Excellent idea for a thread. Publishing these days is in such a state of flux and is adapting to the many changes that abound today, technology wise. Everyone and their mother is writing these days and there is a LOT of information overload, much of which will never get a wide audience or reach their intended destinations.
Obviously in this day and age of electronic media, much is being 'published' as an e book, or blogged, or whatever.
I recently met and have come to an understanding with a professional editor, who is very excited about not only me, but my mother's books, which she has self published with a little success. I really look forward to her input with my writings because I need the objective eye and her insights. Plus we have so much in common, we speak the same languages because of our unique background.
I think that is not always easy to find these days.
One of her first recommendations for me personally was to get my arse to the monthly meeting of the minds in Santa Fe writing, editing, publishing folks which abound there and up by Taos where I will be shortly. Creative energy is a good thing to surround yourself with, and then surrounding yourself with those that are already successful doing exactly what it is you are interested in, just something I am actively taking more a part of recently.
My major project this last year has been a screenplay which I am deep in the second rewrite of. I am praying that no one steals my idea on this one. I think that of 2 other books that are topical in the mainstream as well. I tend to worry needlessly I am sure, but nonetheless I do.
My second writing professor of consequence flat out stated and meant these words, writers steal. They steal ideas constantly, lol. I remember how aghast I was in my ignorance about such things. The point he was trying to make is that we get our ideas everywhere we go. Plagarism aside, he was simply being honest and making a point. Your own point of view on any subject or story line will end up being your own, was his point. Though I took him deadly serious and would not turn in anything worth stealing at that juncture. I have to laugh at what I ended up turning in. It was awful! Definitely not worth stealing.
I am cautious though, big time. I love my sparks of 'genius' and want full credit for where my mind can wander. Not that there is truly ever anything new on this good old earth, I just like to delude myself to think what I write is original.
A great suggestion is to find your state's Book Association, which can usually be found if you google it. I was requested to join the NM Book Association. NMbook.org. I imagine they are in every state in the union and then some. I suspect that publishers, editors, writers everywhere have found ways to meet monthly and what not. Help encourage each other and foster a feeling of community, which is always a good thing. As most writers do tend to be lone wolves, I have found.
Anyhows, I hope we can all share our experiences, our strengths and our hopes here. With so much change afoot in this arena, it is indeed hard to keep up. But in my opinion, it is a very exciting time for writers everywhere. Everyone has a shot at it.
I could go on and on here as well, like Sachita. I am pretty much on fire with this stuff, adore the marketing side of the internet and getting published.