The Road to Publication: Expert Author Publishing Advice
‘The road to publication rewards persistence above all.’
The message from our May webinar was clear: persistence is the key to publication. We were joined by All About Writing alumna Bonnie Espie (Making a Killing), psychological thriller writer Marina Auer (whose third novel Three Echoes is about to be released), and publisher Stevlyn Vermeulen from Kwela Books for a discussion on navigating the journey from idea to published book.
Their conversation revealed not just the challenges of the publishing process, but practical strategies for overcoming them from handling writer’s block to finding the right publisher for your work.
Watch the Road to Publication replay to discover:
- Why “writer’s block” might actually be procrastination—and how to overcome it
- How reading extensively trains you to develop an instinctive feel for story structure
- The reality of drafting and revision—why your first novel might stay in the drawer
- When to trust editorial feedback and how to implement changes while maintaining your voice
- The timeline of traditional publishing and why patience is essential
- How to research publishers to find the right match for your manuscript
- Why South African writers can often approach publishers directly without an agent
‘Bum on the chair, and write. That’s it,’ Bonnie advised, highlighting that success comes from showing up consistently at the page.
Watch the Road to Publication Webinar Replay
Navigate your publishing journey with our Publication Roadmap
We’ve extracted the key insights from the webinar and created a practical resource for writers at any stage of their journey.
This downloadable ‘Road to Publication Guide’ includes:
- A publisher submission checklist based on Stevlyn’s insider advice
- Writing routine templates adapted from both Bonnie and Marina’s approaches
- A revision tracker to manage multiple drafts effectively
- Decision-making framework for traditional vs. self-publishing options
- Strategies for overcoming “writer’s reluctance” from our published authors
Download the guide to keep these expert insights at your fingertips as you navigate your own path to publication.
Whether you’re just beginning your first manuscript or preparing to submit to publishers, both the webinar and download offer valuable insights from those who’ve successfully navigated the journey. As our Bonnie, Marina and Stevlyn demonstrated, the road to publication rewards persistence above all else.
Connect with Bonnie and Marina
If you watch the webinar or read the guide, we’re confident you’ll be inspired to read the books that emerged from this persistence. Bonnie Espie’s Making a Killing and Marina Auer’s three novels (Single Minded, Double Edged and the soon to be released Three Echoes) are excellent examples of what happens when writers commit to the long road—and see it through.
Click here to find out more about Marina’s books, and here for Bonnie’s website.
Bonnie’s social media: Instagram and Facebook
Marina’s social media: Instagram and Facebook
Need to bring your writing up to a publishable standard?
- Consider joining our Writers’ Circle for personalised feedback at the monthly Zoom meetings. You can read our a piece of your writing of around 300 to 500 words. Perfect for getting feedback on your observation skills.
- Sign up for our Thirty-day Writing Bootcamp. This self-guided programme fits easily into even the busiest schedule and systematically targets the fundamental building blocks of good writing – from precise language use to active observation, character, and scenes. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes to establish a writing practice that will serve you for life. Like any worthwhile skill, writing improves with regular, focused practice – and this bootcamp provides exactly that. Sign up here.
- Sign up for our flagship Creative Writing Course and in just ten modules, master the secrets of creative writing, boost your confidence and gain the skills to write the story you’ve always wanted to.
- Email Trish to find out more about our Mentoring Programme and Literary Assessments.
- Not sure exactly what’s right for you? Please email us to discuss your writing project and how we can best help you achieve your goals.
