Don't just wait

It is easy to think that when you sign with an agent you have made it as a writer, but publishing is one long waiting game. When one achievement is ticked off, the wait starts over again. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of this, but there are things you can do. Being an author is a competitive career with more people trying to get published every year, so waiting by the phone will never be enough. You have to constantly work on your writing CV. 

Traditional publishing is not for the weak. One big deal doesn’t mean another. Being on submission can take far longer than you think; I even know people who got a book deal after 18 months. That’s 18 months you can spend tipping the odds in your favour. If you ask writers how to survive being on submission, or how to wait for edits, we talk a lot about crying and drinking wine. It’s not bad advice—for one moment. But really the key to thriving in publishing is not to give up. Keep up to date with industry news. Subscribe to The Bookseller. Follow publishers on social media and interact with them. Make sure you keep up with your writing groups. I am a member of a debut group (class of 2022), a querying group and a submission group on X, WhatsApp and Instagram. The amount of times these people have saved my life and sanity cannot be counted. The writing community is a supportive place, but don’t be transactional. Buy, read and review other writer’s books. Meet up in person. Build your community. It comes back tenfold. 

Being on submission can take far longer than you think; I even know people who got a book deal after 18 months. That’s 18 months you can spend tipping the odds in your favour.

Talking of social media, if the exodus on X after the American election taught us anything it’s that investing in one social account is not a good idea. So it could well be time to go old school with a mailing list or start a Substack. Hundreds of engaged, loyal readers on a mailing list is worth more than a social media account with thousands of distracted users. To get people to sign up to your mailing list offer a freebie, like a short story, and do regular competition giveaways. Try to do it monthly, or only when you have news. People are busy and overwhelmed; don’t give them a reason to unsubscribe. Publish short stories, or even entire novels a chapter at a time. You might even get some paid subscribers and earn some money, too.

In short: building an author brand is essential, because publishers have a limited budget. If you already have an audience and can save them money on marketing it improves your chances of success. It can take the smallest thing for you to be chosen over another author. So don’t stop at social media; think of all the ways you can possibly make yourself visible.

The first is an author website. It’s a holding area and an online business card, so make sure it looks and sounds good. Podcasts have taken off in recent years and are a fantastic way to get your name out there and network, too. Attending book launches and literary festivals will also build your community and keep you in the know. Pitch publications to keep your name out there and have your most recent book mentioned in your by-line.

Keep studying the craft of writing as well. Experiment with short stories or flash pieces and send them to publications and enter competitions. A competition win, and getting pieces published, will show you are a serious writer who is working at their career and building a following. For women, Myslexia is a fantastic resource and they have a lot of sections you can pitch. 

Writing more books is never a bad idea either, of course. At some point you may have a backlog—like me and my five unpublished novels waiting for their turn to be launched into the laps of the publishing gods—but when you sign that deal, you’re going to be happy you have more than one book ready to go. Writing to deadline is stressful, so make the most of your freedom. There is no such thing as a wasted book, either you learn a lot writing it or you can get a deal for it later. I got a publishing deal for a book four years after the initial round of rejections.

Having the courage to pursue a career in traditional publishing is commendable, but to thrive we need to put the power into our own hands. One final thing I find also really helps is to keep a file of my good reviews and feedback and read it when I am having a wobble. This game is a long haul, and you need to keep up your self-belief if you’re going to see it through.