I have my first book from a major publisher coming out in July. It is a board book. Four months out, and the final PDF is going to the printers today. This is a time of joy. But also, a time of reflection. How did we finally get here? The publishing process changes by the minute, it seems, and is largely a mystery, even to those of us who FINALLY find ourselves as participants. I’m still finding my way through this fun part of the ride, but today I want you to see the struggle part.
It always feels like a struggle, sending manuscripts out into the void and often never hearing anything back (whether a confirmation of receipt or a quick “no thank you”). Bless my agent for sitting in it all with me, but oh boy, does it hurt. Editors have loads of manuscripts on their minds at one time, and we authors often only have one.
So, instead of talking anyone through my most recent acceptance for publication (especially as I’m still going through it), please enjoy a look into the rollercoaster of hope and despair that can also follow authors. If you have friends who are writers, they always need a hug, no matter who they are.
A Timeline of Hope and Suffering: Author Edition (MG Manuscript)
9/18/18 – First round of submissions sent out
3/20/22 – Manuscript submitted to this particular editor
5/3/22 – Editor requested revisions (without a contract or acquisition)
5/9/22 – Zoom conversation with editor
6/6/22 – Revised manuscript submitted to editor
9/22/22 – Additional notes received and a request for a second revision (without a contract or acquisition)
10/24/22 – Revised manuscript submitted to editor
12/8/22 – Checked in with editor
1/24/23 – Checked in with editor again; editor planned to speak with the editorial director
2/10/23 – Editorial director liked the first half of the book but needed to finish reading
3/2/23 – Editorial director requested edits (without a contract or acquisition)
3/9/23 – Editorial notes returned to author
3/30/23 – Edits sent back to editor
4/24/23 – Author was asked for another round of edits. Although the editor loved the changes, she was unsure whether the marketing team or publisher would accept the manuscript
5/5/23 – Phone call scheduled for the following week to discuss changes and possible self-marketing efforts
5/8/23 – Google Meet with editor to discuss next steps
5/9/23 – Marketing suggestions sent to editor, including an editorial plan and comp titles
5/21/23 – Author completed the initial fourth round of edits (still awaiting follow-up from Zoom call about next steps)
5/22/23 – Two weeks after Google Meet with no communication
5/31/23 – Fourth revised draft sent to editor without any contract or formal commitment
8/1/23 – Editorial assistant requested access to the most recent draft (submitted in May) in order to review it
8/15/23 – Editorial assistant said the book would go to an editorial meeting late the following week
9/28/23 – Editor informed author and agent that the editorial assistant loved the latest version and that the editorial director would now read the draft (no update on the editorial meeting)
9/29/23 – Informed that editorial meetings are informal and often postponed. Editorial assistant had presented his thoughts to the editor and editorial director the previous week. Editorial director hoped to read the new manuscript within two weeks
10/19/23 – Agent emailed editor to check on the manuscript’s status with the editorial director
10/30/23 – Agent followed up again after receiving no response
11/2/23 – Editor said the editorial director had not finished reading but planned to send the manuscript to the group publisher and marketing manager the following week (with a possible response not until February)
11/3/23 – Editor said she did not need anything further at the moment, though a title change would likely need to be discussed
1/4/24 – Agent emailed editor to check in and ask whether anything further was needed before a verdict (e.g., title change suggestions)
2/29/24 – Agent requested an update. Editor replied that she planned to check in with the group publisher and senior marketing manager late the following week
3/20/24 – Two-year mark since the original submission to this publisher, still with no official response
4/2/24 – Agent emailed editor to confirm whether the manuscript was still under review. Editor replied that she had followed up the previous week and that more review time was needed; one colleague was currently covering two roles and had not been able to approve anything
6/4/24 – Marketing team and senior leadership officially declined the manuscript
Rejection received:
807 days since submission
763 days since the first request for revisions
621 days since the second request for revisions
459 days since the editorial director requested edits
407 days since edits were requested to make the manuscript more marketable
392 days since submission of marketing suggestions, editorial plan, and comp titles (including a 72-day period of no communication before hearing from the editorial assistant)
215 days since being told the editorial director had not finished reading
152 days from the editorial director receiving the manuscript to the final rejection
And even this is a lucky story. Because someone replied, and someone actually read the writing, and someone even enjoyed it. But the silence and the heartbreak isn’t something that gets talked about as much as the joy and those “overnight” successes. So above I offer a detailed and specific example. A look at what is a large part of the journey. I am thrilled to be going down the path to “book in my hand” publication. But every book is a labor of love and an uphill climb, and each journey is different. But few of them are fairy tales. They are real life.
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