A Word After a Word

 

You may remember my good news, I sold my eighth book to Eileen Robinson of Charlesbridge (to be released in Spring 2026, by the way). For two years, I had been working with a new agent -- I had signed with her in 12/2022, when I brought the contract to her -- who had helped me negotiate this contract. I was over the moon preparing other projects and looking forward to the next step.  But, within months, it became apparent that we were not as good a team as I had hoped. Emails went unanswered for months. Nothing was being reviewed or sent out. It took me a few weeks to gather courage to do what I knew I had to do.  While I still hoped there was a way,  I dreaded the consequences. I researched and found solace in others who had gone through similar circumstances. I also took a couple of webinars.

It turns out, these things happen all the time, and for all sorts of reasons. Her reasoning for the lack of movement: she just didn’t know where my stories fit.  As Lesley McDowell suggests in her article (see below),   “[T]rust your instincts: if your instincts say this isn’t working, then they’re probably right.”  

Still, it does make a dent in the confidence, especially when you’re an old dobby like me. Putting those projects aside, I took a few classes on the revision process, just to find some direction.

And then the election happened. And with it came all the dour predictions about the publishing business itself, given the connection to China when it comes to printing. And piled on this came all the other gloomy news about the future. 

I’m usually pretty good at getting back to work. I’ve been writing a long time, and have received at least a million rejections (well, maybe not that many.)  I’ve always managed to hold my fists up, and mutter, taking my cue from Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love), “You think you can scare me off? I’ve got another 80 years to wear you down! There are people who haven’t even been born yet who are going to reject me some day – That’s how long I plan to stick around.” 

 I’ve had (now) four agents. The first proved so ineffective in negotiating a four-book contract, the first book didn’t come out until eight years after the contract was signed. The third book came out 11 years after the fact.  The fourth contract was cancelled. The second agent was unable to submit any of my work during that time span because of the uber restrictive clauses of the contracts. The third agent, after selling two books within  the first two years, decided to go in a different direction, and dropped me.  Still, logic dictates that agents need writers as much as writers need agents.  Just because one agent cannot find the way forward doesn't mean another won't push their way to the end.

 Yes. I know all this, but I am – dare I say -- weary. Writing is hard work, but navigating the business of writing is not for the lily-livered. For weeks now, I've not taken those projects out.  I’ve enjoyed more time in the garden, and more walks, wondering why it matters. And even if it does matter, perhaps my time is done.  I'm an old dobby, remember? 

 Except, let's remember, as Toni Morrison says,

But it is also truer than true, we can only do today what we can only do. As one very wise Dumbledore reminds me often, we're allowed to take a moment, or three, to figure out our best way forward. To take a walk, or take a nap. Eat chocolate. One word at a time. A word, after a word, after a word. That's all that matters. The rest will come. 

Because your story is that important.

 Resources:

Harold Underdown offers fantastic courses on writing and the business of writing. Check out his newest online course, Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors, sponsored through Highlights Foundation over two nights, December 16 @ 7:00 pm - December 18 @ 7:00 pm.

Lorin Oberweger and her team at Free Expressions offers some of the best classes, webinars, and recordings that take a deep dive into the story-engineering process. One of my favorites is the Virtual Breakout Novel Intensive, a six-week novel intensive led by the legendary agent, Donald Maass. The next class runs March 18 to April 22, 2025.

Emma Dryden is the high wizard  and headmaster of all things publishing. As one-time editor for Random House Children’s Books, Senior Editor for Margaret McElderry Books (Macmillan Books), Vice President and Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), Emma has over thirty years of experience editing and publishing children’s books, has a deep understanding of the craft of writing children’s books -- including YA -- and of the business of children’s books in an ever-changing publishing landscape. She’s edited over 1,000 books from young readers to YA, including many award winners.

Maria Popova's newsletter, The Marginalian, offers wisdom grounded in history and literature, such as this blog entry, 18 Life-Learnings from 18 Years of The Marginalian. As she states, "Everything is eventually recompensed, every effort of the heart eventually requited, though not always in the form you imagined or hoped for... Don’t just resist cynicism — fight it actively... Don’t be afraid to be an idealist."

McDowell, Lesley. When the Agent-Author Relationship Goes Bad (Jericho Writers). https://jerichowriters.com/when-the-agent-author-relationship-goes-bad/

Sterling, Isabel. Writing Coach. A successful YA writer and a writing coach, her newsletter is a grand pick-me-up when you need one. Also, she ran an excellent webinar sponsored by SCBWI Florida on the agent-author relationship.

 Thank you for reading. Keep writing! The world needs you!

-- Bobbi Miller