I've kept a secret for over 2 years...

And I've decided to spill it! (Plus TONS of writing news & resources)

*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*

I’ve been keeping a secret.

The secret is this: back in October 2022, I went on submission with a novel. And then, in January 2024, I went on submission with another novel.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, “going on submission” means my agent sent the finished manuscript to editors at all the major houses plus many of the big-name indie publishers. Then we waited (and waited, and waited) to see if they wanted to buy it.

The reason I didn’t tell anyone about going on submission (except friends and family) is because:

1. My agent didn’t want me making any public announcements about it. I assume not all agents feel this way because I see plenty of authors on social media announcing they are on submission, but this is my agent’s policy.

   My agent had a good explanation for why I should stay quiet. See, she submits a client’s manuscript in batches. First, she sends to her top-choice editors, and if they pass, she sends to her second-choice editors, and so on (usually for three or four rounds). She didn’t want any editors in the later rounds looking at my social media, seeing that I’d gone on submission months ago, and realizing they weren’t our top choice and that the book wasn’t getting snatched up right away. Smart, right?

2. I didn’t say anything later on because both books died on submission, and I was hoping to have better news to share.

   In case you’re unfamiliar with that term, “dying on submission” means the books didn’t sell. My agent sent my manuscripts to everyone she thought might want them, and they all decided to pass. I’m not sure what the official cut-off is for declaring that a book has DOS, because technically there are some editors we never heard back from, but it’s been well over a year for one manuscript and much longer than that for the other, so I think safe to say they’re both dead.

What a bummer!

Yeah, I know. I was pretty depressed about it for a few weeks. But it helps to know I’m not the only author in this situation.

This is how I felt after my second book didn’t sell.

It’s hard to find solid statistics on this, but recently former agent Mary Kole in her

Thriving Writers Newsletter

wrote a great post about the chances of a book getting published. According to her, out of the submissions that agents send to editors, only about 5% of them get a book deal offer.

You read that right. That means, at least according to Mary Kole, about 95% of agented manuscripts die on submission. When I went on submission, I knew there was a chance my book wouldn’t sell, but I didn’t know how big of a chance. If I’d known, I probably wouldn’t have felt quite so bad. (Although, of course, I still would have felt plenty bad. It sucks when no one wants the thing you worked so hard on.)

Just like finding an agent, finding a publisher means you have to hit the right editor with the right manuscript at the right time. This is the reality of trying to get traditionally-published: there are a lot of things that are out of your control.

Agent Rachelle Gardner has the reason why more and more books are dying on submission these days.

Which is why I’m focusing on things that are in my control.

Like writing another manuscript. And starting my own podcast.

And what better than to create a show all about the roadblocks and detours of the publishing journey? Hence my new podcast: THE LONG ROAD TO PUBLISHING, which now has a very new, very barren social media presence on Youtube. Plus, I made this teaser video!

I’ve already recorded and edited two episodes, both with authors who, wouldn’t you know, have also had two books die on sub. (So I’m in good company!) But they persevered, and now they both have books coming out in 2026 with a Big Five publisher. Their stories are fascinating, and I can’t wait for you to hear them (along with all the other great author interviews) when the podcast launches this July.

I hope, instead of feelings discouraged by this post, you feel a sense of kinship: we’re all struggling. Writing and publishing is really hard. I want writers to know the reality of what they’re up against so they can decide if pursuing traditional publishing is really what they want to do. And if it is, stay strong! Sometimes it really is a numbers game. Remember: the only thing you truly have control over is the writing itself. So let’s all find joy in that!

And we can find joy in the springtime! Check out one of the many beautiful daffodils currently blooming in my yard!

Speaking of podcasts…

I was recently on the podcast Ficsation in which Australian author Daniel Radford talks to other writers about their fiction fixations. Which means I talked to him about a novel I’ve been obsessed with ever since I read it: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. If you enjoy hearing two writers gush about how much they love a book and break down what exactly makes it so good, this episode is for you.

Writing News & Resources:

For All Writers:

• Any Judy Blume fans out there? You gotta listen to the latest episode of THIS MAMA IS LIT! with Rachelle Bergstein, author of The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for Us All.

• The Difference Between Writers Who Meet with Success and Those Who Don’t from

  Jennie Nash
  (the answer might surprise you!)

• Check out the latest issue of Literary Mama — and consider submitting your motherhood-related writing to the magazine!

• Here’s how to turn off AI training on Substack. (Thank you,

  Evelyn Skye
  !)

• Upcoming FREE Good Story Company workshops online:

  • Writing Irresistible First Pages on April 17

  • Editor AMA (Ask Me Anything) on April 23

• The Hedgebrook Writing Residencies for Women Application is now open (deadline April 14).

• How to Get Your Book in Libraries fromMary Kole & Good Story Company

• Open short story submission calls for April from Angelique Fawns.

• Mastering the Art of the Synopsis workshop with Jessica Strawser

  on April 21.

• The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.

• Writing Workshops offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.

• Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.

• Looking for places to submit your writing? Check out NewPages and Sub Club.

For KidLit Writers:

• The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition is now open for unaccented and unpublished writers for a middle grade or Young Adult novel.

  First prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000. Deadline: June 2.

• Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews. Plus contests and giveaways.

• Here’s an incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!

• Check out SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for events, conferences, critique partners and more. (Picture book through YA.)

For Querying Writers:

• Here’s a list of small publishers that do not require agents. Also,Lemon Jelly press

  is opening to submissions on April 3!

• Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters (including mine!).

• I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query and first two pages, and, if I chose your submission, I will send you feedback on both. Fill out the form here.

Writing Conferences & Events:

• The Women’s Fiction Virtual Summit is happening June 21-22.

• If you live in the DC area, this comprehensive Calendar of Local Literary Events, compiled by Washington Independent Review of Books is overwhelming and awesome.

• Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away? The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm north of Baltimore is open year-round. The only requirement for this peaceful retreat is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.

• Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.

• The James River Writers Conference in Richmond, VA will be held Oct. 4 - 6.

• The Annapolis Book Festival will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

• The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. For online conferences, attend from anywhere in the world! Check out the upcoming conferences:

  • Ohio Writing Workshop: April 4-5, 2025 (online)

  • Minnesota Writing Workshop (St. Paul): April 5, 2025 (in person)

  • Toronto Writing Workshop: April 5, 2025 (in person)

  • Florida Writing Workshop (Orlando): April 11, 2025 (in person)

  • Florida Writing Workshop (Tampa): April 12, 2025 (in person)

  • Sacramento Writing Workshop: April 11, 2025 (in person)

  • Writing Workshop of San Francisco: April 12, 2025 (in person)

• I’m going to Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention in New Orleans September 3-7! See you there?

• Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.

• For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.