Maybe I'm a little premature asking this question. But after you finish writing your novel and editing and such, then what? Where do you send it? How do you know it's worth sending it anywhere?

Those of you that are published- how many places did you submit your first novel before it was published?

Two things:

Get another writer to read and critique for you.

Go buy the latest Writer's Digest. It's the bible of the publishing world, and it'll tell you where to send what you do.

Sounds too simple, huh?