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Once your writing is well-polished and ready to be shared, you should begin by showing it to your closest friends and/or family members. Start out with a small group so that you limit how many people read your story. That way if you need to make any changes, you can do so without other people knowing the details that might cause rifts in your friendships/family/relationship. It's a good idea to show your work to your friends/relatives before publishing it - especially if they are mentioned in your writing in any way. If you reveal damaging truths about your friends/relatives or portray them in an unflattering manner, consider changing the characters' names so that no one is offended. Remind your friends/family that the story/essay/poem is about your perspective (or an entirely fictional perspective), not an absolute. If your friends/relatives ask you to leave something out of your writing that is about them, you should. Reading your work aloud to an audience that wants to hear it is a great way to get feedback on your work and put your writing out there for others to enjoy. You can find literary events and open mic nights near you by searching online or looking through the events section in your local newspaper. It's important to attend other writers' literary readings/events, in addition to performing at your own events. Going to literary events to hear other writers read their work can help you build a stronger community or even network with likeminded individuals. Virtually every town has some type of literary events on a regular basis. You don't need to move to New York City just to be part of a writing community. You can find out about local readings online or ask someone at an independent book store in your town about upcoming events and opportunities. Whether you're in school, are a recent graduate, or never attended school, you may benefit from joining a writing club. Writing clubs help you meet other writers in your area, spend time talking about writing each week, and get feedback on your work. You can find writing clubs near you by searching online, or by reading posters at your local bookstore. There are also many writing clubs available through social media outlets like Meetup. If you've written a book-length manuscript, you may be thinking about ways to get it published. You can always self-publish your book, but if you're interested in reaching a larger publisher, you may need an agent. An agent can help you with editing your manuscript, negotiating contract agreements, explaining the terms of a contract, and selling/promoting your work. Compile a list of authors you admire who write in a similar style and genre as you, and search online to find out who those authors' literary agents are. Send a query letter to each agent you're considering. Each agent will have different requirements for queries (including how long of an excerpt to send from your manuscript), so read their websites and familiarize yourself with what each agent wants. Keep your query letters brief - no more than 1 page. Make sure your letter is well-written and free of any typos. The first paragraph of your letter should let the agent know why you've chosen him/her to reach out to. Mention any authors you admire that that agent has represented, and let the agent know you share similar tastes. The second paragraph should include a three or four sentence summary of your book (without too much detail). The third paragraph should include a short biography of yourself, including any relevant information about your work (which literary journals have published your work, for example). If the agent's website requests an excerpt, send one with your query letter. If not, wait for a response. Finding the right market for your writing can help you get your writing out to a larger audience, earn publication credits to your name, and may even help you get a book deal. That's because many agents and publishers read through literary journals and other publications to find writers who shows potential and promise. Know your audience. If you're writing sexually-explicit science fiction, for example, you may need to work within a more specialized market. There is a market for any type of writing. It just takes some searching to find literary journals and other publications that are the right fit for your style, content, and general premise. You can find literary publications online by searching for "fiction literary journals," "nonfiction literary journals," or "poetry literary journals." You may also find copies of literary journals at a small, independent book store. This can help you become familiar with the type of writing typically published by those journals to see if your work would be a good fit. When you go to a journal's website, they should have a section with writing guidelines, and may even post excerpts from published pieces. This can also help you determine if your work fits with their aesthetic. If you're ever in doubt, try sending a query letter. This is a professional letter/email sent to the editor(s) in which you pitch your piece of writing, summarize it or quote a small section of it, and ask the editor if she thinks it might be a good fit for that journal. You can also try sending out your work and seeing what the response is. There's no harm in trying, but be aware that some literary journals do charge a small reading fee for submissions that you send them. Once you've found a journal that you think would be a good fit for your work, it's time to send your work out. Every journal has different specifications for manuscripts, so it's important to read the journal's submission guidelines and follow them precisely if you want to make a good impression. Make sure your word count falls within the desired word count. Check whether you should include any identifying information (like your name or the piece's title) on the actual manuscript, or just in the cover letter. Some journals prefer numbered pages, while others don't care either way. They may also request that physical copies be stapled or unstapled, so make sure you're sending an acceptable manuscript. If you're sending your story/essay/poem by mail, make sure you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so they can send you a reply. You should also make sure you don't send in your only copy of a manuscript, as many journals recycle or discard them after reading. Write a strong, courteous cover letter. Include your contact information, the title and genre of your submission, a short biography of yourself, and a brief writeup of why you're interested in that journal and what makes your submission a good fit. Note that some journals take six or more months to respond, while others respond within days. Some accept simultaneous submissions (submissions sent to more than one journal at the same time), while others strictly prohibit the practice. Don't be discouraged. Take rejection and feedback with a thick skin and keep submitting your work, no matter what anyone else tells you.
Show your writing to friends. Attend literary events and open mic nights. Join a writing club. Consider getting an agent. Find a publishing market that's right for you. Send out your work for publication.