It’s been nearly six years since I got my big break in publishing. How you go about getting published can feel like an impenetrable maze, so I’m not surprised it’s something I regularly get asked about. Which is why I thought I’d share my own publishing journey. Whether you’re an aspiring writer yourself or are a reader interested in how authors become authors, I hope you find my story interesting!
Do you have to study creative writing to become an author?
There are loads of courses out there for aspiring writers, from short courses to degrees. I’m certain a lot of them are really helpful, in particular for helping prioritise your writing. But I’m a strong believer that you don’t have to get any sort of qualification in order to write a novel. The only thing you really have to do is read. A lot.
I think of myself as a reader first and foremost. I’ve always devoured books and it was a love of reading as a child that made me want to become an author. As soon as I realised that someone had written the books I so loved reading I knew that was the job for me.
I’m certain that it’s my love of reading that taught me how to write. If you read enough books you naturally acquire a sense of what makes a good story and believable characters. Learning to read critically helps too. Thinking about why you have enjoyed a particular passage or story and how that author has made you feel that way. It’s something I still do now and I hope it means that my writing will always be evolving.
How do you actually get published?
It sounds obvious but the first thing you have to do is write your book! I had the idea for The Lido, my first novel, when I was a journalist just out of university. But I found it hard to fit in creative writing around a job that involved writing every day, plus a fair amount of stress. So I switched careers to work in marketing where I found I had more time and headspace to get started on my novel.
It was definitely a challenge juggling full-time work and writing but I was so invested in the story that I felt determined to make it work. I squeezed in little bits where I could - before work, on my lunch break, on the weekend. And eventually, finally, I had a finished draft. But what next?
Well, first of all you need an agent…
I knew very little about the publishing process when I started writing. I had visions of myself posting my manuscript off to publishers, but quickly learned that publishers only read submissions that come via an agent, so the first step for any aspiring author is to find a literary agent willing to represent them.
This for me was the hardest part of the publishing process. I sent the book out widely over the course of about a year. I received some immediate rejections, others that came months after submitting, and some of my queries never received a response.
What do you have to send to an agent?
All agents have slightly different requirements (as outlined on each agent’s website) but pretty much all of them will require a cover letter with a short description of you and your book, plus a synopsis and the first three chapters or so of the book (if they like it, they’ll ask for the whole thing). I’ll be honest - I got help from my family to write my synopsis because I found it so hard to step back and be objective about my work.
Writing the cover letter was tricky too - I felt it was important to keep it clear and succinct, while getting across what made my story unique. I dug through my emails and managed to find the actual letter I sent to my now agent, Robert Caskie, back in 2017…
Don’t give up hope!
I was so close to giving up on my book after months of rejections and silence (which was maybe even worse - at least you know where you stand with a rejection). But then I received a reply from Robert Caskie saying he loved what he’d read so far and wanted me to send him the rest of the book. After signing me he sent the book out to publishers and managed to get me a deal with my current publisher.
Nearly six years later he is still my agent and we have now worked on four books together. I was luckily able to quit my marketing job and now focus on my writing full-time (well, around looking after my busy toddler!).
My journey has been a wild one but I hope proves that if you have a dream of being a published author, it is possible that it could come true.
Is there anything else you’d like to know about the publishing process? Please let me know!
Things I’m loving…
I’ve been getting in the festive spirit by reading lots of Christmas books recently. The lastest was I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day by Milly Johnson, which was a wonderfully moving read with a unique concept and loveable characters.
I’m currently reading Freckles by Cecelia Ahern which is a beautifully-written story with a quirky and memorable protagonist.
My very talented friend has just launched a fab new business called From A to Zoo selling personalised animal-themed prints that would make great gifts for little ones. She’s kindly doing a discount for subscribers to this newsletter. Just use the code OFFTHEPAGE at checkout.
My next book is inspired by my love of vintage clothing and one of my favourite places for new but vintage-inspired pieces is The Seamstress of Bloomsbury who recreate old patterns in new fabrics. I recently bought their Poppy blouse (in red) and can honestly say it is the nicest thing to wear that I have in my wardrobe - the fabric and fit are just amazing.
And finally, if you haven’t read my third book The Island Home and are after a cosy, escapist read to curl up with during this cold weather, then you can currently get the paperback on sale for £2.50 at Amazon and The Works. If you do choose to read it, I hope it will make you feel like you’re being wrapped up in a warm hug.
Really interesting to hear about the process, thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Libby! It’s so helpful and inspiring for those of us out there who’d love to traditionally publish one day 😊