The Attitude You Need Before Publishing a Book
I've made a bold choice. Plus, TONS of writing links and resources!
For writing links and resources, scroll down!
Any typos simply prove this was not written by AI!
Latest episode of The Long Road to Publishing:
Episode 33: A Wild Path to Publishing Weird Books with Emily Jane
Bestselling author Emily Jane has penned an INCREDIBLE pile of genre-bending manuscripts, and her publishing journey is just as unconventional as her books.
It wasn’t until her 6th manuscript that Emily landed an agent, and her debut novel was actually the 17th book she wrote!!! 🤯
Plus… you won’t believe the mind-blowing reveal that comes towards the end of this episode!
We made a bold choice.
Recently my husband and I decided to paint our house. It had always been a dingy white, and it’s always had a derelict look that we thought might be helped with a fresh coat of paint.
At first I thought we’d play it safe: a muted blue-gray, something that wouldn’t show dirt, wouldn’t stand out, wouldn’t offend the neighbors.
But then I saw a paint color called Wisteria. And suddenly I could feel it: this was the right color for our house. Not only that, the color made me excited. My husband was immediately on board.
The house-painters came, and the first time I pulled into the driveway and saw my purple house, I was filled with joy. Then the neighbors started giving their opinions. Most were nice comments, but some were not. “Why’d you choose that color?” (said with a scrunched nose) and “It doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, does it?”
There was a brief moment when I worried: oh no, people don’t like our house? Did we make a bad choice? But almost immediately this fear was replaced with the thought: Who cares? I love it, and it makes me happy.
If we had gone with the understated blue-gray, maybe no one would have even noticed that we’d painted the house. But we went with something different, something exciting, a color that some neighbors would love, and a few would hate.
And I’m okay with that. Because I think it looks great, and I stand by my choice.
My newest novel is a bold choice.
I’m currently working on a novel that makes some bold choices. I’m super excited about it. It’s spicy and weird and has a premise that is totally bananas. I know when this book goes out into the world, people are going to have opinions, and not all of those opinions will be positive.
And so when, one day, when this book goes out into the world, I will need the same attitude I have with my purple house. Some people are going to like it, some people really aren’t. And that’s okay. Because I love it and I stand by my choice.
Besides, maybe it’s a good thing for books to elicit strong reactions in either direction. Because that gets people talking.
You know what doesn’t get people talking? A muted gray house. A book that plays it safe, that tries not to stand out.
I feel like Leigh Stein has talked about this, although I can’t find the exact post: about how all reviews, positive and negative, are a good thing because both bring attention to the book. Here’s a quote from her: “strongly opinionated content gets more engagement than a glowing review.” Exactly.
Some people are not going to like the book I’m working on. I’m sure that will still hurt, but, as much as possible, I’m going to adopt a purple house attitude. You don’t like it? That’s okay. You’re entitled to your opinion. Hey, you noticed it, didn’t you? And, more importantly: I love it, and I know there are other people out there who will, too.
Writing News & Resources:
For All Writers:
Fee-free and paying opportunities for writers from Erika Dreifus
Applications are now open for the Literary Arts Fund’s 2026 innovation project grants. Deadline: August 17
FREE Writing Residency in Pawling, NY this November for emerging writers of fiction, memoir, poetry, and nonfiction. Application deadline June 30.
The First Chapters contest from CRAFT is open now until June 28.
Follow Angelique Fawns for short story submission suggestions!
If you are an author with a polished manuscript that’s ready for publication, check out the annual contests for novels and short stories from Dzanc Books. Winners will be published by Dzanc Books and receive $. Deadline Sept. 30.
Find a writers group (online or in person) using the Poets&Writers searchable database!
The Writer’s Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers, and literary journal opportunities.
Writing Workshops offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.
For KidLit Writers:
Traditional publisher EK Books is inviting both agented AND un-agented authors and author/illustrators to submit picture book manuscripts through August 1.
Traditional publisher NorthSouth Books is currently accepting queries from both agented AND un-agented PB authors and author/illustrators.
Writing Irresistible Picture Books: Free online workshop from Good Story Company on July 9.
Do you write for ages 2-6? HIGH FIVE Magazine (from Highlight’s) is open for submissions until June 30!
The Boyds Mill (formerly the Highlights Foundation) offers tons of programs, workshops, and events for children’s writers and illustrators.
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:
Lookin for an agent for your memoir? Online literary agent pitch-slam on June 25 from Open Secrets Magazine
Incredibly helpful article from Devon Halliday for anyone in the query trenches
12 top literary agents who rep current NYT bestsellers & are open to NEW CLIENTS! (From Caroline Madden)
Follow Writing Day Workshops on BlueSky for New Agent Alerts with new agents actively seeking submissions!
Here’s a list of small publishers that do not require agents. And here’s another such list.
Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters (including mine!).
Writing Conferences & Events:
The Capital Love LitFest is an 8-hour literary salon of writing workshops, deep-dive literary discussions, and poetry and prose readings held at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD on Sunday, June 28. Pay what you can!
The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm north of Baltimore is open year-round as an affordable writer’s retreat. Only requirement: that you use the time to work on 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 Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents. For online conferences, attend from anywhere in the world! Check out the upcoming conferences:
Writing Workshop of Chicago: June 20 (in person)
Writers Digest offers 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.
This post made me think of one of my kids' favorite picture books: The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater. Their favorite lines is at the end "My house is me and I am it. My house is where I like to be and it looks like all my dreams."'
Love the purple!
I adore! I’m glad you went with your gut. It’s like the external move you needed to make to satisfy that internal need, to listen your heart.