Picture a high-street bookshop: tower blocks of autobiographies, bestsellers and three-for-two offers compete for attention. Meanwhile, a previous winner of the Man Booker prize smiles down from a poster. In such glossy company a writer at the beginning of his or her career may feel uneasy.

How can I get published?
‘Be realistic,’ is the advice given on Creative Writing courses, when students dare to dream of fame and fortune. Like most writers I’d prefer to stay in my imagination but it’s probably time I gave up on winning the Dylan Thomas prize (for writers under 30) or the Orange prize (for women authors). But as I continue to look for a literary agent – someone to approach publishers with my novel – I realise there are other ways of introducing myself to readers.

Short and sweet
Short stories may not offer riches but they can provide an ideal, low-investment read to a busy audience (think of train rides, waiting rooms). They’re also a good way for writers to leave a ‘calling card’, to help promote their talents. While less words doesn’t always mean less work, short stories are also a way for writers to produce a complete piece while still working full-time.

Visit the fair
At the last Manchester Book Fair, many new readers and writers visited the stalls of independent publishers. One of the organisers is Ra Page, editor-in-chief of Comma, who since 2002 has published a huge variety of short stories from writers outside London. Through Ra I published my first short story in 2004: The Proofreader. Fingers-crossed my second, The Gloaming, will be appearing later this year in a Comma Christmas horror special.

So, you see, it’s possible. Already I’m making my way towards the big book.

Pete
January 2007