You're writing your 1st novel for publication!  Great!  What's it about?
As for getting published, you might check with your local university.
There is one man, Tom Bird, who has taught a 'How To Be' seminar several
times at ours here in Memphis.  He sells a booklet which is a list of
agents and which genre each is willing to handle, a thumbnail of legal
potential complications and the avoidance of same, and a bit on what to
write to the agent.  For instance, send a letter outlining the novel, a
porposal sheet.  If you have been published before, list that.  It is a
sort of cross between a resume and a book proposal.  DON'T send the
manuscript out the first time!  Oddly enough, that is NOT what an agent
wants to see!  (I had always thought that was a prerequisite!)
   In his seminar, he also goes thru some ideas for character
development, how to do a believeable type of character- a wimp is a
really good one to use! Etc.
   In bookstores, you can get a 'Writer's Guide'.  This will tell you
what is selling at the moment, and which publications might be
interested, and the addresses of the same.  Good luck!
   There is also a writers' fido.  Many of the posters there are also
published, and may be willing to give a few hints.  Good Luck!!
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