Have you ever dreamt of seeing your name in print, sharing your stories, poems, or essays with the world? If so, you’re not alone. Many writers aspire to get published, but the path to publication can often seem like an intimidating task.
If, like myself, you find trying to get your writing published to be a daunting enterprise, “How to Get Published: A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Writing” by Rachel Mindell is the perfect course for you. By the end of the course, you’ll have a clear roadmap to navigate the world of publishing and turn your writing dreams into reality.
Table of Contents
What is "How to Get Published: A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Writing"?
“How to Get Published: A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Writing.” is an immersive 11-lesson course led by experienced instructor Rachel Mindell, offering aspiring writers a comprehensive understanding of the path to publication in just 59 minutes. It will help you gain practical knowledge and valuable insights to kickstart your writing journey. Rachel makes diving into the world of publishing an easy and comprehensible task.
Who is Rachel Mindell?
Rachel Mindell is a writer, poet, and tech enthusiast with a strong literary background. She holds an MFA in Poetry and an MA in Literature from the University of Montana.
Her literary work explores diverse themes, including addiction and queerness. Her thesis, ‘What is a Hole Made of?,’ focuses on queerness and melancholy in Anne Carson’s works.
Who is this course's target audience?
While this course naturally appeals to those who love writing, whether it’s fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, I believe it’s also a great fit for anyone aspiring to get their work published. Whether you’re just starting as a writer and want to enter the world of publishing, or you’re an experienced writer looking to improve your submission skills, this course is here to help. It provides valuable insights and practical guidance for writers of all levels, making the journey to publication accessible to everyone.
What topics does Rachel Mindell cover?
The course draws upon Rachel Mindell’s extensive experience and insights into the world of writing and publishing.
Below, you’ll find an overview of what is covered in the course.
- Introduction: Rachel sets the stage for the journey into the world of publishing.
- The Submission Landscape: In this lesson, you’ll gain insights into the world of submitting your work and the various nuances involved.
- Choosing the Right Pieces: Rachell guides you on selecting your strongest pieces for submission and making a lasting impression.
- Choosing the Right Publications: You’ll learn to adapt your submission strategies to align with various genres and publications.
- Writing Your Cover Letter & Bio: You’ll discover how to create compelling cover letters and author bios that grab the attention of editors.
- Submitting Your Work: Guides you in effectively navigating the submission process, including adhering to submission guidelines.
- Managing the Process: You’ll learn to use submission tracking systems to stay organized and monitor your progress.
- Dealing with Rejection: Rachell shows you how to transform the fear of rejection into a stepping stone toward success.
- Handling Acceptance: You’ll be preparing for acceptance, withdrawing submissions when necessary, and celebrating forthcoming publications.
- Final Thoughts: Rachell encourages you to write and apply all that you learned during the course.
What I liked about the course
- Rachel’s encouraging tone and simplified explanations. I love how Rachel made the course welcoming and accessible to writers of all backgrounds.
- Abundance of practical resources. They include cover letter templates and submission trackers; these prove extremely useful in the submission process.
- The art of revision. Rachel’s approach to revision is practical and insightful. She recommends reading your work aloud to catch mistakes you would’ve missed, as well as seeking feedback from other writers or friends. Rachel acknowledges that a piece of writing is never truly done, and I find said notion liberating, as it allows you to view your work as an evolving canvas that can always be improved upon.
- Tailored advice for writers in various genres. Submitting a short story may require a different approach than submitting a poem or a nonfiction essay, and Rachel ensures that the course resonates with a wide range of creative voices and writing styles.
- Rachel’s insights into handling rejection. Her approach offers a fresh perspective that can empower writers to view rejection as a step toward achieving success. The message is clear: don’t let the fear of rejection paralyze you. Embrace it as a natural part of the process, and with each rejection, you’ll be one submission closer to success.
- The submission tracking system introduced in the course. Definitely my favorite. Not only does it help with organization, but it also provides a dynamic learning resource for writers to improve their submission strategies. By analyzing your submission history, you can identify patterns, discover which pieces resonate with editors, and adjust your strategy accordingly. It’s a dynamic tool that evolves with your writing career.
- Importance of selecting your strongest pieces. The emphasis on making a memorable impression with editors was a standout lesson relevant to any kind of writer. Editors often remember the first and last pieces they read, so you have to make them count.
What I didn't like about the course
- Focused on submitting shorter pieces. The course might not fully meet the needs of writers aiming to publish longer works. Adding content about book publishing could be helpful.
- Lacking information on agents and traditional publishing. While the course provided valuable insights into submitting work independently, it may not be ideal for writers seeking representation by literary agents or traditional publishing. Including information on this aspect of publishing would be great.
How much does the course cost?
Courses on Skillshare can not be bought individually – they can only be accessed by signing up for a Skillshare membership. The good news? Skillshare offers e-student.org learners a full month free trial if you use our link (if not using our link, there is normally only a 7-day free trial). As virtually all Skillshare courses will take you less than a month to complete, you can in effect take this or any other Skillshare course for free – or any number of courses that you can finish in a month.
Once your free trial is over, the cost of Skillshare is $165 per year, which averages out to $13.75 per month. This gives you full access to all 34,000+ Skillshare courses. But if you're not happy to continue, you can easily cancel any time before your free trial ends – just go to your payment settings in your account.
If you have no need for a free trial, you can instead get %30 discount on your first year by using this special link instead. With this link, your first year will be just $115.50, averaging out to $9.63 per month. Note that this offer is only valid for new accounts, so it can't be combined with the 30-day free trial.
Conclusion and recommendations
Now, the fundamental question: Is dedicating your time to “How to Get Published: A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Writing” is a wise choice? In my opinion, it definitely is! The course, expertly guided by Rachel Mindell, presents a valuable opportunity. It provides insights into the complex world of publishing and gives you the tools to improve your submission strategies. Furthermore, it has the potential to change your perspective on the inevitable experiences of rejection and acceptance within the publishing world. In essence, it is a great investment in any writer’s journey.
Returning to the question raised at the beginning of this review: Did the course help me understand the world of publishing better and bring me closer to making my writing dreams come true? I can honestly say that this course hasn’t just made me understand the publishing world better, but it’s also given me the tools and confidence to go after my writing dreams with renewed energy. In other words, “How to Get Published: A Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Writing” has been a real game-changer for me, and I’m sure it will be for you as well.
