What's the best way to go about submitting a manuscript for an existing property? I see it all the time - Star Wars, Star Trek, even videogame novels released by various authors.

To be honest? Slim and none. 

I don't like saying that, but its true. Tie-in properties like novels are decided upon by the people owning the IP (Intellectual Property), and they chose Authors with proven track records to write them. They are not even going to look at an unsolicitied manuscript from someone they don't known.

Take a look at almost any author who's written a tie-in novel. Most, if not all, have a solid line of novels and stories they wrote and published before they were approached to write the tie-in novel.

My advice? Write your own stories and build a proven track record. Down the road, if people think you're the right person for that Transformer Novel, they'll come to you.

Craig

A Flesh Golem, maybe?

Craig

This article might be helpful -- just found it and thought of this thread...

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2012/02/author-blogging-101-linking-for-traffic/

Craig

I have two of them -- one for Battletech,(http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/) the other (http://trboturtleswritings.blogspot.com/)for my other writing....

Craig

As for me, I'm slowly expanding my writing fields to my own worlds, and I'm laying down the first foundations of my fist fantasy novel, and blogging about it. Just joined Bean's bar myself and I'm easing my way into the forumn.

Craig

... you can't write the first chapter. AAAGHHH! It's so frustrating! I've got my outline written, but i can't write the first freakin' chapter! Not even the first page! AGGGGGGGGH!

Then write the second chapter, and the third, and maybe the fourth. Come back to the first chapter when you feel ready for it.

Craig

Write, write, and write some more.....

A lot of people (Like me) started writing fanfiction and have moved on from there. Fanfiction, while not sellable, does have the advantage of allowing the author to take established characters and situation and play around with them. I think fanfiction is a good palce to start, but YMMV.

Right now, I'm writing stories set in the Battletech Universe -- everything else has been established, so I can concentrate on plot and characters. After twenty-five years of RT existence, there's a LOT of background about the universe, its factions and technologies that I can use to create stories. From fanfiction, you see what you need when you worldbuild your own universe.

Keep notes on what you like and what you don't when you read. When you read a scene, think "How would I have written the scene?" and maybe actually rewrite it.

Read not only fiction, but non-fiction. If you are writing science fiction, read some science books to get a feel for the things you have to account for in say, FTL travel. Since you're military, you have knowledge of military matters (Chain of command, your job, TOE of your unit). If writing a story with sword play, read about it (Or even better, train in swordplay). Have a working knowledge of many areas that you think you'll need to write your story. I have a large reference section in my personal library, and the internet can help if you don't have the right books or knowledge....

and keep writing!

Craig

I topped out at 41,919 words -- It came down to weither the NaNoWriMo, or finishing up a story for a Battlecorps anthology (And putting a few $$ into my pocket). The Battlecorps story won out....

Craig