Waiting to Exhale

Congrats!

Your manuscript is complete, and you’ve mustered the guts to query agents and publishers. Woohoo! Cue the fireworks and breathe! Believe it or not, drafting the story is the easy and fun part, getting your baby published is the hard part. Next step, you must draft a dazzling query letter, one that hopefully catches the eye of a literary agent. It contains all the essentials including: an enticing hook that makes an agent have an “aha” moment, a concise yet compelling synopsis of your amazeballs novel, your stupendous bio that leaves an agent feeling confident in your writing experience and your capacity to help market your novel, a few relevant comp titles, and a call to action. Booyah! You go, aspiring author!

Get Cracking!

After combing the Internet, you’ve tracked down a bunch of literary agents who are accepting unsolicited queries in your genre. Fanfriggentastic! This is an exciting time, kiddo. Fire up the enthusiasm and get down to business. Querying takes time because agents and publishers have their own unique submission guidelines that you must follow. Some only want the query letter, others want the query, a 1–3-page synopsis, and the first 10 pages of your manuscript, a handful ask for the query and the first chapter. Most do not accept attachments so the entire kit and caboodle must go in the body of the email. You’re raring to go so you sort it all out and embark on a query frenzy. Phew!

Wine glasses up! Champagne if you prefer! (over 21 only)

In most cases the querying process takes longer than you thought. (Insert expletive) Here's mine, bookity-book! You soldier on giving the task your all. When you’re finished for the day you kick back, relax, throw your fist in the air with a whoop-whoop, and revel in your accomplishments. And you should because you’ve typed “THE END” on the last page of your manuscript and moved onto the query letter. Most writers don’t make it this far so here’s a toast to you! Clank those wine glasses!

Buzz-Kill!

You cross your fingers and toes hoping the publishing gods see your worth. How could they not? You love your story and the unique characters you’ve created. Your protagonist and their cohorts live in your head. You take them with you wherever you go, but a month without a word turns into three. You feverishly check your email every day for responses and . . .  Crickets!

Keeping the faith!

Now what? Don’t despair my darlings, though it's a tough place to be this is normal procedure. Resign yourself to the fact that this querying process is out of your control. You’ve put your baby into the hands of a literary agency or publishing house so you must trust the process and give it time. There’s plenty to do while you’re cursing the powers that be and watching paint dry. Get to it!

Be a busy bee!

Step away from writing and divert your attention with amusing or worthwhile pursuits. Get busy binge-watching a new series. Go away for the weekend. Meet friends for dinner. Paint, get back into an exercise routine, cook something special, or go on a date with your hubby or significant other. You get the picture!

Chillax and read!

Read that book that’s been on your mind. Pick up a classic that you loved and read it again. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Reading makes one a better writer. While you’re reading, take note of how the author handles plot, sensory details, setting, sentence structure, scenes, word choice, dialogue, character development, and character names. Pay attention to nuances and foreshadowing. Look at how the author balances prose and dialogue. Study it, remember it, and put it into practice the next time you sit down to write. Read on!

Big red bow!

You typed “The End” on the last page of your manuscript. It’s neatly wrapped in pretty paper and a fancy big red bow. You even sealed it with a kiss and believe it’s bound to be a best seller. Not so fast. Don’t strut around like a peacock thinking you’ve got this in the bag. Breaking into the publishing industry is difficult. Continue to polish and edit your manuscript. That’s right! There’s always room for improvement. Write, edit, repeat!

What fresh hell is this?!

Take a gander at your query and synopsis with fresh eyes. Ask yourself if there’s anything you can do to make them better. Get the specifics about the dreaded query letter by clicking the link. Though some agents may not ask for a synopsis, many do, so if you haven’t drafted one yet buckle down and grab the nitty-gritties by clicking the synopsis link. Hop to it!

Catch an agent!

Hunt down more agents. Remember, this is a numbers game. The more you query the better your chances of hearing back. Create an Excel file for agents and publishers. Record their names and the date you queried. Add their responses or rejections. You may also wish to create a QueryTracker account to keep things up to date. Happy hunting!

Shift the focus!

If you  haven’t done it already, hit up some alpha and beta readers to peruse your manuscript. They’ll tell you what they think of your story, dish out constructive feedback, help you fill plot holes, and lay out what works and what doesn’t. You can let their constructive feedback sink in and make the changes you agree with or let it roll off your back. If the feedback is consistent among readers, you might want to consider it. After all, you want your book to be the best it can be. Work it! 

Pivot to something new!

Start a new project while you wait to hear back from agents. Many writers have a plethora of ideas swirling around in their heads. Create an outline for a new book or get right to it and let your fingers do the typing. If you don't have enough ideas to draft a new novel, write a novella or other narrative. Draft a short story or compile a book of poems. Lay the first stones for a compendium of your novel. Add to it every day. It's a great way to keep track of all the essentials of your story. Create a save-for-later file. Save all of the things you didn't end up using in your book; characters, scenes, plot, descriptions, etc. Submit an essay for an upcoming anthology you've had your eye on. Join an online writing platform, like Medium or Substack and add to it with stories or articles you've written. Start an author newsletter or blog to connect with future readers and build an audience. Make a vision board to alert the universe to your dreams. It's fun! Diving into a new endeavor will help distract from the waiting game. Don’t slack, hustle!

Strap in for an emotional rollercoaster ride!

Find a sympathetic ear. Commiserate with a supportive partner, friend, or fellow writer. If you’re part of a writing group vent your frustration there and ask for advice about how to cope with the ups and downs of being a writer and trying to get published. Join an online writing community. You might be surprised that you are not alone. There are others out there in various stages of the publishing process who can help shoulder your woes. Someday you’ll be in a position to mentor or help other struggling aspiring authors. Breathe my darlings!

Don’t go down the rabbit hole!

Though research is essential when drafting a novel because it creates an air of authenticity, stay away from investigating famous authors while waiting to hear back from agents. Every writer has their own writing voice and style. I caution you to abstain from scrutinizing your personal writing style, Avoid the Googling trap; the what-if questions, the how-I-landed-an-agent stories, and the seemingly overnight success of best-selling authors. Trust me, you will drive yourself crazy. I liken it to Googling medical conditions when you’re feeling under the weather. After reading all the possibilities, you will think you have the most horrible disease, but you probably don’t.

All the articles, stories, and opinions the publishing world and its authors have to offer may lead you to start comparing yourself to others. Don't! That is their story, their circumstances, their reality. Who knows whether they got swept up into the perfect publishing storm and are sharing their incredibly fortunate outcome while leaving out their years of struggles, hair-pulling, rejection, and tears. What worked for one author may not work for you and your novel. Snub the snake pit!

Take a U-turn!

The traditional publishing route is challenging, and it can take years to land an agent. If the waiting game is taking too long, look into self-publishing or hybrid publishing. Do your homework and  research how to publish on Amazon or find a reputable hybrid company you feel comfortable working with. Exhale!