Thanks for writing this! I'm currently on submission for the third time. The first was one of those sold in a week at auction stories, which was a real mind-f**k when you later realize that's probably as exciting as it's ever going to get. The second book did not sell. And here I am hoping to sell a third, with a lot more knowledge of the market, who all the players are (I write for kids, which is a much smaller market) and a heavy dose of reality that borders on negativity, haha. I wish you luck with your next submission!
Amen, sister! As someone who has been published twice by a Big Five, I still recall how gobsmacked I was when first told by an inside-publishing partner, as though I was clueless, "Writers never get paid anything!" And I replied, "and that's supposed to be motivating for me?"
As someone who is currently on submission for the first time and desperately searching for information, I so appreciated this post. Everything feels a little more lonely and opaque this side of the query trenches.
I so appreciate this! I'm about to go out on submission for the very first time next week, and I'm someone who loves to dive into other people's experiences -- but I've found that not a lot of people are sharing their submission stories unless/until they are a success.
Thank you for championing the demystifying of the process. I'll be querying this year for my first book and I feel like I'm trying to evolve straight from a trilobite to a kangaroo
Yes yes yes yes. As someone who was just on submission, take extra care of yourself in the month(s) ahead. Being on submission during the fall of democracy is...a wild ride.
This was such a good read! Particularly on the culture of silence around going on submission. Same as when you're employed - the only person benefitting from you not chatting salaries with your colleagues is your employer.
Thanks for writing this! I'm currently on submission for the third time. The first was one of those sold in a week at auction stories, which was a real mind-f**k when you later realize that's probably as exciting as it's ever going to get. The second book did not sell. And here I am hoping to sell a third, with a lot more knowledge of the market, who all the players are (I write for kids, which is a much smaller market) and a heavy dose of reality that borders on negativity, haha. I wish you luck with your next submission!
Thank you! And sending you all the luck and good wishes right back! <3
Amen, sister! As someone who has been published twice by a Big Five, I still recall how gobsmacked I was when first told by an inside-publishing partner, as though I was clueless, "Writers never get paid anything!" And I replied, "and that's supposed to be motivating for me?"
As a writer currently “on submission” with her first book— this was so valuable a read.
I'm so glad! And GOOD LUCK, it is so rough out there! Keep your head up!
As someone who is currently on submission for the first time and desperately searching for information, I so appreciated this post. Everything feels a little more lonely and opaque this side of the query trenches.
oh i'm so glad! it has its own strange loneliness, but i'm right there in the submission trenches with you!
I so appreciate this! I'm about to go out on submission for the very first time next week, and I'm someone who loves to dive into other people's experiences -- but I've found that not a lot of people are sharing their submission stories unless/until they are a success.
I'm actually working on an update/sequel to this post right now! Glad it was helpful, and BEST OF LUCK on submission!
thank you for publishing this and helping demystify the process!
i'm so glad you found it helpful! love the work you're doing rn!
Thank you for championing the demystifying of the process. I'll be querying this year for my first book and I feel like I'm trying to evolve straight from a trilobite to a kangaroo
that is such a good way of putting it!!! good luck!
Yes yes yes yes. As someone who was just on submission, take extra care of yourself in the month(s) ahead. Being on submission during the fall of democracy is...a wild ride.
ty for reading & for the well wishes! white-knuckling it through the fall of democracy!!!
This was such a good read! Particularly on the culture of silence around going on submission. Same as when you're employed - the only person benefitting from you not chatting salaries with your colleagues is your employer.
THIS IS SO GOOD JEANNA THANK YOU FOR WRITING IT!!!!!!
thank you!!!! i appreciate you so much!!!
JEANNA YOU ABSOLUTE ROCKSTAR THIS IS EVERYTHING 💓
LOVE YOU