Traditional Publishing

As I’ve worked on my current series for the past year and begun two other standalone novels, I never really considered going the traditional publishing route. It’s not that I’ve ever had anything against it, it’s just that I struggled to see where I fit in that marketplace… not only as a queer, disabled, neurodiverse author but also because of the structure of the stories I’d been writing.

I’ve listened to enough podcasts and attended enough classes, webinars, and groups to understand that most agents aren’t looking to pick up a debut author with a series in hand. New/unproven authors like myself are already a risk as it is, but to try to sell anyone on a series doesn’t seem to be a great business move, and I get that. I understand it. It’s why I planned on independently publishing from day one. That, and I really preferred the idea of having full creative control over my projects, from the cover to the marketing strategies. However, as I’ve finished a few manuscripts, gotten feedback from industry professionals, and started really looking at what I want long-term, I’m realizing that I want to give the traditional route a shot. I revised Book One of The Manifold Chronicles to be able to stand alone, and have been devoting a lot of my time to finishing the first draft of a dual-timeline speculative novel set in upstate New York so that I can get it edited and ready to submit.

I’ve decided to query agents.

It’s something I’ve been going back and forth on for months now, if I’m being honest, but I hadn’t settled on it until the past few weeks. I no longer feel as strongly about maintaining full control over things like cover art as I’ve grown to respect certain people (agents and publishers) I’ve been listening to or following for a while. I wouldn’t want to work with just anybody, but there are a handful of agents I would absolutely trust to work with through the publishing process, even if it means easing up on my tight grip over my work. I absolutely love the idea of working with an agent who takes an editorial approach (I thrive off constructive criticism and feedback), and who is equally as passionate about bringing marginalized voices to media.

I want to be a career author, and I think as time goes on I may find it difficult to manage every aspect of publishing on my own. That’s part of the appeal of traditional publishing for me at this point as well. While I’ve worked to build a team around me even as I planned on self-publishing, I’m realizing that I’d rather let the professionals do certain things instead of trying to learn all of it myself. As a part of my autism, I do love researching and learning new things, but when it comes to expertise, I’d rather rely on the actual experts. I’ve learned over the years, managing my disabilities, that it’s important to prioritize tasks and delegate what I can. So I think it’s time to apply those lessons to my writing endeavors as well.

The list of agents I’ll be querying over the next month is a short one, as there are very specific agents I’m interested in working with, but I figure it’s worth putting myself out there. Some agents are closed to submissions until after the new year, but I’ll be querying two or three before then. Wish me luck as I dive into the trenches!

(Originally published November 2023)