How I got my book deal
A guide to finding an agent and getting published
Today marks a year since the publication of my debut novel, Single Bald Female, so I thought I’d share the story of how the book came to be.
1. I started writing
Single Bald Female was published in 2022, but I began writing it in 2016. That January, I wrote a blog about ‘the year I wrote my first book’. Ha! If only I’d known how many drafts and rewrites it would take; how many setbacks I would suffer. And yet… I’m glad I didn’t know all that. Just like with cancer, where I was naive at the start, I’m happy I didn’t know what was involved in getting a novel published, because if I’d known, I might have given up before I’d begun.
2. I committed to an idea – and shared it
By the time 2017 rolled around and I still hadn’t finished my first draft, there were moments when I felt a bit silly for sharing my goals on social media. But I’m glad I did, because it added pressure to follow through. Writing is a lonely process. Many people tell no one they’re writing a book, and trust themselves to get on with it quietly. But telling a friend or colleague might help you to keep plodding along when you’re tempted to give up, just as having a running buddy helps you keep going on those cold, wet, winter mornings.
3. I entered a competition
Later in 2016, I entered Date with an Agent, part of the International Literary Festival Dublin, submitting my novel-in-progress to win a consultation with a leading literary agent. I didn’t know if I stood a chance, but the act of entering the competition gave me a deadline and a first set of eyes on my work. I got through, and off I went to Ireland to meet agent Simon Trewin. It was my first ever contact with the publishing industry, and it was so helpful in spurring me on and giving me pointers.
Tip: Sian Meades-Williams’s newsletter is a great resource on a wide range of writing competitions.
4. I joined a writing group
I’d written about 45,000 words of Single Bald Female and had a beginning and an end, but I was stuck on the middle. I had a full-time job and needed a serious amount of peer pressure to finish the book. Then I discovered the Faber Academy, which offered an expensive but incredible-sounding course that helped you to finish your novel. I applied for the course, and got a place.
From late 2017 to early 2018 I gave up my Wednesday evenings and occasional Saturdays to join a group of 15 budding novelists in a light-filled room in literary Bloomsbury, critiquing each other’s work and, crucially, supporting each other. The course was one of the best things I ever did, not only introducing me to fellow writers but also teaching me about the publishing world. I still meet regularly with the group, which includes published authors Freya Sampson, Hannah Tovey and Lissa Price, and many soon-to-be-published writers too.
5. I became a reader
I spent my childhood devouring every book in sight, but by my early thirties, work had taken over and I wasn’t reading as much as I’d like. The Faber Academy helped me to become a reader again, encouraging me to explore both within and outside my genre.
I’ve never been a high-brow reader and I’ve barely read the classics, but who cares? I spent my teens reading the Making Out series by Katherine Applegate, and I’ve always loved books about relationships. I read widely, but I don’t enjoy fantasy. I love the real world – real women, real relationships, stuff I can relate to. Identifying what I love to read, and therefore what I love to write, was a crucial part of discovering who I am as a writer.
6. I finished the first draft
After the Faber Academy, I had interest from several agents, but the book wasn’t ready yet. I took another year to finish it, eventually sharing it with trusted friends and applying their feedback to my edits. Giving the manuscript time to breathe was crucial – you need to take time away from your book to be able to read it like a reader. Frustratingly, this means a book can take years to write, so it’s important to have a source of income and something to keep you busy in the meantime.
7. I researched literary agents
In 2019, when I was finally sure the book was in good enough shape to send out, I started researching the agents I wanted to approach. I wrote a hit list of dream agents and spent time studying their web pages to find out exactly what they wanted. Did they want 15,000 words or three chapters? A two-page synopsis or 300 words? What did they want in the subject line of the email? The most important thing is having a killer manuscript, but these details matter too.
Tip: Don’t pitch to agents if your book is half-finished – in fiction, agents are looking for something that’s pretty much ready to publish, so if you’ve only got 50,000 words, they’ll turn you away. (For non-fiction, the process is different.)
8. I queried a handful of agents
Once I’d done my research, I crafted bespoke emails to a handful of agents, explaining who I was, what I’d written, and why I was interested in them. I took time to read a novel by one of the authors they represented, showing interest in their work and flattering them at the same time. Then I followed the guidelines and queried just a few – I didn’t want to burn my bridges by pitching to 100 people.
Tip: If you have no idea where to start, skip to the Acknowledgements of the novels you love, and find out who represents the author. Then head to the website of that literary agency and see what the agent is looking for.
9. I found an agent
Within a few days of submitting, I was fortunate enough to have a request for the full manuscript from an agent, which meant I could follow up with the other agents too. In turn, they also requested the full manuscript, and before I knew it, I had several offers of representation. This was pre-Covid, so I went to the agents’ offices and spent a long time discussing my book and how we would work together. I was then in the incredible position of being able to choose between three agents, and I happily signed with the brilliant Sophie Lambert at C+W.
Tip: If you’re in the fortunate position of choosing between agents, you will probably feel flattered and grateful. Try to remember that they want you. This is your opportunity to interview them. How do they like to work with authors? Do they work by email, or phone? What kind of edits will they make to your manuscript? Do they have a vision for your career beyond this first book? Treat it almost like a date – you need to make sure you’re compatible with your agent, as this will (hopefully) be a long-term partnership.
10. I went back to the edits
I spent several months working on the book with Sophie, which was refreshing after working on it mostly alone. Most editors will provide the author with notes, which you then apply – as opposed to in journalism, where sometimes an editor will make the changes themselves. This process can take any length of time, so patience is key.
Tip: You don’t have to do everything your agent says – if there’s something you feel strongly about, you don’t have to change it, but it’s worth being open to feedback.
11. We pitched to publishers
When we were satisfied the manuscript was ready, Sophie sent it to a handful of carefully selected publishers. Not long after, I got the news that a publisher in Germany (Harper Collins) wanted to buy the book at pre-empt, offering a decent advance in order to take the manuscript immediately. I was thrilled!
Unfortunately, though, after an agonising wait, it was rejected by the UK publishers we’d pitched to. I was gutted. The book would be published in Germany, but we needed a UK publisher to edit the manuscript that would then be translated. It was the end of 2019, and we all know what happened next…
12. I learned from rejection
In publishing, unlike in journalism, if an editor rejects your work, they often provide feedback and praise, for example: “I loved your style of writing, but the character wasn’t likeable enough”. One publisher even offered to meet Sophie and I for coffee, to discuss the changes I could make in order for her to buy the book. After I got over the initial shock and sadness, I took time to go through those rejection emails and pick out useful feedback to apply to my next round of edits.
13. I got my book deal
Deep in the lockdown of 2020, after a sizeable rewrite and many edits, we sent out the manuscript again. This time, an editor – who had loved it the first time round but who hadn’t had the necessary backing from her sales team – snapped it up, and I signed with Pan Macmillan. The German deal was still in the works, and Single Bald Female would be published in 2022. Hooray!
What happened next
Getting a book deal is not the end of the story! It took almost five years from starting to write to getting my UK deal, then another 18 months to publication (which is common, as there’s so much behind-the-scenes work), then a year of promoting my book. That’s seven years dedicated to one novel, for which I have definitely not received seven years’ worth of salary.
Writing a book is a long slog, but it’s worth it. Aside from seeing my novel on the shelves of my favourite book shops and getting wonderful reviews, it’s incredible receiving messages from strangers who have discovered the book and loved it. So if you’re determined to write your first novel and get published, I say go for it.
The crumbs
A rundown of the stuff I’m loving right now.
What I’ve been reading:
— It’s Complicated by Emma Hughes. One of those romcoms that restores your faith in love, It’s Complicated is about a single woman who wants a baby. My face hurt from smiling. Out in July.
— I Wish We Weren’t Related by Radhika Sanghani. A hilarious and heartfelt novel about a woman who is reunited with her sisters at their father’s 14-day Hindu funeral. Absolutely brilliant. Out in July.
— Spare by Prince Harry. If you were intrigued by the headlines then I recommend listening to the audiobook to hear the full story in Harry’s words. I found it fascinating (even if Hazza did hog the shelves when SBF came out in paperback).
What I’ve been eating:
— Everything in sight at Birch, Cheshunt. I had a post-surgery staycation in March, a gift from my wonderful friends at the aforementioned Faber Academy. It was bliss. The food at The Zebra Riding Club and Valerie’s was outstanding, which is no surprise as it’s all done by super-chef Robin Gill.
What I’ve been watching:
— Daisy Jones and the Six. The TV show is as good as the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I’m hooked on the soundtrack too.
— Married at First Sight Australia. I’ve avoided getting sucked into this since my lockdown obsession, but post-surgery I needed the light relief. I’m obsessed. If you love it, have a listen to the ‘expert’ Mel Schilling on Elizabeth Day’s podcast.
Shameless self promotion
Have you read Single Bald Female and enjoyed it? If so, please do tell a friend about it, or leave a review on Amazon, Waterstones or Audible. I can’t tell you how much it helps – and spurs me on to finish writing the next one!
Loved this! How did you know the book was “good enough” to pitch to agents? Also any thoughts on a novela sized book following the same process as a normal fiction book?