“So you wrote a book. What now?” (I attempt to explain my publishing journey to family and friends)
Most people think an author writes a book, then sends it to a publisher and asks them to print it. Then, BAM. It’s on the shelf at the bookstore a few months later. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy!
If you’re not in the publishing industry yourself, you may be puzzled by words like “querying” or “submission.” You may ask why writers have agents, or why I say I’m an author even though my book isn’t published yet.
I’ve learned a lot about the industry and traditional publishing process over the last few years, but there’s still so much I don’t know (cue favorite saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know”).
Though I’m still very much in the learning process myself, it occurred to me recently that family and friends new to my journey may be confused. Fret not! Here’s what I hope will be a quick and helpful recap and guide based on my personal experience thus far:
***Please note, this is my limited perspective. I’m not a publishing industry expert by any means***
Step One: Writing the Book
This involves everything from initial brainstorming to drafting to revising to getting feedback from others. It took me over a decade, several manuscripts, and countless revisions to get my story right.
Step Two: Drafting a Query Package
When I felt like my manuscript was the best it could possibly be, I prepared to “query.” What is a query, you ask?
The simple answer: a query letter is a pitch about a book or project, written in a very specific email form, and sent to literary agents in hopes of securing representation.
A query has written and unwritten rules of form, and is often a confusing and frustrating process for writers (often very painful and oddly similar to dating). It should always include the genre, subgenres, title, and word count, typically in the introduction paragraph. Some writers include a logline (a one sentence summary like what you see when you hover over a show on Netflix) and/or similar titles, called “comp” titles. The query then dives into a “book jacket” summary of the book that doesn’t give away the ending but introduces the stakes of the story. Queries usually end with a paragraph about the author’s writing credentials and relevant background.
A query package also includes sample pages (typically just the first ten pages) from the manuscript and sometimes a synopsis of the entire book. Each agent has specific requirements to submit, but I found agents typically require a combination of a query letter, synopsis, sample pages, author bio, social handles, target audience summary, etc.
This may sound like a short list of items, but it is time-consuming and very difficult to get right. It’s an awful lot like a college application.
Step Three: Querying
This perfected, polished “query package” is then sent to agents via email, submission form, or in-person/virtual pitch session. This is where things start to get serious.
Securing an agent is difficult. Agents get hundreds to thousands of individual queries a month but can typically only take on a handful of new clients in any given year. Writers aren’t competing against each other, but the numbers game can be tough.
I don’t have specific stats, but it often takes authors years or multiple projects before signing with an agent. I know this all too well (you can read my full story in the blog here). I first queried in 2014 and didn’t sign with an agent until 2024 — a decade later. It’s about talent and skill and the quality of a project, but it also comes down to luck and timing.
Some authors have quick-timeline querying success stories, but for most, it is a long and emotionally draining experience. It is incredibly humbling and often makes writers question their skills and ideas. But as we say in this industry, a published author is simply an author who didn’t quit.
Step Four: Getting Agent Interest
After sending a query, an author will receive one of three responses:
A rejection (a form letter or helpful feedback, depending on the agent)
A CNR (closed no-response, meaning there was no response at all), or
A request to see the manuscript (this is called a “full” or “partial,” depending on the number of pages requested).
It often takes several weeks to months to hear back, and most queries result in a form letter rejection or CNR. Authors hope for a partial or full request – and getting one is a big deal. It’s not a guarantee of representation by any means, but it’s one giant leap closer. Authors then hope a full turns into Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket — an offer of representation.
After receiving an offer of rep, authors typically notify other agents who have a query or full manuscript. If there are multiple offers, an author must choose who they want to sign with. This process typically takes 2-3 weeks.
Step Five: Signing with an Agent & Revisions
Then when an author has decided on an agent, they sign a contract and make the relationship official. This is typically for a career and not just a singular book.
After signing the contract, an author and agent work together to revise the book to near-perfection. This could take anywhere from weeks to months (I took months, y’all).
Step Six: Going on Submission
This is the scary part (some of us call it “Querying 2.0”). Going “on sub” is similar to querying, except it’s the agent pitching editors at publishing houses on an author’s behalf.
An agent will send a pitch (email, live call, etc.) to editors at imprints of various publishing houses. Like querying, the author then waits and hopes for interest (a.k.a. a request for a full manuscript). But instead of ultimately securing representation, the agent and author hope for a book contract. This process can take anywhere from a few days or weeks after submitting (record time) to six months to a year plus (average, as I’ve heard). Once again, it’s talent, but it’s also timing and strategy.
Getting a “no” here hurts more than querying. If a book isn’t picked up, it is often “shelved” for the time being (so I’ve heard). Oftentimes authors submit these projects again after a different project is published and hope for a second chance. Until then, some authors refer to the original project as “died on submission.”
Step Seven: Selling the Book & Beyond
If an author is lucky enough to get a publishing deal, there’s a million complicated steps between signing on the dotted line and seeing a book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble (clearly I’m not there yet, but I’ll write a blog on this someday!) Typically, contract to release date takes two years. Yep, you read that right. Two years. Traditional publishing is not for the impatient.
Step Eight: Beginning Something New
While querying, or on submission, or while waiting for a book to be released (or anytime really), an author starts the next project. This is where we regain creativity and celebrate the craft we love.
Conclusion
Publishing is a very complicated process, but hopefully this helps make it a little more clear.
Though I have a long way to go, I’ve come so far and have so much to be grateful for, thanks in large part to so many people who have helped me. THANK YOU for supporting me and taking the time to learn a little bit more about this journey. I am so grateful you are here. Please subscribe to my newsletter for more updates on my journey!
Are you interested in writing or publishing? Do you have questions about the process for yourself? I’m happy to help however I can! Please reach out via my contact form.
