Getting published

Dear Polly,

Recently, after years of being afraid to confront this reality, I accepted that I want to be a writer. Specifically, a YA novelist. I work full-time as a designer, but I've been diligently working on my manuscript every night for at least three months now, and am about 25 to 30 percent done.

When Sharon Dodua Otoo moved from Ilford to Hanover as an au pair in 1992, her family were concerned. Would a black girl from outer London cope with provincial Germany? "They were really panicked about it. ‘Don't stay too long,' they said."  Read more

Five and a half years ago, I had an idea for a story. It was so out-of-the-blue and exciting to me that I just started writing it down, and before I knew it, it had become long enough to turn into a novel. Part of what had precipitated this was attending a local creative writing class on a Thursday afternoon: I urge any aspiring writer to do something similar.  Read more

Amazing things can happen when you publish the book you've devoted so much of your time and life to, so being realistic about your expectations and defining what will make the book a success will save you from feeling let down and disappointed if your wildest dreams aren't met.  Read more