Things I Changed to Land a Book Deal

Landing a traditional publishing book deal is not for the faint of heart. Less than one to two percent of writers achieve this goal. Realizing my dream to move from self-publishing to traditional publishing felt impossible until I started taking the steps listed below:

I stopped –Worrying about judgment from others. I realized that the longer I kept my work to myself, the longer it would take for it to become published. 

Instead – I joined a writing critique group. Having monthly writing deadlines kept me accountable. Getting feedback from peers and critiquing their work helped me improve.

I stopped – Staying isolated. As a self-published author I spent most of my time alone creating, but that only got me so far. 

I began – Networking to gain support and guidance on ways to advance my writing career. Attending Highlights Foundation retreats and conferences sponsored by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) were a huge boost. 

I quit – Not wanting to spend money on my writing. I felt like I needed to make money to justify spending more on my development, but that limited my growth.

I took up – Investing in writing classes, professional memberships like the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and conferences to level up. The expenditure was well worth it as I improved as a writer. 

I gave up – Fearing rejection.

I started – Querying agents. Nos and criticisms pushed me to level-up as I applied constructive criticism and advice to my writing. 

If you’re interested in traditional publishing, don’t be scared to put yourself out there! Participate in conferences, coaching and writing retreats to learn and grow. Have faith that you can make it happen!