There are no shortcuts on the path to publishing. You need a brilliant manuscript, a winning book proposal, and an organic platform. Getting “found” by a publisher today includes some new avenues. Here are 10 ways some writers have found their way to a publishing contract.

1. Write and publish a personal essay for Modern Love, published every Sunday in the New York Times style section. For example, Laura Munson, This is Not the Story You Think It Is.

2. Write a syndicated blog. Think Gretchen Rubin and The Happiness Project, Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess), Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, and Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things.

3. Be IN the news.

4. Be ON the news. Journalists, news analysts, and expert sources have public recognition.

5. Be IN the book publishing business. Editors, publicists, agents, booksellers, and librarians know how the industry works.

6. Get “found” on a writer’s community website. Penguin Random House has “Book Country,” Harper Collins, “Authonomy,” and Simon & Schuster’s “Archway.”

7. Crowdsourcing your publication. Kickstarter, IndiGoGo and now Wattpad.

8. Gain public recognition with a scientific breakthrough, discover a new galaxy or end world hunger. A current example is the stressed out white lady who traveled to Africa on her quest to become the first female Maasai Warrior.

9. Win a writing competition.

10. Attend a publishing workshop sponsored by a publisher. From Hay House to Berrett Koehler, publishers recognize authors need to understand more about their business of books.

If you’re looking for a way to “get found” by an agent or acquisition editor, let Swenson Book Development llc assist you in preparing your manuscript, proposal and platform and identifying which agents and publishers would be appropriate for your project.