From Rep to Sub

Once you’re represented by a lovely Literary Agent, you’ll be glad to know that the 3am endless searching for stories on how people got their Agent will be vanquished, and finally you will sleep through the night once more.

Here’s the thing I’ve Googled the most since I signed to my wonderful Agent, Lucy (book related, obvs – the copious searches around Harry Styles’ 3rd Nipple* and Warm Coats That Don’t Make Me Look Enormous speak for themselves)

HOW LONG FROM REPRESENTATION TO BOOK DEAL?

Or variants of.

Annoyingly, at no point did anyone ever say the thing I was looking for:

ONE DAY!

I would’ve even taken:

TWO, AT A PUSH!

It’s the eternal question, right?

So, to add to the legions of Blogposts which give an answer far, far, FAR from the ONE DAY answer most of us are looking for, I thought I’d do my timeline, from offer of Representation to going out on Submission. I know that there are some people who go out on sub within a few months of gaining representation – it probably helps if you have a complete novel when you’re signed – but this is my journey, from gaining representation to going out on submission.

Let Us Begin

31 AUG 19

Submit 9k and short outline of what was then The Wickedry of Mrs Wood, to the Curtis Brown First Novel Award two minutes before the Noon deadline.

SEP 19

Constantly refresh emails and Twitter Stalk Curtis Brown agents who are compiling the shortlist.

END OF SEP 19

LONGLISTED

Misunderstand email and think it’s the shortlist then try to figure out how many others are on the Longest before the Longest is announced. I was 5 short. There are 20 of us. State publicly that ‘I’m just glad to be included!’ Whilst secretly obsessing, ‘I HAVE TO BE ON THE SHORTLIST.’

Cry and Drink.

BEG OF OCT 19

SHORTLISTED

A week later, find out I’m on the Shortlist. This came in about 5.30pm the day before the announcement, but which time my refresh finger was red raw. There are now six of us. One more than was originally suggested.

Cry and Drink,

8 OCTOBER 19

The day before the announcement I miss a call from a London number while in a meeting. Immediately leave the meeting and return the call. It’s Lucy Morris. ‘You haven’t won,’ she says, ‘but you’re a very close second and I want to offer you representation.’ Go back into meeting. Fail to understand anything else that anyone says to me until I can speak to Lucy again.

Cry and Drink.

LATE OCTOBER: MAKE IT OFFICIAL

Dock after a week on the high seas with my Mum on a musical theatre cruise and head straight to London to meet Lucy. Stretch the truth a little when I say I have 20k words. I have 9k. Exactly what I submitted to the competition.

I am now officially REPRESENTED.

Cry and Drink.

NOV 19 – AUG 20

Sink into the abyss of I AM A FRAUD NOT A WRITER.

SEP 20

JAN 21

Submit first draft thinking it’s perfection. Maybe just a few tweaks.

MAR 21

Lucy finally comes back with a beautifully judged shit sandwich response. The whole thing basically needs to be rewritten.

Cry and Drink.

MAR – AUG 21

Return to the abyss of I AM A FRAUD NOT A WRITER.

SEP 21

Get shit together. Go back to the tenets of The Novelry and complete the Big Edit C ourse.

JAN 22

4 Jan – Submit second draft, certain it’s a shambles.

24 Jan – Lucy declares it transformed.

Cry and Drink.

JAN – MAY 22

2-3 rounds of structural edits, followed by hardcore polishing until the MS shines like the top of the CHRYSLER BUILDING.

THE TORTUROUS MONTH OF MAY 22

Lucy initially says we’ll go out to editors early May, but then, after London Book Fair, she wants her partner US Agent, A, to read it as she thinks there might be US interest.

A takes a WHOLE DISGUSTING WEEK to read before agreeing to rep in the US.

Timeline of submission is agreed, then moved around due to Jubilee, Bank Holidays and Public Holidays.

WED 8 JUNE 22

Mrs Wood finally sets sail in the UK, followed by the US a few days later.