Slow-burn Big News

One of the peculiarities of a career in writing is how something you might want to announce takes a winding road, muffling the moment of the big reveal - the author being the kid in the backseat asking ‘are we nearly there yet?’ as the agent and publisher do their contractual thing in the front.

I’ve known since January (hence the slow-burn) that I had a book in a three-way bid with excellent publishers - that in itself was new to me as I’ve not gone out the market like that for many years. If you get one of these moments, celebrate it because it means you’ve come up with a book that lots of people think has commercial appeal.

BTW this bidding process was for a full manuscript, not a concept. Even authors with a track record usually have to write the whole thing to land a new deal. The ‘I’ve got an idea for a book’ that I get told at parties really isn’t going to get you a contract.

Say it together folks: ideas are the easy part, writing is the hard.

The exception to that rule is if you are already famous for something else. Start on that stand up career/Hollywood fame now. They’ll probably also approach with the idea and the ghost writer - but that’s another part of the business entirely.

I would’ve loved to have worked with any of the publishing teams that were after the book, but decided to go with Usbourne. I’m really enjoying working with Rebecca Hill and her team. I’ve just handed back the second draft so all is beetling along. I’ve been doing fun things over Easter like drawing maps for the designers to work off.

And yes, we are nearly there now.

So, a little fanfare, new book from me in January. I can’t tell you the title yet as we are debating the right one. It will be illustrated and zany fun - but more about this when I have the front cover etc.

It’s prompted me to think what I did right this time round (unlike my other rejections) that might apply to other writers wanting to make that breakthrough.

1. Be tuned in to what publishers are looking for. This book arose out of conversation I had at a publishing party. An area came up and I went home and wrote something that hit the notes really quickly knowing the idea had a topical appeal. You may not yet be invited to parties like that, but reading on Substack what agents are looking for, for example, is a good substitute.

2. If you have an idea like that, speed is your friend. Other people might be having a similar idea if its something in the zeitgeist. If you can get in first, that’s great. I’m this kind of speedy writer - you might be too.

3. It helps if you already have a good track record - that’s out of your hands if you are a debut.

4. An equivalent there for a debut might be some social media following or profile in a special interest group that gives a start for the marketing people.

5. If you’ve been published and it fizzled, why not use a new pen name - refresh the brand?

6. Write the whole thing. A concept is not enough.

7. Keep it shorter than you might’ve done before. Everyone in publishing is telling me MG books are reducing in length to fit with the modern child’s attention span. Practical terms this means get it well under 60K words (that used to be the length specified in contracts back in the day).

8. In my case, my agent really helped. Molly Ker Hawn from DHA went out with the excitement and energy that made it something publishers would pick up from their pile and read. Getting notice is a huge part of the battle. You don’t have to have one, but maybe you need one? Might be worth returning to knock on some agents’ doors if you’ve given up on that?

I will have missed some things but that’s what felt important to me in getting a deal in 2026.

If you want to revisit some of my classic MG novels, you can find out more on my website.