitting your work to contests that often you are giving up your rights to the written work? Hard to believe they don't tell you this isn't it?

2. What information does this tutorial include?

The tutorial includes all of the following, in order,

- A Basic Introduction
- The Good News on Writing
- The Bad News
- What your motives should be and How you should look at writing. What literary agents don't like in writers.
- Who and Where you should and shouldn't share your work
- Finishing the book
- What literary agents are for, what they like, how to get one, what to do and what not to do.
- Before looking for a literary agents, these are things you need to look over and consider
- Where you can find literary agents, what you're looking for, etc
- What the query letter should include and not include
- Waiting
- When you find an agent who is interested
- Waiting
- When the agent wants to see more
- Waiting
- When the agent or agents call

That's a quick run through of everything and it should give you a very basic outline of what the tutorial entails.

3. Are all parts of it important?

Simply put, yes

4. Do you expect us to read it all?

Yes - ALL of it.

5. Why?

I intend to give you a test on it. All information in there is very, VERY important. Its all stuff that you need to know. As for why I should test you on it, its really very simple, I need to be sure that what I'm telling you isn't going in one ear and out the other. I know some of you are very stubborn and like to do things regardless of what I say. If you choose to do this its your fault, but if this test will make you think then maybe I can keep you from doing something stupid that may ruin your career - yes, this is very possible.

6. I feel like this was directed at me....?

It should because it is. This tutorial was written with each of you in mind. You have all done stupid things and why did you do these things? Its simple, you are out of the fame of your book being known and you weren't thinking, or you simply decided not to talk to me about it first - then you wonder why I get mad.

7. You just said that we don't talk to you about our decisions, its our book, we don't have to.

Since I am your beta reader, even if at the moment I am not beta reading any of your works. I am still your beta reader. My job isn't just only help you make have good grammar in your work, my job is to make sure you get where you want to go with your book.

Basically, a beta reader is your first agent. Their job is to give you advice to help you get your career on the right track. If you choose not to listen to your beta reader because of ignorance or your simply believe that they are wrong, then why not beta-read the book yourself too? Why not look up all the information you need on publishing by yourself also?

A beta reader wants to HELP you, not be used by you. Please, do NOT say that you listen to every word I say, there are only two of you whom I can honestly say have listened since day one. The rest of you do otherwise and make decisions entirely on your own, you do things I do not recommend, or you do something and blame me when it goes wrong. If you choose not to listen to what I advise, then that's your loss and I will not be held responsible for your actions.

See, I am your agent, no, not your literary agent, but close enough. The fun thing about me though is the fact that I have much more tolerance then a literary agent. A literary agent will without a doubt quit being your agent if you do things without their knowledge, go forward without them, or use them to get where you want to be. They may like their job but they aren't tools like your pencil and paper. We do not wish to be treated as such either.

So think about it this way, if you can't even take my advice in the writing business, what in heaven's name makes you think you'll listen to a literary agent. If you think they're wrong, you simply don't listen to them. Instead you'll go off and do your own thing regardless of what they say. In the end, the agent will leave you and you'll be at the bottom of the pit with a bad name. It will be much, much harder to find another literary agent after that. Why? Because without a doubt that literary agent that quit will have told every agent they knew about you. Those agents will go on to tell others and believe me, a literary agent never forgets the name of a person like that.

So dears, think about that. Since many of you I know have not.

8. If your clients are like you said above, why do you keep them?

Often I do not as I don't have the patience for it. I do though believe in giving people a chance to live and learn. If you screw up on my watch though then I will drop you like a hot rock. Its not my job to help you get back on your feet - I'm sorry.

Now, I hope that answers all of the basic questions. If anyone has any questions, which I'm sure you do, feel free to send me an email reply. After you all read the tutorial I'm sure you'll have more questions then I'd believe. So even if you think it may be a stupid question, go ahead and ask. :) Its better to ask and be safe then not ask and screw up.

Sincerely,
Kaylen Phary

How to Become a Great Writer [File]