"How long are you willing to wait to find your readers?"
A reflection on the query process and timeline to publication.
This was a question that was ask of me, in the comment section of a thread I posted two days ago. In which I asked;
Question for trad published authors, how long does it take to go from querying process to actual publication? What does that timeline look-like?
It seems to me that people who query or landed publishers this year are releasing in 2025 or 2026. How does pre scheduled books factor into it? (@arsingh_writes, Threads. )
The responses didn’t take long. Authors and writers, responded by sharing their experiences and timelines of their own author journey. Here are several of them. I’ll link my original thread here, as I cannot share all of them, there are too many.
“Generally from acquisition to publication is about 18-24 months, depending on the project. Books are scheduled in seasons to buy-in and these seasons are usually prepped 9 months to a year in advance.”
- S. Jae-Jones, author of Wintersong. (@ssaejones, Threads)
“What you’ve said is pretty representative of how it worked for me! I queried early 2022 and signed with my agent in the summer of 2022. Went on sub and sold my debut this year. It’s scheduled for publication in 2025. All in all; It’ll be about a 4 year process from querying to publication.”
- Jasmine Smith, author of the Death Card releases in 2025. (@jasminesmithwrites, Threads.)
“Its usually 24-28 months after signing your contract, but it depends on how much time is built into the contract for mass delivery.”
- Stephanie Weaver. (@sweavermph, Threads.)
“The timeline varies widely depending on how long it takes after signing with your agent to them actually putting you on sub. As for signing a pub deal vs debut, it typically takes at least a year and often two. I sold my debut in spring 2018 and debuted fall 2019.”
- Laura Taylor Namey (@laura_namey, Threads.)
Back tracking a bit here, for those who don’t know what Threads is. Threads is the latest app to make its appearance as a social media platform. Often referred to as the less toxic version of Twitter, wait… X. It was created by Instagram, who launched it earlier this year. The app has blown up in popularity, especially amongst the writing, book and author communities. I joined on a whim and couldn’t be happier with the results. I’ve found new connections and support as I pursue my dream of publishing a book and becoming an author.
Comments like these along with dozens of others have flooded my notifications for the past two days. Reading everyone’s journeys and their query to publication timeline has really put things into perspective for me.
My take-aways: This quote really is true and the wide-eyed, eager, hopeful and excited writer in me (naive one at that.) wanted to believe that the process was much faster and easier.
The hard and fast truth is, the publishing world is messy. It is long, and it happens often in quick spurts of time after months, sometime years of waiting and constant rejections.
An equally hard truth to learn is, that not everyone is going to love your work, your writing, your story. Or care to support you as you try. Agents will be found and lost. Offers will be made and withdrawn. And it will take perseverance and sheer will/determination to find people to sit in your corner as you try, fail and try again.
My writer friend told me recently during one of our meet ups, “Its nice to see you so excited about writing and story telling, and not some cynical jaded writer like me.” I think she spoke a little too soon. lol. Hopefully not. I still have faith in my story and my world that I’ve created.
Another question that was posed in the comments of that thread post, and one that I used for the title of this article, is ‘How long are you willing to wait for your readers?” It is a really good question. And it’s one that I’m still trying to sort it out myself. For me, it really is a question of how much faith and trust I have in myself. To see this project through and make into the best version it can possibly be. And to have faith that others will see its potential as well. All I can do is to keep writing.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Please let me know down below!