Another quick writing update for those of you following along with my author journey: My Cozy, Comedic Adult Fantasy manuscript, “The Reluctant Mentor”, is now on submission!
If you recall, I signed with my literary agent in February (2025). We then spent the next month going back through the manuscript and making edits. Some edits were larger plot changes, but most were cleaning up more general editorial aspects.
My agent, Madison, also took this time to write a “query package”—basically, a letter and synopsis to entice editors to pick up my book.
As of Monday this week (April 14th, 2025), my book is on submission!
What Does It Mean for a Book To Be “On Submission”?
“Submission” is where your literary agent takes your finished manuscript and sends it out to editors at publishing imprints, along with a query letter and synopsis. If they find the query intriguing, they might ask to read more.
- Query letter: A short intro to the book (like you’d read in the jacket copy of a published novel) and an author bio.
- Synopsis: A detailed plot summary, spoilers included.
How Long Does the Submission Process Take?
On average, a long, long time. As with everything in the publishing industry, I could be waiting months or even years for an editor to show interest in my debut novel, and it could come with many rounds of revisions.
It’s also possible that no editor will want to pick up my book (called “dying on sub”). In which case, we’ll likely “shelve” that project and I’ll work on the next one. And the next and the next until someone wants to publish it!
Who Does the Literary Agent Submit To?
My agent has curated a list of editors with wishlists matching my book. For example, some editors may express interest in seeing elderly main characters or animal companions. Others have more general interests, like cozy fantasy or D&D-type storytelling.
What’s So Special About Your Package? (He he)
I’m not sure if I can share yet what the bonus extra we added to my query package is, but what I can say is that it was…unique! For those of you who know me, that shouldn’t surprise you too much.
Thanks for continuing on this publishing journey with me! Traditional publishing can be a long road, but I’m so grateful for the support I have.
