I was convinced that this blog post would be announcing I’d found an agent. But (deep sigh) alas, I’m not.
Out of 28 submissions to agents, one (after reading my first few pages) asked if I could send her the rest of the manuscript. Excited? Of course, I was. But she got back to me weeks later to say, it wasn’t for her.
Out of 28 submissions to agents, one (after reading my first few pages) asked if I could send her the rest of the manuscript. Excited? Of course, I was. But she got back to me weeks later to say, it wasn’t for her.
Mmm … could it have been because
of the sex scenes?
of the sex scenes?
A few others said lovely things about the writing, the premise, but still declined on offering me representation.
I’ve worked out that finding an agent equates well with job hunting.
It’s far from over, but I’m taking a breather and casting my net a little out there by entering the odd competition and pitching to independent publishers, especially ones calling for Black writers to submit.
Doing that has, so far, led to Nothing Stays In The Dark Forever making the long list for the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2020. Fingers crossed on getting through to the next stage.
Watch this space for more on my submission journey.
If you're a writer, what's your journey been like? If not, tell me what you think anyway.
I’ve worked out that finding an agent equates well with job hunting.
- You send the job applications out to loads of companies, hoping for an interview. In submission world this equates with the hope for a request for the full manuscript.
- Next, you hope to be offered the job. In submission world, this equates with hope for an offer of representation.
- Having been given the job, you’re happy to have passed the probation period. This equates with securing an editor.
- Then having passed your probation period, you get a permanent contract. In submission world, this equates with securing a publisher.
It’s far from over, but I’m taking a breather and casting my net a little out there by entering the odd competition and pitching to independent publishers, especially ones calling for Black writers to submit.
Doing that has, so far, led to Nothing Stays In The Dark Forever making the long list for the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2020. Fingers crossed on getting through to the next stage.
Watch this space for more on my submission journey.
If you're a writer, what's your journey been like? If not, tell me what you think anyway.
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