AFTER years of writing, revising, and submitting, after loads of rejections and months of self-doubt, the miracle has happened: You signed with an agent. Your book is one enormous step closer to publication. Most likely there is more revising to conquer, although now you’ll be working with comments from a professional who is eager for you to elevate your manuscript to a place where an editor has no choice but to publish it. Finally, when your manuscript is in the best shape of its life, your agent will begin the submission process.
If you’re like most debut authors, you probably have no idea what this phase of the publishing journey entails. And as eagerly as you’ve hoped for this moment to come, the mystery and the lack of control can make the submission process stressful, particularly when you don’t know what to expect from your agent—or what the agent expects from you.
Even seasoned authors find this moment nerve-racking. Author Carolyn Crimi, whose books for young readers include (Balzer + Bray, 2021), says, “I’m actually the worst when it comes time for my agent to submit my work. I turn into an impatient, neurotic, cranky mess. I go into full-blown Nancy Drew mode and investigate every editor on the list. What have they acquired in the past? Do they have a nice smile? Did they really
