Countdown to Christmas: Editor Simon Mason of David Fickling Books

Simon Mason is an editor at David Fickling Books as well as the Guardian prize nominated author of Moon Pie and the children's series, The Quigleys. Simon's Christmas offering to Slushpilers who have already written their books are five tips on how to get published.

Moon Pie by Simon Mason

1 Get an agent. You massively increase you chances of a publisher taking a serious look at your book. If it arrives from an agent your book is an 'agented submission'. If it arrives direct from you it is 'slush'. Take a look at the current Writers and Artists Yearbook or equivalent to see which sorts of agents handle which sorts of book.

2 Get good at talking about your book. When you meet an agent and/or publisher you'll have an opportunity to introduce your book. Don't waste it. This is your chance to deliver a snappy description of what you have written to entice and interest them. It will help if you can talk their language - which means relating your book to similar sorts of books, market trends, etc.

3 Know your publishers. Even if you are being represented by an agent, it helps to have some basic knowledge and preferences about which publishers would - and wouldn't suit your book.

4 Know - realistically - what you want from a publisher. What are your priorities? Are you looking for commercial marketing, sympathetic editing, great jacket design, good review coverage, etc. (Don't say all of them.)

5 Be prepared to rewrite - or even to begin again. Once a publisher makes an offer for your book, the work doesn't stop. Usually, the publisher wants some changes - sometimes some really significant changes.