- 1). Prepare your manuscript for publication in a journal that matches your field. One of the most frequent mistakes that leads to rejections is manuscript-journal mismatch, according to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Monitor on Psychology. (See Reference 1)
- 2). Prepare a clean copy of your manuscript. Before submitting it for publication, have it read by someone familiar and someone not familiar with your field for different perspectives.This can help increase your chances of a publisher accepting your work.
- 3). Maximize the power of your cover letter. Nora S. Newcombe, Ph.D. and former editor of APA's Journal of Experimental Psychology, says that many authors neglect the practicality of cover letters. You can justify why you chose a particular journal publication and also recommend reviewers for your work through one. (See Reference 1)
- 4). Know that you probably will be rejected sometime in trying to get your manuscript published. Be persistent. Remember that if an editor asks you to revise, that this is a good sign. It might mean that he or she still is interested in your work.
- 5). Increase your chances of publication by learning how publishing works. Apply for an internship, or do some volunteer reading for a publishing company (See Reference 2, Step 3). Networking allows you a chance to increase contacts.
- 6). Research the market you plan to reach. Find out which publishers are interested in your type of manuscript. You want to know your audience is and who caters to it. Visiting libraries and bookstores can help you in your search. Magazines such as the Literary Marketplace contain a compiled list of publishers with names, addresses and phone numbers (see Resources below).
- 7). Write a short query letter. The goal is to find out who is seeking manuscripts such as yours. Keep your letter to a page. Explain who you are, outline the book in general terms and describe its potential market (See Reference 2, Step 8).
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