So how do I get published already?

Well, the first thing you're going to need is a book. And not just any book, but a marketable book. Some people will tell you to write "the book of your heart" and ignore the market, but I have to disagree with the wisdom of that statement. The book of your heart may be a total winner, but if it isn't the kind of thing editors are buying...well... I think all writers dream of seeing their book on a shelf and that's not going to happen if you don't sell the darn thing in the first place.

So my advice? Read. Read, read, read. Devour everything you can get your hands on, paying special attention to books in your chosen genre. If you write young adult romance, read and reread all the newest releases. Same with fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, etc. Once you have an intimate knowledge of your genre, feel you've sucked its conventions into your very soul, THEN write the book of your heart. Copying trends is useless since the publishing process can take well over a year from the moment the book is acquired by the editor to when it hits book store shelves. Write something you would love to read and hopefully you'll be well on your way to creating something others would like to read as well.

My book is done, now what?

Once you've written your book, edited your book, had it critiqued by several people you trust, and feel you're ready to send it out into the world, then you need to decide where to send it. This means you're in for more research into your genre. Which houses publish books similar to yours? Which editors have a hankering for books about young werebear girls raising mutant sheep on planet Zeno? With the constant house and job hopping that occurs in New York, it can be a SUPER challenge to figure out the where and the who. And even when you finally sort it out, your submission will end up in your dream editors's "slush pile", the place where unsolicited manuscripts often linger for years before finally getting read. Sad, but true. I still have numerous manuscripts sitting in slush piles from before I signed with my lovely agent, Caren Johnson, over a year ago.

So how do I avoid the slush pile?

The best way to get your book into the hands of editors who will read it and give you a yay or nay in a reasonable amount of time is to get yourself an agent. And THAT is a subject for an entire website of advice. I personally subbed to over twenty agents for three years before finally signing with Caren Johnson of Johnson Literary Agency (a woman who had turned another book of mine down a few years before, which just goes to show agents are serious when they say things like "I like your voice, but this isn't the book for me, please submit again".)

For some very basic tips on getting an agent, you can check out this link:
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/thebusinessofwriting/ht/agent.htm
Or do some googling. I'm sure you'll dig up all kinds of useful wisdom, far more pertinent than anything I could say on the subject. The most important thing is to--Not. Give. Up. Even after numerous rejections.

Hmm...what about rejection?

The second most important thing you'll need to learn to do as a writer--aside from writing the first book, then the second, then the third, while constantly striving to improve your craft--is how to handle rejection. Because chances are you will be rejected, many, many times. I certainly had my share when I was staring out and still receive a good number of the big Rs now that I'm multi-published! From the form letter rejection, to the kindly, encouraging note, to the email swearing you are a talentless hack, you'll likely see a little of each and every one. The best thing you can do? Learn from them and forget them. Take any useful information the agent or editor may have offered and then move on. I'm not a big fan of saving my rejection letters, but some people do. I prefer the "What? Rejection letter? Who the, what the?" amnesia method of dealing with the dreaded "R".

But however you deal, remember a rejection is not really all that bad. After all, writing is a very subjective business. Four people may loathe your book, but the fifth may adore it. You'll never know if you don't keep sending it out!

More writerly advice and linkage to come very soon.