Writers on Submission: Coping Suggestions

Behold this purple agapanthus, almost ready to burst into bloom. Just like you with your book on submission! This post offers some advice and perspective for how to cope with this stage of your author career.

In 2023, I wrote a Medium article titled Being on Submission: A Writer’s Journey about what to expect when you’re on submission as an author. Being on submission (or “on sub” in publishing speak) basically refers to the phase in which your book is submitted by your agent to acquisition editors at publishing houses. As the Medium post relates, this can be a lengthy process. You’re waiting on editors who are quite busy, you know, editing books for authors already in their roster. And then they must read through newly submitted books to see if they want to move forward with those.

Beyond Your Control

Publishing is a BUSINESS, and this is one aspect of the business that is beyond the control of the author. An agent can’t speed up the process either. Editors work at the pace they work, and if the imprint is understaffed, it’s just going to take even longer. As editors respond to the submission, your agent will contact you to let you know about any results.

Everyone hopes for the the dream scenario: a book deal offer, or the frantic and exhilarating multi-offer scenario, resulting in Big Bucks for you. But the reason they make the news is because they’re rare. All you need is one book offer.

Celebrate Where You Are

Since this is a major step in one’s writing career, it is to be celebrated. Not very many writers make it this far. You’ve proven you have something well-written, vetted by your agent, and now you wait. Only it’s not fun to wait. Because if you’ve made it this far, surely you’re not far off from getting a book deal, right? Not so fast. It can take quite a long time. (I speak of an example in the Medium article.)

No matter what happens with your book on submission, keep this in mind: getting to this stage is a major achievement. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Congrats! Now, try not to obsess as days become weeks, weeks become months, and you start each day wondering if there’s news. What to do?

Some Ideas for the Waiting Phase

Check in less often. There comes at point at which you’ll start to get publisher responses. If it’s good news, hooray! If it’s a decline, don’t take it personally. It just means the publisher passed, and they’ll either tell you why or they won’t. It could be they already had something similar in the pipeline. Remember, publishing is a business, and there are only so many books that acquisition editors can give the go-ahead to each year.

Grieve any losses here. It can be so disehartening and disappointing to have your book declined after making it this far. But most published authors have been here: it’s normal, and I know you’re tiring of hearing this, but it’s business. That can feel like cold comfort, though. While it’s nothing personal, sometimes it can sure feel like it. After all, your book is a window into your soul. A rejection of your book feels like a rejection of YOU, which simply isn’t true. But keep in mind, this is one book. You are more than any book. You’re starting a whole career here. If your dream imprint said no this time, they might not in the future with a different book. Or perhaps you’ll get a book deal with a publisher you never anticipated, and it turns out to be just the direction your career needed.

Be Proactive with Yourself

Allow yourself to grieve the loss of getting a decline of your book. Then dust yourself off. Becuase the longer you stay in that moping phase, the less productive you’ll be in writing the next book. Which is absolutely a great plan. Start it now. Why? Because it’s going to occupy your thoughts. You likely won’t be able to submit a new book until after you hear how the first one’s going to go. So keep going. Use this next book as a spark to fuel your writing. Call it an act of defiance. Show the world you have more books in you. And the more you write, the better your future books will be.

If that’s too much, and you need a break from book writing, then I have a different idea for you. Write short stories! That’s my favorite trick when I need to step back from writing the Next Big Thing. Google open short story submissions. Throw yourself into these smaller tales! They help you hone your writing skills in a different way from longer books. Or consider writing non-fiction articles. Note there are paying markets out there for short fiction and non-fiction. Search for them! Get your name out in the world with more publications that could even bring in a bit of cash flow.

Stay Grounded While You Dream

While you’re on sub, you might have some pretty terrific flights of fancy. You might imagine getting the Big Deal, a seven figure advance, etc. and make the news in Bookseller or Publishers Marketplace or any other trades. It’s fun to think about! But do keep in mind that you also need to manage expectations. You’re in this for the long haul. It would be better for you to have a long career than be a flash in the pan. And if you become too mired in fanciful thoughts without working on something else, your personal flash could be a fizzle of disappointment if things don’t go your way.

Stop comparing yourself to other writers. Comparison is truly the thief of joy. You’re not competing with them. Compete with yourself, and make your writing stand out. It’s as unique as your own DNA. There is room for all at the writing table. Pull up a chair and get busy.

Work on Other Projects

The best way to cope with waiting is to make things, I’ve found. Not just writing. Food, art, crafts, household projects, planning for trips, playing video games, playing board games, painting, journaling—these all help occupy your thoughts. Talking with other writers helps tremendously as well. It helps put things into perspective, because no two paths to publishing are alike, and every author has felt the stings and the thrills of this mysterious phase of being “on sub.”

My Experience So Far

Since 2023, I’ve had two books on submission. One of them (dragon fantasy) was shelved so the other could proceed in its stage. (I talk about that disappointment HERE.) My agent has kept me apprised of any responses from publishers. For my latest submission (speculative thriller), we have had some declines, but many more still have not responded. I learned that this is very common, so I’ve eased up on worrying about it. I’m much more hopeful, and more resolved.

I am not one book. I am not two books. I am a writer, a maker of worlds, a dreamer, but also a pragmatist and realist. The only way to ensure I do get published is, guess what: to keep writing. I just finished writing a new novel (campy horror/sci-fi; going on submission this year) and I’m planning out a different, unrelated book after that. And more after that!

The Story Garden

You contain infinite blossoms of stories. This is a phase and it will pass, but your career holds amazing potential. Persistence is key. You will bloom as an author.

Write on!
Jendia