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Life as an Author Post-Book Deal: A Surreal Journey!
What you can expect from the writing life
Anyone who has wanted to become an author has envisioned the day when they get a call from an agent or an editor to offer them a deal on their book idea. TV shows and movies have romanticized being a writer, making it seem like the dream life. Sitting around all day, thinking up stories, or walking for hours in the park or daydreaming in cafes. A lovely agent who is your best friend. An editor who supports you and seemingly only cares about your book. Money. Fame. Success.
What’s it like in real life? Still magical, but not exactly the way Hollywood paints the picture.
The call
When an editor is interested in your story, they will ask to see a partial, followed by asking for the full manuscript. If you have captured their interest and they want to buy the story, you will get the exciting call with “the offer.”
The advance they offer is usually much less than you’d expect. They will let you know if they want just that one book or if it’s a two or three-book deal. As a new writer, they will most likely buy only the book they read. If it does well, your second deal will be much better, meaning a little more money and a two-book contract.
