How long does it take to sell a novel to a traditional publisher? About that long.
But in seriousness, while there aren’t statistics that track average time spent on submission, anecdotally it seems like it’s taking longer than ever.
In this post, I’m going to break down how long you can expect it to take, what accounts for the lengthy delays, and why all of those bottlenecks can be thrown out of the window at any time.
How long it takes to sell a novel
I often receive distressed e-mails from authors who have reputable agents who have sent their novels out on submission to editors. The authors really want to trust their agents, and they’re trying to be good and non-high maintenance, but, seriously, could the submission process really take this long?
Yes, it can.
But what if, one of these authors asked, a publisher expressed interest several months ago and then nothing has happened at all? Could they really still be interested? And if they were interested a couple of months ago, why in the heck haven’t they made an offer already?
Happens all the time.
I always assure these authors to just keep in touch with their agent, be patient, take up knitting, and go easy on the bourbon. Settle in for the long haul. (And start working on your next book).
A book might sell in a week. Or it might sell in a year. You never know. Three to nine months is a good range, but I’ve known books that have sold after several years on submission.
And, yes, sadly some books end up dying on sub.
So why does it take so long for an editor to make a decision anyway? Well, there are many reasons. Here are a few of them.
Bottleneck #1: Editors are besieged
Over the course of the last twenty years, there has been quite a lot of industry consolidation that has resulted in numerous imprints getting shut down, and an entire tier of mid-size publishers either absorbed into the Big 5 or shut down.
This means there are fewer places for agents to send projects. And yet there are more agents than ever.
The result? Editors are getting drowned in submissions. While reputable agents used to be able to count on a reasonably timely response from editors, “no response means no” is increasingly common, even for top agents.
Bottleneck numero uno is simply down to an editor slotting your book into a long, growing queue.
Bottleneck #2: It takes a long time to read a novel
Once the editor actually gets to your novel, well, they have to read it. And reading a novel is time-consuming! Six hours on average, if you are a speed reader (and you’d better be if you’re in publishing).
Editors receive multiple submissions a day. Do the math, and even if they quit reading as soon as it’s a “no,” there just aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up, especially when you already have a full-time job while you’re not reading.
But let’s say the editor does read the book, loves it, and wants to make an offer. What then?
Bottleneck #3: Quite a few people have to read the book before an editor can offer
Unless they are a serious publishing muckety-muck, editors have to get approval to make an offer, a process similar to unlocking a nuclear bomb.
They have to get it past their editorial board, they have to get more reads, these reads have to be good, they have to unlock the failsafe and contact the president to press a button on the nuclear football, the sales team gets a look, some higher up has to sign off on it… and all of these people have to read the book too.
Multiply those six hours by ten, and then maybe the editor gets approval to make an offer of a certain amount.
For more on what’s going on behind the scenes at the publisher, check out former Big 5 editor Christine Pride’s inside look.
Slow, then fast
Now, what’s funny about all this is that when there’s a hot project, all of this goes out the window. People can quickly lose their minds and the whole above process can be condensed to a couple of hours.
Frankly, it’s a good thing publishing companies don’t actually control our nuclear stockpile. One whiff of an aging rock star memoir and take cover.
I know it’s terribly frustrating to go months and months looking for an agent and then finally the book gets submitted… and then wait months and months while you’re waiting for editors to read it.
Welcome to publishing. You have no choice but to stay a while.
Originally published March 7, 2008
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Art: Vanitas – Still Life with Books and Manuscripts and a Skull by Evert Collier
Thank-you, Nathan. I found this post enormously informative.
And we have to keep Uzbekistan just for the spelling. That and “Kamchatka” (sounds like a Russian dessert).
I’m going to have to point all of my family, friends and colleagues to today’s post. They mean well, being so supportive, but they all assume that just because the MS is finished, the book will be on the shelves any day now. I want to shake them and say, “Do you understand what a miracle it is that ANYTHING is in print?”
While this is exactly what I didn’t want to hear, it’s what I needed to hear!
I think we writers get impatient because it can take so dang long to write the book. Like, can’t everybody else get their act together more efficiently than me???
Um, no. I must remind myself that I really do want those who make the decisions to actually read the darn thing.
Must remember that anything worth having is worth waiting for… thanks, Nathan.
From this brief explanation I suddenly feel that I understand the entire world of publishing. Brilliant job. Thanks, Nathan.
Yep, Queryland is a good place to learn patience.
š
I get it. Hotel California was about the publishing industry!
Thanks Nathan. Even though I’ve heard my own agent say basically the same thing before, and know it to be true, it’s still nice to read another post about how grueling and long the submission process can be….especially when you hear so many stories about auctions and selling projects within weeks and even days…..gets very demoralizing…
And the bigger the publisher, the longer the wai.
Nathan,
Thank you for this bit of plain-speaking.
And although the wait for a “yes” answer can be long, the wait for a “no” answer can be just as long and much more devastating.
Nathan, what can we do as “wanna be Authors” do to help smooth things along and speed the process up?
At my online critique group, many youngsters roam, who still have to go to college. I sometimes envy them. I wish I would have kept writing at an early age and try to kick myself in the head (but my stiff limbs won’t let me). My biggest fear is that my wife will read me my first acceptance letter on my death bed…
*chuckling here* I’ve heard this before and understand it, but this is by far the most humorous (and perhaps for that reason, most effective) explanation I’ve read!
Thanks putting these hard truths into humor so we can bear them better.
(And Diana… this is why my SIL/best friend is the ONLY one in my family who even knows I write! The others won’t find out until/unless my book is actually sold and released!)
Jackie-
Nothing.
I think it comes from a misconception that publishing is quick. What if they had a quick time of landing an agent? They might assumed – if they are not informed via blogs like this – that it is not uncommon for things in publishing to be glacially slow – then they assume it’s going to be just as fast.
They might be excited that the ball is rolling and forget that their submission is one of many.
People email you asking these questions and you answer? Where do you find the time.
I think the key to patience here is probably the ongoing communications and conversations between the agent and the author.
As an artist, I have had commercial agents who weren’t pushing my work or who had messed up their ends of deals so badly, that artists’ agents have a terrible reputation.
In art, it is better to get a lawyer and learn how to talk in the boardroom yourself, rather than behind an agent.
But in the writing world, an agent is a professional field and hopefully contributes enormously to the process a writer must go through. In many cases, he/she is probably essential.
But art or writing or business of whatever, keeping in regular communication is reassuring.
Not hearing anything is hell, especially if you happen to have a very active writer’s imagination or are paranoid or insecure or all of the above.
The waiting part is incredibly frustrating. It’s the worst thing about publishing. But if you’re waiting, that means they haven’t said no yet, and that’s always a good thing. That’s what I try to tell myself anyway.
Welcome to publishing. You have no choice but to stay a while.
That’s a great line (well, two lines). Made my day and made me laugh, both. Humor really helps in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances, doesn’t it?
thank you for answering my question š
you are telling me it is,pretty much, impossible to have an offer from a Publisher in 4 months (I have 3 chapters written-the ones I sent you but improved, finals- then I have chapters 4-10 written but not edited. My goal is 12 and I do have a Literary Agent that offered to represent me).
š be aware that if you say “yes” I will prove you wrong (joking intended)
thank you for answering my question š
you are telling me it is,pretty much, impossible to have an offer from a Publisher in 4 months (I have 3 chapters written-the ones I sent you but improved, finals- then I have chapters 4-10 written but not edited. My goal is 12 and I do have a Literary Agent that offered to represent me).
š be aware that if you say “yes” I will prove you wrong (joking intended)
Nathan said, “to wait months and months to finally get an agent” and then “take months and months to get your ms read.”
Uh, sort of… but for most of us its been more like, takes years and years to find an agent, and then six to ten months to hear back from editors. I like your version much better though!
does anyone know the stats on how long the editor takes to get back to your agent vs. if they then buy the ms? Seems like some books are snatched up really quick and others don’t ever sell if they’ve been on submission for a year or more.
Hey Nathan: You forgot one more thing the Waiting Writer can do . . .
. . . go work on the next book. . . .
Tom,
Great Point!
I know two fabulous writers who gave up writing when they couldn’t get their first book published.
Honestly, they could use words so well, they made other writers pale by comparison. So they thought too. But they still didn’t get their first novels published and they both stopped writing.
I kind of like the Stephan King kind of model -keep those ghouls coming!
And one day, if you are ever picked up, there’s a wealth of books already in the drawer.
And, you’ll get better as a writer.
Hopefully.
Excellent reminder, Nathan.
Same holds true for short story submissions to magazines–the pro publications often take months to respond. I had one short story out for a year to a publisher and every time I queried they said, “Still considering your submission, thanks for your patience.” The story was only 1200 words long, what’s to consider. However, they bought the story at last–and then took 3 years to publish it (and pay upon publication)!
Writer’s life: not for the impatient.
Nathan, this post wasn’t supposed to cheer us up, was it? ;o)
had to step away for a bit, sorry.
š stick with me ANON., when I order a cheeseburger I want it the American way…fast. Then someone pinches me š
I was talking to a friend of mine today who’s decided she has an idea for a series. A children’s picture book series. The first book isn’t even written yet, she’s still formulating the concept. She wanted to know, did I think it would be possible to have something published and out in the stores by Christmas? After all, it doesn’t cost much, it’s just paper and ink and binding, and we’ve come so far, technologically speaking.
I said, This year? 2008? Uh.. NO. Then I ROFLMAO! (quietly, of course)
“A book might sell in a week or it might sell in a year.”
And what Nathan has refrained from saying here is:
“A book might sell in a week or it might sell in a year or it might not sell at all.”
Even if you’re a published author, your next book might not sell. To your same publisher or to a new one.
Unless your name is Stephen King or Dan Brown, not a hell of a lot is guaranteed in publishing.
So although Nathan suggests going easy on the Bourbon, I’m unconvinced.
cheesburgers, remember cheeseburgers ANON…
would you like fries with that??? no Bourbon
Yes, yes, you can thank me later for allowing in that ray of sunshine.
This is HYSTERICAL but true!! I’ve been waiting about six months on one house today, five on another, two on some others…..and I have an agent!
congrats ANON
I am still amazed that people request my writings (I share with a handful of family and lifetime friends) but I don’t think I will ever get use to being Published (because I will gosh darnit)
be optomistic
a process similar to unlocking a nuclear bomb.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that a simile??
Bad Nathan. Bad, bad, bad.
Luc, my blog buddy: Just wait till you’re my age and still don’t have a book deal. But yeah, I think if there’s only one piece of advice I could give to writers it’s: Start young.
Katie, my fellow RWA chapter member: I’m with you. My family and the people at school only vaguely know I’m a writer (they don’t even know I have a story coming out in a magazine). I don’t intend to say anything more till if – when! – I have book out. I think keeping mum avoids a lot of awkward questions from people who are ignorant about the biz.
Mark, pass the bourbon: I heard that only half the writers who get signed by agents ever get a book deal, and then there are those who do get deals and are eventually dropped by their publisher (some regroup and reinvent themselves – “Dexter” author Jeff Lindsay comes to mind) and some give up.
Nathan, I think the same advice applies to waiting on a query, waiting for an agent to decide to sign you, waiting for a publisher to decide on your book: Stay busy! Whether it’s writing a new book, articles, short stories, spending time with family and friends (whom you might have neglected while you were writing), have a great hobby… a career… a freakin’ life outside of writing so that you don’t become a neurotic wreck while you’re waiting on any of this stuff.
We write because we enjoy creating.It is quite pleasant to live in “never never land” and is much more special if we acheive giving that to someone else.
right?
Been there, done that, currently wearing the t-shirt. What helps is when my agent calls every now and again and says “You keep writing and don’t worry. I WILL sell this book.”
Any agents out there–call or e-mail your authors sometimes. It helps. Boy does it help.
…Margret, then there is Nathans Blog! Thank you so very much Nathan!
Anon, “a process similar to unlocking a nuclear bomb” is not a simile.
Nathan’s off the hook.
THANK YOU!
hmmm my t-shirt says “your parents will hate me” š
my brother lives in Colorado. A few years ago a mountain right next to him had a forest fire…they called it Burning Mountain before that fire, imagine that
While this is exactly what I didn’t want to hear, it’s what I needed to hear!
It occurs to me that I see this or some version of it on every. single. post. Typically from different people, but still.
You could save all of us a lot of time and have a bot auto-post this comment every time you put up a new blog entry.
TAKE UP KNITTING???
No, no, no, you’re suppose to say get to work on your next book.
Thanks again, Nathan. If publishing teaches you nothing else…its patience.
I love forced patience [really–I say this with a smile] I’m a now kinda gal… great post, it’s something we all learn with time, sorry bad joke.
And yes, waiting for those no’s is a long time… I’m still waiting [taps fingers] really I AM more patient than I used to be *g*
And I am working on many next books… maybe I’ll have a fleet of ’em to sell when I finally do get picked up?
the two cents of my continuing saga; book one took a few years to write, never landed an agent. Book two took a year to write, landed an agent, but after a year of submissions, book 2 never sold. In the meantime, I had finished book 3, and after about 10 months of submissions, I came real close (some second reads with major houses), but still no sale. While waiting, I wrote book 4. We’ll see what happens with that one. Publishing is tough…..
Katie, Jospehine, I agree. I didn’t tell anyone I was writing a novel when I was working on my first. Then I got a whiff of publisher interest and told family and friends. I’m also a painter… so have now condemned myself to an existence where “Sold any paintings lately?” and/or “What’s happening with your books?” replaces a usual greeting. š
“Now, what’s funny about all this is that when there’s a hot project all of this goes out the window… Frankly it’s a good thing publishing companies don’t actually control our nuclear stockpile — one whiff of a rock star memoir and bye bye Uzbekistan.”
Little piece of advice to the newcomers: Never, ever, EVER read anything Nathan Bransford has to say when you’re drinking soda. Screen gets very messy, very quickly. You also look rather foolish with it spewing out of mouth and nose.
Thanks, Nathan. Great post.
Nathan, funny… I got most of that info at a publishing seminar, but it was presented like a two-by-four to the head. I think I am one of the only fools who took the ‘thou must wait’ mantra waaay too far. (I’m a trusting soul). My first book stayed with a publisher for over a year, before they rejected it (there was a first rights clause for them attached to a contest they’d selected it from). Now book #2 is with an agent who says I can’t shop it around to other agents while I wait ~3 months for their verdict.
Sorry, I’ve pestered w/ similar issues in another post, but I just want to clarify: I get the waiting game. I feel like a bit of a dumbass for taking passive, eggs-in-one-basket style waiting to the extreme, rather than having the good sense to send my MS out in the enterprising spirit most other authors seem to… Now I’m trying to find a happy medium/common sense approach, and figure out where I maybe need to get a little more proactive. š
Nathan,
A related question…What number of editor passes indicates that an agented book probably won’t sell? Five? Ten? Twenty? More? I know there are always exceptions, but at what point should an author figure that there is little hope for her book in the current market, especially when the passes don’t point to any major problems and seem to boil down to taste?
Thanks for the insight!