Top tips for soon-to-be published authors

So, you’ve just gone and done it - the seemingly impossible. The book you’ve been writing for months, years, perhaps even decades (and have probably been dreaming about for even longer) has found a home.

In the not too distant future, the words you bashed out on a keyboard, fuelled by Haribo gummy bears and caffeinated adrenaline; the world you built from sheer imagination alone and the characters who at one time felt as real to you as your own family, will be out there for others to consume and devour as they please.

The end goal is in sight. You’ve never felt a high like this.

Until you look at the date of publication on your contract.

TWO YEARS* from now.

What? You cry.

I can’t wait that long.

How the hell am I supposed to fill the time without spontaneously combusting?

*this is the average time between the deal and publication for authors who are traditionally published. Sometimes the time period can be considerably shorter (i.e. digital publishers tend to have faster turnarounds) or even longer, depending on individual publisher schedules.

Brief intro

I’m Mira V Shah, soon-to-be debut author of HER, due to be published by Hodder & Stoughton (an imprint of Hachette) in March 2023. If you read my previous post on the submission process, you’ll know that I secured my publishing deal in June 2021 after going on submission exactly six weeks earlier.

I’ve spent the last 14 months or so working with my brilliant editor to get my novel into tip top shape, and let’s just say that I’ve learnt one hell of a lot - not just about writing and editing, but also about the smoke and mirrors publishing process.

Now that they’ve pressed print on my early copies and there’s no turning back, I’ve decided to share my top tips for soon-to-be published authors - including how to manage the unrealistic expectations of your friends and family who will inevitably assume you’re going to become the next Gillian Flynn/Emily Henry/Stephen King [delete as appropriate] overnight.

1. Comparison is the thief of joy

Writer friends are amazing (shout out to my pals - too many to list but you know who you are!) They’ll be the first people you tell about all your victories (large and small). They’ll retweet all your news and genuinely be pleased for you. They’ll answer any questions you deem too stupid to bother your agent or editor with.

Find your people. They will serve you well.

But, and I say this with a monumental amount of love for the writing community, know that unless you are built like a robot, at some point in your journey, you will find yourself comparing your experience to theirs, and it won’t always be a positive one (for you).

So, how do you cope with the inevitable imposter syndrome?

Well, to some extent imposter syndrome is part of parcel of being a writer. It’s what drives us to keep writing/keep churning out those manuscripts in the hope that one day we’ll get our golden egg. That being said, it’s important to remember that no debut author journey is the same. Some will have foreign deals coming out of their ears. Others will have their debut coming out in e-book only. Some debuts will be hyped to the max - billboards, newspaper reviews, blurbs from famous authors. Others will develop a small but loyal readership.

This is blunt reality of the industry. It’s a commercial business, after all. Profit is king. Hype creates more hype. Success is as much about timing, trends (and money), as it is about talent. And once your manuscript becomes a commercially viable product, all control is lost.

But what you as the author can control, is how and to what extent this influences you. Remember why you’re here; where it all started? You were a writer first. You are still a writer. So, all you can do is write a book that you are proud of.

If you do that, your job is done.

2. Everything happens behind a closed curtain

When established authors talk about the extreme highs and the extreme lows of this industry, they aren’t exaggerating. Signing your first publishing deal falls into the former category. But the aftermath can often feel like a huge anticlimax, which leaves you questioning whether it actually happened - I found myself looking back at my emails just to double check I wasn’t dreaming!

Firstly, it can take months (or in my case almost a year) before you are able to speak openly about your deal. This is a strategic decision primarily dictated by your publisher. Secondly, you have a mammoth editing task ahead of you, which can feel overwhelming and exhausting, especially if you’ve already spent years writing your book. You may even question whether you’ll actually reach publication - I know I did once or twice.

Another common experience is feeling forgotten about - like your deal is old news. Weeks and months can go by without you hearing from your editor/publisher.

This is all normal.

If you feel this way, remind yourself that the publisher bought your novel. Therefore, it is in their interest to ensure that it succeeds. I guarantee you, that whilst at times it may feel like there has been limited progress, the cogs are constantly turning behind the scenes - conversations will be happening that you, as the author will not be privy to.

3. If you aren’t sure, always ask

One of the strangest things I’ve experienced since getting a publishing deal is the disconnect that exists between publishers and debut authors. Publishers are so experienced that there is a level of assumed knowledge that just doesn’t marry up for debut authors, the vast majority of whom are completely new to the industry.

But, and I cannot stress this enough, they will (or at least they should be) eager to help. So, if you find yourself permanently confused during meetings, or have a list of burning questions the length of Italy, then please don’t keep them to yourself and panic later, ask.

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

I should know, I’ve asked them all.

4. You are the brand

One of the most shocking realisations for debut authors is that almost overnight they are expected to go from anonymous and often introverted world builders to a public brand.

One of the advantages of signing with a traditional publisher (opposed to self-publishing) is that you the author will gain their wealth of knowledge and resources. Marketing, PR, sales and design should all be the publisher’s responsibility. However, whilst many publishers will have in-house marketing/publicity capabilities, the unfortunate truth is that most books (including debuts) will be allocated a very limited marketing/publicity budget. And even if a novel has brilliant campaign behind it, there is no guarantee that it will lead to sales.

Therefore, whilst author self-promotion (podcasts, article writing, festivals, newsletters social media, networking, visiting book shops) is in no way mandatory, it is actively encouraged. This can be daunting if you’re not used to putting yourself out there, not to mention time consuming for authors, many of whom have other responsibilities.

But try not to panic. An author’s job is first and foremost the writing. Self-promotion is secondary. So, if you’re short on time/money, pick a few options that feel manageable. And only do what feels comfortable.

5. Other people suck

You have a publishing deal. You’re on cloud nine. Nothing can bring you down.

Then in comes Mr or Mrs absentminded with their well-meaning yet utterly ignorant comment that plummets you back down to earth.

We’ve all been there.

‘‘Oooh, so when’s it coming out on Netflix?’’

‘‘When you quitting the day job?’’

‘‘How’s the next book going?’’

‘‘Who’s the publisher? Penguin?’’

The irony is that half the headache of being an author comes from outside the industry. It’s hard enough managing your own expectations, let alone trying to manage other people’s! But it’s not their fault. There is still so much misconception about this career. Most people only see the bestsellers, the shiny deals, the TV adaptions. Most people have no idea how the industry works.

I hear it becomes easier with experience (you have no choice but to build thicker skin once those inevitable one star Amazon reviews come trickling in), but as a debut author the biggest favour you can do yourself is to choose who you speak with/volunteer information to, and try not to take these comments too seriously.

6. It’s a marathon not a sprint.

Finally, a piece of advice that my wonderful agent always reminds me.

Yes, it would be a dream come true to be your publisher’s ‘biggest debut of 202X’ or the beneficiary of multiple six-figure deals. But, that comes with its own set of complexities. The bigger the deal, the bigger the advance, therefore the more copies that need to be sold. Also, think how tough it must be to write a second novel following such a hyped debut?

The vast majority of debut authors are not overnight successes. Building your brand, finding your voice, refining your craft - this all takes time. So don’t be disheartened if your first publishing deal is small/negligible. Play the long game. Use the two years between your deal and publication wisely. Think about what you want from your writing career, your future goals and of course, your next novel.

Remember, your debut is just the beginning.

I very much hope you found this useful. If you have any questions or feedback, you can contact me here :)

Mira xx