Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Waiting While on Submission

20 Comments

My manuscript went on submission the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. As Agent Michelle sent MAY B. off on this first round, she told me to expect to hear back from editors anywhere from three weeks to three months. Sounded good to me! While submitting on my own, I ‘ve had manuscripts out as long as fifteen months.

Still, she reminded me, everything in publishing takes longer than you would expect. Even though I’ve marked every Tuesday on my calendar from December through March, hoping responses come within that time frame, there’s every chance they won’t.

Thanksgiving through New Year’s is always a slow time.

Getting back into routine after the holidays can take some time.

Is there ever a time in publishing when there isn’t something to slow things down?

I told Michelle going in that I’d like to see the rejections that come her way. I’ve gotten two rejections so far, both prefaced by an upbeat comment from Michelle.

As for the others, I’m still waiting. waiting. waiting.

Anyone else waiting on a manuscript on submission? For those of you who have a contract, how long was your wait?

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Filed Under: May B., publication, the writing life

Comments

  1. Tabitha Bird says

    January 15, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    All the best with that submission process. I hope to hear good news soon then. The wait must be a killer. I don;t have anything (other than shorts) out on submission. Nothing is ready yet. But I am not thinking I will love the waiting. all the best for that book!

    Reply
  2. PJ Hoover says

    January 15, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    I hope you get a fantastic offer soon! Patience is huge, isn’t it. I can’t believe how long we have to wait.

    Reply
  3. Heidi Willis says

    January 15, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    The waiting is the hardest. I think it must be because you can’t do anything about it.

    My publisher only had my manuscript for a few days before offering a contract, but things move much faster with a smaller publisher. Much less red tape and probably fewer submissions. 🙂

    Meanwhile, get on that next book!!

    Reply
  4. Tamika: says

    January 15, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    Good for you Caroline! Praying for you in this season of waiting!

    Reply
  5. Natalie says

    January 15, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Yep, WAITING here too. I’m starting to get used to waiting though. This hasn’t been as bad as the agent wait.

    Reply
  6. Anna says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Good luck with the submission! I’m waiting too. My agent submitted my ms right around Thanksgiving, so we got caught in the serious publishing slowdown. Things have picked up a lot in the past week or so, though, so maybe you won’t have to wait too long!

    Reply
  7. Frankie Diane Mallis says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    Fingers crossed for you!!!! Hope the wait isn’t much longer!

    Reply
  8. Corey Schwartz says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    Oh, waiting is so hard!!! But “no’s” almost always come in faster than “yes’s” so hopefully there are some editors taking your MS to acquisition meetings!

    Reply
  9. Kristen Torres-Toro says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    I definitely wish you well, Caroline! Hope the rest of the waiting goes by quickly!

    Reply
  10. Catherine Denton says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    I’m hoping the best for you!
    Winged Writer

    Reply
  11. TerryLynnJohnson says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    I’ve done things opposite of you. I’ve got a publisher, but currently waiting on an agent. The wait is hard either way! I’m still getting responses from submissions 11 months ago!
    The good thing is, now you have time to write your next book. I’ve been told, now is the perfect time before your first comes out and you have added pressure to your fans.
    Good luck!

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Shirk says

    January 15, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    Oooh, I’m so excited for you!!

    I have something under submission now with Avalon Books. Actually, I should check on that…

    Reply
  13. Kelly says

    January 15, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Waiting is tough! I’ve subbed on my own into the slush pile and it’s a looooong wait. Soon I will be querying agents though, so that will be even more excruciating I think! 🙂
    Good luck with your submissions!

    Reply
  14. Anissa says

    January 15, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    I’m hoping the waiting is a good sign and that MAY B is being passed around and oohed and ahhed over. 🙂

    Hopefully you’ll have good news to share soon!

    Reply
  15. Melissa says

    January 15, 2010 at 11:49 pm

    I hope you get some good news soon! I know the waiting must be tough, but at least you have something out there:)

    Reply
  16. Sharon Mayhew says

    January 16, 2010 at 1:06 am

    I’m sure you will get good news soon. I am suffering from procrastination disorder…I wish I was waiting for responses. This week I’m doing everything but writing…I’ll do better next week. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Jemi Fraser says

    January 16, 2010 at 1:50 am

    Waiting is so hard! I’m sure your good news is just around the corner. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Caroline Starr Rose says

    January 16, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Thanks, everyone, for the confidence boost! I really appreciate it.

    Reply
  19. Catherine Ensley says

    January 16, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Very best of luck with your MS! I have a couple of friends who’ve been in an excruciating waiting game now for literally years. (They’re agented; the agent sub’d it; it went back to the author for revisions, was sent out again, came back, is going through more revisions … seems never ending, but eventually the stars will align and books will get sold.)

    Reply
  20. Crystal says

    January 19, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    Good Luck, Caroline! Hope your wait is over soon! 🙂

    Reply

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