Going Out on Submission

This week has been incredibly busy because my fantastic literary agent, Jessica Schmeidler, is sending one of my middle-grade series out on submission. This is always an exciting and anxious time, but this time I feel we are far more prepared than we have ever been in the past. I expect incredible responses, and I know future readers will enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I wanted to shed some light on the submission process for anyone interested in having a book published one day. Please learn from the mistakes I’ve made, so your experience is as painless as possible.

  1. It’s not a race. Read that again. One of my biggest mistakes was putting deadlines on my journey. There is nothing wrong with having a time frame for specific goals (like writing 500 words a day until the manuscript is completed), but setting a deadline for when you’re going to be published puts unnecessary pressure on you, and the process is already stressful.

  2. Have a clear vision. Who is your audience for your book? If you don’t know, I suggest figuring this out fast. You should read competitive books (comps) in the genre and age group you are writing for and figure out how your book stands out in the sea of all the books written on that topic. What sets you apart? What is your niche? Having a plan and focusing on this is key to placing your book with the right literary agent or publishing editor.

  3. No means next opportunity. The writing business is rough, and you have to understand rejection is part of the process. It stings, but if you use it as a way to hone your craft and grow your talent, it is crucial to the journey. Don’t think that a no means you are on the wrong path. Instead, think of each rejection as a way to get you closer to your yes. This business is subjective, though I’m sure you will hate hearing that in a form rejection email. Don’t stop pressing forward when this happens. Reach out to someone in the writing community, and allow them to welcome you to the family. LOL!

  4. The endgame is not the goal. I’m sure you’ve heard it said that it’s about the journey and not the destination, but this is true, friends. For too long, I focused on publishing, and I wished I could fast-forward the process to reach my objective. I’m not saying to forget your dream, but understand that the journey is meant to build you. This will come with pressing and breaking down your ego. Allow this to happen, friends. You will be a better human after this process. I promise.

  5. Write. Read. Repeat. To be a great author, you need to read and write. Don’t focus on the mountain-sized task of writing an entire book. Focus on one word at a time. Start somewhere, and know that the more you show up for your dream, the closer you will get to making it a reality. Consistency is key.

I hope these tips on the submission process helped you. Send me a message on where you are in your journey, and let me know when you get your first rejection so I can welcome you to the family of authors. :)

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Consistency is Key