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Tips to Help You Get Published

It's not that hard if you've got any talent.

Jeff Kruse's avatar
Jeff Kruse
Nov 12, 2025
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bokeh photography of open book
Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

Professional writing is notoriously easy. It’s impossible to count the number of wildly successful modern authors who have trod this extraordinarily smooth path to riches and acclaim. However, despite this well-observed fact, there are occasionally a few aspiring writers who struggle to get their work published.

Lucky for them, professional writers are equally known as a welcoming bunch. We are always happy to share our knowledge with hot up-and-comers destined to displace us. In that spirit, here are a few tips for would-be authors.

  • When sending a physical manuscript (the preferred method), print it on bright neon paper, in a whimsical font.1 That way, your book will stand out among all the boring ones.

  • If you’re experiencing writer’s block, simply cut and paste paragraphs from an existing work of the same genre into your submission. Editors will get the general idea of where you’re going with it.

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Jeff Kruse's avatar
A guest post by
Jeff Kruse
I'm a lifelong resident of the L.A. area, and wrote regularly for MAD magazine for over 20 years. I also have sitcom screenwriting credits, but that's for public access. You wouldn't have much interest in that, would you?
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