Want to get published? Take over the TV station

Have you ever noticed that one of the first things revolutionaries do when they start a coup is take over the TV station? That’s because controlling communication is key to attracting attention, managing the message, and sparking change.

If you’re trying to get published, maybe you don’t want to go that far, but it doesn’t hurt to think like a revolutionary. If you want to get noticed you have to get your work out there.

Besides sending out queries, try these tactics as part of a plan to communicate and share your writing with the world.

1. Submit excerpts of your project for publication in magazines or literary journals. It could lead to a book deal from an agent who sees it and wants more.

2. Post an excerpt on your blog, guest post on a friend’s blog, and let them do the same on yours.

3. Hone your elevator pitch so that you’re proficient at explaining your work. You never know when you might run into someone who knows an agent or has other industry connections. Be ready.

4. Submit pages of your manuscript for review at writer’s conferences. For a fee, many writer’s conferences feature manuscript critiques by agents and editors. You’ll gain an immediate connection while receiving valuable feedback about your work.

5. Enter contests. Writing magazines, including “Poets and Writers,” and “The Writer,” publish lists of writing contests. You can sign up at “Poets & Writers” to receive an e-mail with contest deadlines. A Google search will reveal more. For example, if you’re an aspiring screenwriter, you might want to enter the ANA Alliance for Family Entertainment’s “Search for America’s Newest Comedy Writer Contest.” This organization is looking for stories featuring “modern American families.” The prize is $5,000 plus creative guidance from producer and director John Wells. Deadline: Oct. 28 at 11:59 a.m. ET. There is no entry fee. Check out the contest website for details and rules.