Hello, everyone! It’s nice to write to all of you again after a month(?). I’ll try to be more active with the writers and readers of more socials than just Twitter. I’ve never been good with blog posts simply because I have no idea what to write. Full-length novels? No problem. A five minute-read blog post? Awful.
As most of you probably know, I’ve been very fortunate over April and May 2023. I signed my first publishing contract for FACES ON FRENCHMEN STREET on April 5th, my second contract for LIFE’S A PITCH on April 19th, and most recently, I signed a contract with Caroline Trussell at Metamorphosis Literary Agency, my wonderful and attentive agent, for my latest book ROSE THORNS BETWEEN US.
(P.S. I am still so happy to have such an amazing advocate for RTBU, someone who truly understood the themes and messages I was trying to portray through writing. Caroline also loves Rhett, Gen, and Iris as much as I do!)
(Extra P.S. you can check out my website (you’re on it, just click the books tab or this link https://www.haleywarringtonwrites.com/books) for descriptions and links to Goodreads!)
I see a lot of people online wondering what the process is like after getting an agent. To be honest, not a lot has changed. I’m not on sub yet, but I will be pretty soon, so right now, my process is going back and forth with edits for my manuscript and obsessively sending editors I’d like to submit to to Caroline (I really, truly wonder why she doesn’t hate me yet lol).
So, you ask, what are the next steps? Now that I have all these ✨things✨, what am I supposed to do?
Well, frankly, 99% of the work is out of my hands. And that’s amazing, but it’s also hard. Let me tell you why:
There’s so much hype around getting an agent (or signing with an indie press like LCP) that people overlook the waiting aspect of it all. FOFS and LAP don’t come out until 2025 and 2026 respectively, and with (most) major revisions done-ish…all there’s left to do is wait. And I even have to wait to market. I’m so beyond excited to share with readers that it has me in a genuine state of “what now?”
Waiting is mind-numbing. I’ve had trouble writing lately simply because of all of the stuff going on. Yes, everything about this is exciting, and no, I’m not complaining about it. I’m elated that I’ve found people who believe in me so much, they’re taking chances on me. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, and Brittany and Caroline never let me forget they believe in me.
I like to believe I’m a positive person, or that I at least give off the vibes of being positive. With that being said, I really do need to thank my friends AGAIN, considering they’re the only reason I’ve maintained this outlook. You know who you are, so just…go with it.
(Also...do you get the baseball pun? Because LAP...?)
No matter what stage of the process you’re in, it’s okay to NOT be positive, though. We oftentimes forget to take time for ourselves (myself included while revising three books and attempting to draft a fourth all at the same time). As writers and creatives, we really do need time to relax and focus on something other than our craft.
I worked hard. Genuinely, I believe I deserve the good things I’ve gotten, but it came at a price: for the past year, I’ve done nothing but write. Wake up, open the document, and I don’t close that damn thing until I turn my computer off at night. I should’ve treated myself better because here I am, finally feeling the fizzle of a burnout.
My brain is so conditioned to be writing all the time. I feel guilty when I don’t write for extended periods of time (which for me, is anything more than three days apparently).
Anyway, moral of the story is: take some breaks. Don’t overwork yourself because the work is not done when you get an agent or a book deal. There are revisions. Edits. Several things that’ll take up your time and energy. Hell, you’ll still have to draft your next book, too! Take. Your. Time. There’s no rush.
Take care of yourself. Things will happen when they’re meant to. I know we’re all tired of hearing that, but it’s the truth. It has to be the right book at the right time with the right advocate. Keep your head up, and I’ll probably see everyone next month for some sort of blog post.
I extend all my luck to those of you drafting, querying, 👀vague👀, revising, and anyone going on/already on submission. I see all of you, I relate to all of you, and I truly believe we can all accomplish great things.
See you soon,
Hals
@hpwarrington on Twitter
@hals.war on Instagram
Find my cute lil bio on LCP's website: https://lakecountrypress.com/ourauthors
Metamorphosis profile coming soon! Keep an eye out lol
IF ANYONE NEEDS ANYONE TO TALK TO, OR IF YOU’D LIKE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME ON EITHER OF THE SOCIALS LISTED ABOVE OR THROUGH MY CONTACT FORM ON MY WEBSITE.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! ♥️
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