13 Comments
User's avatar
Kerry Graham's avatar

95%?!

Expand full comment
Eva Langston's avatar

Insane, right? I think it’s gotten way worse since COVID, at least that’s what I hear. And that’s just an estimate from Mary Kole, but the more I talk to authors the more I realize how very common it is.

Expand full comment
Kerry Graham's avatar

I’m so glad you told us/me.

Expand full comment
Liz Alterman's avatar

Looking forward to your podcast! Such a great premise! I remember getting an agent and thinking I was 90% there ... yeah, right! 🤣 I've been in the DOS camp too. Such an awful feeling. Here's hoping your revision results in multiple offers!

Expand full comment
Eva Langston's avatar

Adding you to my list of potential guests! Although I'm beginning to realize just how many published authors have had at least one book die on sub! Good to know I'm not alone!

Expand full comment
Liz Alterman's avatar

Aw, I'd love that! And, yes, we are definitely in good company—though that's little consolation as those "I'm passing, but I'm sure another editor will feel differently!" emails rolls in. Argh.

Expand full comment
Claire Polders's avatar

Thank you for sharing your secret. It can feel so lonely when a manuscript dies on submission. I had no idea that the majority did!

Expand full comment
Eva Langston's avatar

I think more die on submission now than ever before -- see that Rachelle Gardner quote above -- but still... I did NOT know how common it was until it happened to me twice and I started digging for answers!

Expand full comment
Angelique Fawns's avatar

Thank you for the shoutout!!🙏

Expand full comment
Matthew's avatar

So are you going to self publish those two books?

Expand full comment
Eva Langston's avatar

I don't have plans to at the moment. I'm still hoping that at some point I'll get a book deal and then the publisher will say, "so, do you have any other manuscripts?" And I'll say, "why, yes, yes I do." Also, don't tell, but my agent and I have secret plans for how I'm going to do a big revision to one of the manuscripts and send it out again... We'll see what happens...

Expand full comment
Angelique Fawns's avatar

Yes! I hope you do, @eva

Expand full comment
Jennie Nash's avatar

Thanks for including me!!

Expand full comment