My agent is sending my book out! How do I stay sane?

I advise a reader going on submission...

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Hello Team CCC! How are you? I hope you’ve had a great week!

I’ve been reading The Great Believers, which I loved - and making exciting plans for my next book, Read Yourself Happy, which is out in February. (I’m recording the audiobook in a couple of weeks, which I’m looking forward to.

Meanwhile, TOUR DATES AHOY for Pity Party! I’m very excited about being a guest on ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY with

Rebecca Fletcher

and Rebecca Lovatt on 25 September, I think you can watch via my Instagram. My rescheduled virtual event (Instagram Live) with Amanda Prowse is next Friday, 27th September at 7PM BST - just find me here and come on down! I’m at Cheltenham Lit Fest on Saturday 5th October. The fabulous Olivia Petter will be interviewing Andrew Hunter Murray and me about funny books. Tickets here.

On 6 October I’m interviewing Helen Lederer for a live edition of the You’re Booked podcast at the Margate Bookie - tickets here. On 14th October I’m signing, chatting, hanging out at Simply Books in Bramhall. Tickets here. On 15th October I’m interviewing Cecelia Ahern at St Michael and All Angels Bramhall Parish Church. Tickets here. And the You’re Booked podcast is baaaaaack on Monday! Find us and follow us and be the first to hear a great conversation with Bella Mackie.

This edition of the CCC newsletter is for paying subscribers. If you’d like that to be you, hit the button below for the Autumn upgrade offer! Other benefits include a discount on the courses I run. Write Like A Reader will be coming back on Sunday 27th October. If you’d like to find out all of the details of my confidence boosting fiction writing course, drop me a line! creativeconfidenceclinic@gmail.com

Now for this week’s question - about the agony and ecstasy of being on submission! Hope you enjoy! If you have a Dear Daisy question, email me! I’d love to hear from you…

How do I handle uncertainty, anxiety and waiting?

Dear Daisy,

I’m so excited! I’ve been offered representation by a literary agent who I really like. She has helped me to tweak my first novel, and it’s about to go out on submission! Like Jessie in Saved By The Bell, I’m so excited, and so scared!

A few of my friends have been through this process, so I know a little bit about what to expect. Some of my friends had the sort of offers that surpassed anything they were dreaming about. Others didn’t sell their books and felt sad and stupid for getting their hopes up. I’m trying so hard to keep my hopes down and be sensible and realistic – but I definitely catch myself daydreaming and wondering about what might happen! In my dreams, an editor calls my agent with an amazing offer the second it lands on their desk. In reality, I know it can take weeks and months of waiting. Do you have any tips or advice for navigating this period, and staying as calm and sane as possible?

Love

Author-to-Be?