Do not, I repeat, do not sit around and wait for your genius to be discovered.  Do you know how the publisher that optioned Rapture found me?  I was posting excerpts of it on the website deviantArt.  There are all kinds of websites dedicated to allowing writers to post their writing.  And you could do like a lot of others do and blog excerpts and/or teasers from your writing.  There are also contests that are especially for unpublished writers.  Do a little research.  I think that you’d be surprised by the number of opportunities that are out there.  Subscribe to writing magazines like Writer’s Digest, Poets & Writers, and The Writer.  And check out their websites.  Also, Writer’s Digest publishes books yearly that aim to help you find publishers, markets, and literary agents.  And in those books, they also have helpful articles that are full of useful information.  Join writer’s groups and go to workshops and conferences.  You can also find those online.  Basically, don’t sit at your desk typing all day and night and hope that you’ll be able to capture the attention of an agent or publisher by just sending them your manuscript.  Put yourself and your writing out there.  Take chances.  Fight for it!      

“Persevere.  Accept the fact that a book deal won’t come easy or appear overnight.  Celebrate every victory that comes your way and push through every low point.  Big dreams have to be fought for.” ~ Alison & Nicholas Lochel