10 Comments

Thank you for sharing this experience. I was just in a Zoom writing room talking about my experience to date of querying. And someone shared this essay. Everything you mentioned I'm experiencing in real time. The thing that disturbs me most is knowing that part of me is seeking that validation from someone outside myself that my work is worthy of publication. I must reframe that to remember that I'm seeking a partner to champion my work, not validate me as a human being. The mental gymnastics of attempting to address each agent's peccadilloes is nuts! But your words are helping me to march forward.

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What an incredible story! I thank you for sharing it in such detail. I'm working on a book proposal and I learned a lot already from your experience, and plan to follow the links you provided. I'm grateful that you stuck it out, found success and are helping others by sharing your journey. And that you were called on today in LWS Writers' Hour!

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Thanks for sharing, and congrats!! Also Malaya? My fave too!!

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Wow! Congratulations Deepa! It brings me joy to see your smile as you clink your champagne glasses! What an inspiration you are to keep finding your way back to the querying table, despite the hurdles! I can't wait to read your book.

I'm a new member here (also living in NL!) and I'm starting to claim my identity as a writer. I've been in the process of writing my first non-fiction book..sloooowwllyy. I've taken a course on writing Book Proposals but am still not sure about the publishing/self-publishing route.

Question: Looking back now, what if anything would you do differently? Specifically, would you still go the traditional publishing route first?

Proost!

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Deepa! First HUGE congrats on everything in this. I'm so stoked for you on multiple levels:

- 1 because we met all those years ago when I worked at IG and was astounded by your brilliant website and sparkling copy, and

- 2 Because I'm stoked you are on Substack, and sharing your publishing journey here—where there are amazing book authors but not many like you sharing the depths you go to to get an agent!

- 3 because I'm a fellow writer and novelist, and my querying spreadsheet for my second novel looks ALARMINGLY similar to yours (down to the same columns, red filler paint for rejects and more!!) and so reading the ins and outs of your journey to being agented is like watching the one that escaped escaping and running free and cheering them on for everyone!!!

So excited to subscribe and find out more. Congrats again!!!

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WOOT WOOT

Went thru this with my mom some years back, when she was trying to sell a book she wrote. Drained the life out of both of us. She's still writing and this gives me hope :)

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Ah! Congratulations!!! I read your work through Courtney maum’s newsletter and knew it was special. Thrilled for you, and feeling optimistic that my similarly painful journey will have a joyful ending.

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Wow, I had no idea of the behind the scenes. Congratulations!!

Feeling very differently about the book in my bag that I am reading today. And cannot wait for your book to be my book in my bag, my current read.

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Oh my goodness, this is absolutely amazing news!!! So many congratulations. Your hard work and extreme perseverance and resilience has paid off and is inspirational to all of us writers flogging away at the coal-face

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