One of the most interesting types of writing is when information is imparted using a question-and-answer technique. This can be very useful in a number of ways. First of all, readers can quickly go to the questions they want an answer to without having to read all the text. Secondly, a lot of information is broken up into manageable sections making it easier to read. And finally, a good writer can anticipate what questions people would normally ask about and target the answers accurately and efficiently. Sometimes, it also helps writers to structure their writing so they do not have to worry about the beginning, middle or end of their piece. This sort of writing can be enormous fun; you can get together with a friend and one of you could write the questions and the other the answers. Have a go! Getting Published Q: If I write a good story or non-fiction text, should I send it to publishers? A: Yes, you could send it to a number of publishers and see if they are interested. Q: What should I do first? A: Before you send your manuscript in the post, it is a good idea to go to your local library and see what sort of books get published. Q: Then what should I do? A: Ask the librarian for a reference book that lists all the publishers in a particular country and see what sorts of things they normally publish and see if your material is suitable. These books also provide contact details. Q: Will publishers actually read my work? A: Yes, most publishers will read your work. Q: How long will I have to wait? A: Publishers receive a lot of manuscripts. It may take many months for them to read your writing and respond to you. They will normally send a letter. Q: When should I give up? A: You should never give up. There are many examples of famous authors who were rejected by publishers before they were successful. Just because a publisher rejects a manuscript does not mean it is not any good. It simply means it is not suitable for them at the moment. Q: Should I also send pictures or illustrations to publishers? A: No. Publishers prefer to choose their own artists to illustrate a book. It is very rare for them to use artwork sent in by an author. Q: What age do I need to be? A: It does not matter. But you should know that publishers rarely print the work of young people. There are some exceptions such as Christopher Paolini, who had the fantasy tale Eragon published when he was 16 years old. Q: Are there other options? A: Yes, you can pay to publish your work yourself. It can be expensive, but many people do this if publishers do not accept their manuscripts. This is sometimes called 'vanity publishing'. Glossary to anticipate (v): to guess in advance manuscript (n): a piece of writing reference book (n): a book that cannot be borrowed from the library to reject (v): to refuse successful (adj): achieving well exception (n): out of the ordinary expensive (adj): costing a lot of money Comprehension 1. What should you do before posting a manuscript? 2. Do most publishers read work sent to them? 3. How do publishers respond when they are ready? 4. How long will you have to wait? 5. Do publishers usually choose their own artists or illustrators? 6. Who wrote the book Eragon? 7. How old was he at the time the book was published? Proofreading Publishers employ people to proofread manuscripts. This means that they check the work for mistakes either in spelling, grammar or punctuation. Read the sentences below and see if you can spot the mistakes. Write the sentences out in full using the correct spellings and punctuation. 8. publishers is very busy people. 9. They spendd a lot of time reeding manuscripts. 10. It is a veri intereting job. 11. Authors send manyuscripts by post? 12. illustrators are choosen buy the Publisher: Crossword Many different things get published in one way or another. Read the clues below to identify some of them. List: magazine, book, newspaper, leaflet, cards, comic, poster 1. Usually printed daily and is full of news 2. Often glossy with lots of pictures 3. Type of publication that fills library shelves 4. This publication contains cartoons 5. You send these to friends and relatives on their birthdays 6. A thin publication containing information 7. A large piece of paper usually found on walls Answers: 1. Go to your local library 2. Yes 3. By letter 4. Many months 5. Yes 6. Christopher Paolini 7. 16 years old 8. Publishers are very busy people. 9. They spend a lot of time reading manuscripts. 10. It is a very interesting job. 11. Authors send manuscripts by post. 12. Illustrators are chosen by the publisher. Crossword: 1. newspaper 2. magazine 3. book 4. comic 5. cards 6. leaflet 7. poster