By Jean Burgess
Despite joining writers’ organizations, taking multiple webinars, reading a plethora of online articles about getting my debut fiction published, I fell into the many traps that novice writers succumb to when too eager to get their “baby” published. Through learning from my mistakes, being open to the advice of veteran writers and industry professionals, and realigning to my own writer’s purpose, I found my way to the ultimate goal: getting That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel published by Apprentice House Press on April 9, 2024.
Writing and Completing the Book!
I began writing my debut fiction in April 2020. The idea had been rattling around in my brain for several years so the timing was perfect to begin to create the supportive world, characters, and plot. By the end of 2020, I had a first draft and sent it to my developmental editor. By early 2021, I farmed it out to several beta readers. I used all this feedback to take a huge swing at a first revision during spring 2021.
It sounds like I did everything right except…
I was so excited to have completed a novel that I chose to ignore a nagging feeling that the book was lacking something.
The “Learning the Industry” Process
Next, I joined the Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) and dove into learning everything I could about the industry. Querying. Pitching. Agents. Traditional publishing versus self-publishing. Royalties. ISBN. Copyright. I needed to get educated…FAST. Webinars. Online articles. Subscriptions to writers’ blogs. Jane Friedman’s books. You name it. Finally, I felt armed and ready to get That Summer She Found Her Voice published.
The Querying and Pitching Process
I began by researching agents who aligned with my genre and starting the querying process. I was super organized, choosing to use an excel sheet to keep track of each agent/agency/response. After ten or so rejects or no responses, I’d tweak my query letter (just like all the experts advise) and repeat the process.
In October of 2021, I attended the MWA Conference and signed up to meet three agents in person, where I had ten minutes to pitch my book. Each agent asked for pages for additional review. I was on cloud nine. None of those requests led to anything. I was on cloud zero.
The Reflection Process
By the following spring, I began to self-reflect: What is this nagging feeling that I keep ignoring about the book? And what exactly is my goal for the book? Are there other paths for publication? Would indie or small press be better for a Retro themed book like mine?
Getting Back on Track
In dealing with the nagging feeling, I went back to the drawing board and took another huge revision swing. I strengthened the protagonist’s arc, added suspense in several areas, and edited it for sensory details (something I always need to work on). Then, I asked two new beta readers to review it (writers I’d met through the MWA). Their feedback was fabulous, leading to more editing.
Another result of my self-reflection was that I realigned with my writer’s purpose. I’m a believer that every writer needs a strong writer’s purpose to guide their writing. Reflecting on questions like “What motivates me to write?” and “What are my goals when I write?” have helped me find that compass. I want my writing to help others and to start conversations. Looking back, getting an agent/big publisher (which would have been nice) wasn’t the only way to align with my purpose.
The Small Press Pivot
Here’s what happened when I pivoted on pursuing a small press publisher.
First, in the summer of 2022 I wrote directly to a small press publisher in my region. The nice thing about small or indie press publishers is that you don’t need an agent to query them in most cases. The publisher of Secant Publishing emailed me a truly kind rejection but that wasn’t all. He wrote two pages of feedback as well as information about the publishing industry. How generous. We continue to bump into each other at conferences.
Next, I attended the fall 2022 MWA conference but only registered to pitch to two small press representatives. The reps for Apprentice House Press loved the idea of my book and encouraged me to submit the entire manuscript. The book was accepted in December 2022; a contract was completed at the end of January 2023; and the book was published in April 2024.
Conclusion
I could not be happier with the result of my publishing journey for That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel, despite its many twists and turns. I learned that I was too eager when I began the pitching process, that I needed to listen to that nagging feeling telling me that the book was not ready, and that being in alignment with my writer’s purpose will always serve me best. Whether you decide to query agents, self-publish, or pursue a small or indie press, I hope my experience has been helpful.
Bio: Jean Burgess is a writer, editor, and playwright with a background in theatre and education. Her debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel, is available at Bookshop.org and other online retailers. Follow her publishing journey by signing up for her monthly newsletter at http://www.jeanburgessauthor.com.
