God bless the writer...Seems like we work the hardest with the least amount of credit. Of course, that's only after we get published ; )

In all seriousness, getting published isn't as difficult as it used to be. The publishing world is changing fast and writers have more options now than ever before.

While you may not have publishers knocking down your down begging you to publish your story with them, (Hey! Someone should start a website that is like a Lending Tree.com for writers where publishers seek you out!) they are out scouting the web for quality writers.

When I wrote my first book I didn't go through the whole "submit your manuscript to a hundred publishers and wait for a hundred rejections" process - it's just not my style. I went straight for self-publishing and marketed it like crazy. And it worked! I've been very happy with the results.

In my opinion, publishing scouts aren't operating like they used to and submitting your manuscript in hard-copy by traditional standards is not as effective as making your project visible online. However, I do editing for other professional authors who vehemently stick to the traditional way of finding a literary agent to represent the project before it's released to the public.

Me - I say why? Why wait for a literary agent when you can publish the work on your own for a much bigger profit. And there is something to be said with self-publishing that could actually help you land a literary agent.

If you publish your own book, create a buzz and sell the thing 10,000 times over - then you have leverage if you want to seek out the assistance of a professional literary agent. If they know the book sells, they will gladly represent you to get a piece of the pie.

I would strongly consider self-publishing and then try to attract the attention of a literary agent. This way, you can sell yourself as a "published author" right off the bat! There will be none of this, "Well, I'm a writer - I just haven't been published yet" kind of thing.

There are tons of ways to self-publish, and I would generally suggest going with a well-known company that comes with an extended network. Small home-based publishing companies just don't offer as many benefits as the Big-Dogs. While I'm a small business owner myself and certainly wouldn't discourage you from using someone that offers what you are looking for, I gotta be honest......

For instance publishing your book through BookSurge or CreateSpace gives you access to the Amazon.com network. This could be huge for your exposure. Other self-publishing companies such as Xlibris, Lulu and iUniverse offer marketing services as well, so it really comes down to budget and personal preference. Whatever choice you make - just be sure to go with your gut feeling. You'll know what choice is right for you.

And while it is true that you can create your own marketing campaign with AdWords and Internet or print advertising - getting in with the Amazon.com network can be extremely beneficial. There are ways to post your book on Amazon.com without going with one of their partners, but it will cost you money.

Generally speaking, most self-publishing companies fall into the $400 to $750 dollar range, with additional features such as graphic design and marketing costing more ($1,000 to $1,500). Some self-publishing companies require you to purchase an upfront preprinting of 500 or 1,000 books, but most work as print-on-demand (that means your book will only be printed when ordered, usually on an individual basis).

I would also strongly suggest building a website that will serve as a landing page for your author name and book title. Add a simple shopping cart where visitors can purchase the book (or link them to the order form on your self-publishing provider). There are some sites that offer free author websites to published works like AuthorTree.com. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to find your books - check out my website to see an example....

Start spreading the word in person. When people ask what you do for a living, tell them you are an author and give them a business card with your website address on it. Word of mouth is a great way to build buzz.

One final tip: Find magazines that are accepting short stories or running writing contests. Submit your story and you might just win. Often, magazines will run contests for a chance at having your story published in print or online - and that could be the opening of the floodgates you are looking for ; )

Good luck - and go get 'em!