By David Donaldson » Over the years, I have read online, purchased books, and spoken with dozens of successful authors regarding that one, singular topic. The topic that piques the interest of thousands of writers from around the world and honestly, is probably the single greatest reason most authors attend writers' conferences in the first place. The relatively simple topic, with a vast, endless array of responses.

"How can I get my manuscript published?" 

Since I co-authored a book with my friend, and it is our first novel to get published, I realize I cannot speak with the wisdom of experience that a seasoned, veteran author could provide in answering the question about getting a manuscript published.

So I began thinking back over the journey we began five years ago, the hardships, the disappointments, and the setbacks. The more I thought about just how incredibly difficult it has been to get a novel published. I suddenly realized I truly do have something to offer my fellow writers who long to see their words in print. I realized I could speak from experience on one particular aspect of publishing that may prove invaluable to someone out there.

I have discovered several ways not to get published! I have broken them down into "five steps to not getting published".

Step One: "Write the Perfect Manuscript!"

If you want to make sure you will never be taken seriously by anyone in the publishing industry, start off by describing your manuscript as "the culmination of my life's work," "the single greatest literary work of the 21st century," or anything along those lines!

I have met so many authors that sincerely believe their manuscript is perfect, or as close to perfect as humanly possible. They submit the perfect query letter, formulate the perfect synopsis, and send off several delicately prepared packets to the lucky agents, hand picked from the masses. Never realizing in most cases, their packet is never even read. Simply stamped, and sealed within a form rejection letter, and they had to provide the SASE!

The Ugly Truth: Writing is intensely subjective. Just about everyone who reads your work will filter what they read through their own taste, interests, and life experiences that form their own unique, individual personalities. Every agent has their particular opinion on how your manuscript should be edited.

If you really, really want to be published, then be honest with yourself. Don't give your manuscript to everyone in your family and ask them how they like the book. Give it to people whose opinions you trust, and prepare yourself for what will seem like endless re-writes!

Step Two: Hire a Book Doctor!

If you want to empty your bank account and suffer from depression, then spend your hard earned money hiring a book doctor. Sure, you will hear there are some "legitimate" book doctors out there. But it's kind of like the myths related to ethical lawyers, Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster. Many people have claimed to see them, but there is no solid evidence they actually exist!

The Ugly Truth: Realize that your manuscript will need editing every step of the way. A book doctor can only take your money, recommend some subjective corrections, and in the end you will still have to impress the agency before moving forward. The agent will recommend editing, the publisher will insist on several, painful and sometimes humbling editorial rewrites. And when it is all said and done, you will still hear critics say, "I liked the book, but it needed some editing!"

Step Three: Sign with the First Agent!

Since you sent out 30 query letters (actually, my friend and I sent out over 90) and you waited patiently over two months, surely the first agent to contact you must be the one you are destined to work with! God himself must have ordained this relationship from the foundation of the world!

He (or she) sounds so witty, and they know your characters by their first names! Then the agent immediately began using words like "next bestseller" and "world wide distribution".

After all, this agent was intelligent enough to recognize your brilliance and the best selling quality of your manuscript long before anyone else, right?

The Ugly Truth: There are many agents who promise much, but deliver little or nothing. My friend and I have suffered through what we affectionately call, "the agent from hell" syndrome. If it sounds too good to be true, and you are an unpublished author, then do some research.

If the agent is legitimate, get a list of current clients and contact those people. Go to several agencies and meet with the agents face to face before making your decision. Remember, this is one of the most important relationships you will have in your career!

Step Four: Sign the Agency Agreement without an Attorney!

Since the first agent to contact you is the best possible choice for you as an author, then it only stands to reason you should sign his agency agreement without consulting an attorney. After all, the agent is your new best friend, and he understands your talent better than your 12th grade English teacher. And you surely don't want to insult the agent by suggesting the contract be subject to legal scrutiny!

The Ugly Truth: The simpler the contract appears, the greater the chance you are going to get *#^@! Don't make the mistake hundreds of new authors made, including me. You get so excited to see your career finally progressing after years of hard work, you lose your common sense.

Never, never sign anything without having an attorney you paid, review the agreement. My friend and I learned this very real, very expensive truth, when we went "shopping" for agents the second time around. We discovered, through a very reliable source, that signing a bad agreement had literally cost us thousands of dollars.

Did I mention, never sign a contract without an attorney?!

Step Five: Sign with the First Interested Publisher!

Since your competent, hard working, practically perfect agent said he has submitted your manuscript to every known publisher on the planet, and the only, repeat only, publisher that would "take a chance" on an unpublished author like you has just called. You simply must sign with this publisher before everyone "comes to their senses."

Sure, the advance is just enough to pay for a happy meal or a matinee movie pass, but the money will come rolling in, once the foreign rights are sold!

The Ugly Truth: Since you obviously failed steps three and four, you are now in a no-win situation. An agency agreement you cannot get out of, and a less than promising publishing commitment. All I can say is this: Use the same tenacity, drive, and determination that you drew from to spend countless hours researching and writing to your advantage. Do everything within your power to assist in the editing, promotion, marketing, distribution and release of your book.

I have talked to many, many authors who felt their first book did not receive the attention and notoriety it deserved. As in everything in life, learn from your mistakes, and move on!

The Ugly Truth, Summarized:

I have found one simple truth has helped me through this five year process more than anything. Write because you love to write. Write for therapy, write for amusement, but most of all, write for you!

"Brethren, I do not count myself as one who has arrived, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." - Philippians 3:13.