13 Comments

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!

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Thank you! And sending you all the luck and good wishes right back! <3

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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?"

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As a writer currently “on submission” with her first book— this was so valuable a read.

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I'm so glad! And GOOD LUCK, it is so rough out there! Keep your head up!

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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.

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ty for reading & for the well wishes! white-knuckling it through the fall of democracy!!!

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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.

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THIS IS SO GOOD JEANNA THANK YOU FOR WRITING IT!!!!!!

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thank you!!!! i appreciate you so much!!!

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JEANNA YOU ABSOLUTE ROCKSTAR THIS IS EVERYTHING 💓

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LOVE YOU

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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

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