~Though The Family has been self-published due to me wanting to receive feedback on it to make it the best it can be before sending it out to major publishing companies, I do know the basics of traditional publishing.

First Step: Complete Your Manuscript.
~You need a full story before you can even think about sending it to anyone. No one wants to see unfinished works.

Step Two: Editing.
~Make sure your story is as perfect as you can make it. Look carefully for errors, and have others read it to help make sure you didn't miss anything. You don't want to make a bad impression with funky grammar.

Step Three: Query Letter.
~A query letter works in three steps (unless you include the option of submitting your manuscript. That will depend solely on what the agent requests from the letter).

1. The first paragraph is your Story's Synopsis.
-I know it's so hard to summarize your 50,000-90,000 word story in just one paragraph, but it's essential to your book's promotion. When you write the synopsis, make sure it's both interesting and informative enough to draw in your reader. The more interesting you make your synopsis, the better chance you have of an agent wanting to take their time to invest in your story. Don't let them look like this-->

2. Personal Background.
-This part should be easy. Give a few sentences about you, why you decided to become a writer, and your devotion to your works. Try to keep this about 3-5 sentences long. The agent doesn't want a biography about you, well, unless that's the book you're trying to sell

3. Thank You Note.
-Thank the agent for their time to read your query letter. They receive hundreds weekly, so show your respect to them for even noticing your email. This should be done in 1-2 sentences after the author bio.

Step Four: Finding an Agent.
~I don't care what anyone has told you about publishing, but you absolutely need an agent. Did you get that? You NEED one. A good place to find a licensed agent is at agentquery.com. I found that site to be very helpful. Now remember, you never ever pay an agent to take your story. They pay you for your sales, and they'll get their cut then. Once you find a handful of agents specialized in your novel's genre, then you email them your query letter. Make sure to read their specifications on how to send them the letter. Some may require three or more pages of your manuscript.

Know that you may go through several agents before finding that one who will stick with you and your story. Remember, it only takes one yes.

Self-publishing is a very useful tool for sites like DA and those who are wishing to share their story but had the fear of people stealing their ideas. When you self-publish, your works are officially given a copyright if done by a credible company. For self-publishing, I recommend lulu.com. They are certified, and they also help with distribution of your works. A great option for those who want to have their novel in printed form; cover and all.

When you self-publish, make sure to format correctly; which includes a back cover synopsis, cover page, possible table of contents, copyright page. Make sure the pages are numbered, the starts of the new chapters all look the same in spacing, and the book starts on the right hand side. It's a tedious process, but it's very rewarding for those who want to see their books printed and don't want to traditional publish just yet.