I just wanted to thank you guys. Your videos are so appreciated. I’ve been out on sub for 6+ months. You just reiterated everything my awesome agent said. I’ve started and completed 3 new novels since being on sub - all 3 agent approved 😜 If I wasn’t so consumed with writing, I definitely would have gone nuts by now.
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm on submission with a novel for the first time right now, and it's been...an exercise in mental resilience? The book has been out there for around 6 months and we're still waiting to hear back from a lot of the editors I was most excited about. (Cue obsessive inbox-checking.) My agent told me part of the long wait is that a lot of houses are still playing catch-up because of the pandemic, and I know a bunch of other authors who have been out for a comparable amount of time or longer this year as well. This peek into the editorial acquisitions process, and your takes on it, were exactly what I needed to hear today!
As always, You both provide new writers to the industry with insights that encourage and clarify our expectations. Your videos and information have helped me so much. And I love feeling like I get to know you and bookends overall.
Lol, I love this video, because both my ms are almost finished, and I will be sending them to a few literary agents like yourselves. I know it's going to take a few weeks before you guys reply, so I have already decided that I will go back to painting again. I so enjoy your fun, informative videos. Your positive energy is welcoming. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.
As for writing another book when you're waiting to hear back, what if your next book is a sequel to the book that's out on submission? I'd always understood that you shouldn't write a series until the first book is sold.
I was only on submission once, but forgetting about it was as possible as stopping breathing. Also, tell me again how anything ever gets sold???!!! xoxo
Hello again. I do watch most of your vlogs and when I see/hear something not settling in my head, I ask for clarification... and I hope you don't mind. So, here I go; what does an author do after the agent submits the book to an editor? Mr. McGowan enumerates a number of things including writing the next book. Ms. Faust says, 'but not without... nah...nah..., nah, we know we can't sell.' Ooh, so the author talks to agent Faust about his next book, and she decides otherwise, is the author free to go to another agency?
Hi! When an author is ready to query, I believe most newbie writer would select maybe three or five agents he/she thinks are the best to query first. Say one of those agents think he could sell the book. Now, will that agent also select the best house to submit to? Does he/she submit to the 'big five' or does he/she submit just to a house he thinks will surely buy it?
Hi there! Many agents do "rounds" of submissions, and their submission strategy will change agent to agent and book to book. They may do a mix of "big" houses and "small" or they may start with the big houses and work towards the small. But most agents know there's no such thing as a sure sale, just a hunch, so if they're taking on a book it means they truly believe they will be able to sell it and won't just submit to places that they think are going to buy it right off the bat
Wait a sec. If I sold a book, book one of a series, wouldn’t it be safe to assume I should be trucking on my sequel? Sure I’d talk with my agent, because I love speaking to my agent. When I have an agent. In the future.
Hi! While it's likely your next book in the series would probably get picked up, it's never a guarantee if you only sold one book of the series and will almost always be based on performance (or expected performance) of the first book. So, it's definitely worth strategizing about that with your agent so you don't spend too much time on a project before you're for sure going to get rewarded for it :)
Very helpful information, as always! I'm looking forward to the day I learn an editor likes my book.
I just wanted to thank you guys. Your videos are so appreciated. I’ve been out on sub for 6+ months. You just reiterated everything my awesome agent said. I’ve started and completed 3 new novels since being on sub - all 3 agent approved 😜 If I wasn’t so consumed with writing, I definitely would have gone nuts by now.
Thanks for this kind note, Shannon!
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm on submission with a novel for the first time right now, and it's been...an exercise in mental resilience? The book has been out there for around 6 months and we're still waiting to hear back from a lot of the editors I was most excited about. (Cue obsessive inbox-checking.) My agent told me part of the long wait is that a lot of houses are still playing catch-up because of the pandemic, and I know a bunch of other authors who have been out for a comparable amount of time or longer this year as well. This peek into the editorial acquisitions process, and your takes on it, were exactly what I needed to hear today!
You got this!
Thank you! :)
Thanks guys❤ Its a process 🙏
You run a good show with plenty of advisory tips for writers. Thank you
As always, You both provide new writers to the industry with insights that encourage and clarify our expectations.
Your videos and information have helped me so much. And I love feeling like I get to know you and bookends overall.
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Thank you and God bless you.
Great information. So no news can be good news I guess, lol
It can be!
Yeh.. sounds right. ❤🙏
Lol, I love this video, because both my ms are almost finished, and I will be sending them to a few literary agents like yourselves. I know it's going to take a few weeks before you guys reply, so I have already decided that I will go back to painting again. I so enjoy your fun, informative videos. Your positive energy is welcoming. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.
Great information, thank you!
Thank you! I feel like I can see a bit of Oz's ankles now.
As for writing another book when you're waiting to hear back, what if your next book is a sequel to the book that's out on submission? I'd always understood that you shouldn't write a series until the first book is sold.
As a full time writer, I forgive you, James. :)
I was only on submission once, but forgetting about it was as possible as stopping breathing. Also, tell me again how anything ever gets sold???!!! xoxo
Ha!
Hello again. I do watch most of your vlogs and when I see/hear something not settling in my head, I ask for clarification... and I hope you don't mind. So, here I go; what does an author do after the agent submits the book to an editor? Mr. McGowan enumerates a number of things including writing the next book. Ms. Faust says, 'but not without... nah...nah..., nah, we know we can't sell.' Ooh, so the author talks to agent Faust about his next book, and she decides otherwise, is the author free to go to another agency?
I could never be a literary agent or editor. It takes me forever to read a book.
Hi! When an author is ready to query, I believe most newbie writer would select maybe three or five agents he/she thinks are the best to query first. Say one of those agents think he could sell the book. Now, will that agent also select the best house to submit to? Does he/she submit to the 'big five' or does he/she submit just to a house he thinks will surely buy it?
Hi there! Many agents do "rounds" of submissions, and their submission strategy will change agent to agent and book to book. They may do a mix of "big" houses and "small" or they may start with the big houses and work towards the small. But most agents know there's no such thing as a sure sale, just a hunch, so if they're taking on a book it means they truly believe they will be able to sell it and won't just submit to places that they think are going to buy it right off the bat
Wait a sec. If I sold a book, book one of a series, wouldn’t it be safe to assume I should be trucking on my sequel? Sure I’d talk with my agent, because I love speaking to my agent. When I have an agent. In the future.
Hi! While it's likely your next book in the series would probably get picked up, it's never a guarantee if you only sold one book of the series and will almost always be based on performance (or expected performance) of the first book. So, it's definitely worth strategizing about that with your agent so you don't spend too much time on a project before you're for sure going to get rewarded for it :)