Waiting for a book deal? Here's What You Can Control
The wait to get a book deal, whether via signing with an agent or submission to a publishing house is an emotional minefield for most writers. Publishing has changed dramatically over the last years - wait times are significantly longer, ghosting is common. The overall feeling is often lack of control. However, there are some things you can do to claw back the power. Focus on these and they'll give you a sense of control, making the whole frustrating process a little easier.
Understand that Writing is a Profession, Not a Hobby
Hard to do, I know. Especially when you’re not getting paid, and there’s no guarantee you ever will. However, the one thing that all published writers do is show up consistently.
If you sit around waiting to be hit by inspiration, I wish you all the luck in the world, but believe me, it won’t work. Instead, you need to write as often as you can. Snatch hours wherever there’s space in your life. Get out of bed early and write, write while waiting in the car for your kids, write in your lunch hour (a personal favourite of mine back in the day).
Learn everything you can about the industry. I am guessing Ralph Lauren knows more about fashion than just how to design a great tailored blazer! Be like Ralph, or any successful businessperson. Read about the industry, follow industry insiders on social media, and listen to podcasts. Wherever you can find information about the book industry, soak it up. It will stand to you in the long run.
Get to Know Your Audience
Successful writers know who they're writing for. They can easily answer the following questions:
It's hard to keep going when the rejections pile up and the silence gets loud but the writers who get published are the ones who don't quit. Sign up below to learn the simple things I wish I'd known about to make the process bearable.
- Who will buy this book?
- Why does it matter now?
- What problem, emotion or curiosity does it tap into?
Great writing matters. But market awareness matters too, and that’s what you need when approaching agents and editors. You need to be able to answer these questions for every pitch you make. Learn how to do that now.
Build Relationships Before You Need Them
Book deals don’t happen in isolation, nor do successful book launches. Build those key relationships now, no matter what stage of your writing career you’re at. Build a network of other writers, online and in person. Attend industry events and talk to people. Engage with readers, reviewers, and other writers in your genre.
Building relationships takes time, so use the time you have now because, once you get that deal, the pressure will be on to turn in edits. You may be faced with a deadline for your next book. The one silver lining to the cloud of being unagented is that it is likely the only time in your career when you won't be writing to a deadline.
There aren’t many things that work to your advantage when your eyes are on the prize of a book deal, but this is one of them. Don’t ignore it.
Keep Going Longer Than Everyone Else
This is the biggest, and probably the most difficult, one. Most writers quit too early.
The authors who eventually get signed are usually the ones who keep improving after rejection, rewriting after feedback, and continuing after silence. I thought that once I signed with my first agent, I was on a clear road to publication. I wasn’t.
It took accepting that my ‘best book’, or so I thought, was dead on submission. I had to dust myself off, write a whole other book, and find a whole other agent. It’s shit. Sorry, but it is. But it's far more common than most people realise. In fact, knowing what I know now, I’d say it is normal.
I strongly recommend that you reconcile yourself with that as soon as you can and JUST KEEP GOING.
My final thought on this: talent matters. But consistency, clarity, relationships and resilience are what separate aspiring writers from published authors.
If you’re serious about getting a book deal, put serious thought into building these.
Which of these four do you think most writers struggle with? I’d love to hear about your experience. Send me a message via my contacts page
