How long? Tell me your success story!

OK, mine is as speedy as it gets. My agent gave out my manuscript on a Monday afternoon, and on the following day - Tuesday - we had editors who wanted it.

I interviewed publishers in person, and had bids on the book within hours.

Like I said, speedy.

And then, when I chose a publisher, they decided to bring my book to market on a 8-month schedule rather than the usual 15 months to 2 years.

Simply:

My average is a bit more varied; thusfar, my fastest has been 15 days from the mailing of the proposal to an email acceptance and the slowest was about 3 months.

None of these were with an agent.

Since I'm now offering my first agented proposal, I feel I must start from the time I sent it to the agent, I'll report on how that goes when the deal is done.

When I was pitching my first book, the average wait time was about two to three months. All rejections, of course.

But when I found the RIGHT publisher for the material, the situation was much different. I found a book on a favorite website whose subject matter was similar to mine. I emailed the publisher of that book and simply said that I was a writer with a manuscript about a regional history topic, and the subject matter was similar to this one, and I described the book. Would they be interested?

And about two days later I heard back from an editor who said that it sounded interesting and please send the manuscript. And I did, maybe a week later they asked for a proposal (using their template). I filled out the proposal and within a month I had a contract.

But I think this is an unusual example, but that's how it went for me.

Now I write fiction, and am still revising.

allen

I agree with Allen, the key is finding the right publisher! I sent several proposals out and waited months (one even responded a year later). However, I sent the query to the publisher that I finally signed with and the process went quickly. I received a request for my proposal about 2 weeks after sending a query, and they responded in just about a month.

I haven't posted on this forum for ages, but this thread caught my eye, as I'm actively working on reviving my book-writing career. My first book was published eons ago (1987) and it took about a month from initial query to contracts. The second (1991) was for a packager and took about the same length of time, but was not a pleasant experience.

I just signed contracts for a new book. I saw the series in Borders and immediately had a couple of ideas, so I emailed the editor with the best one the next morning. I heard back in three or four days from the editor, who wanted the proposal by the following week so she could take it to her editorial meeting. Since this was a form proposal, it was easier to meet that deadline. The book was accepted by the editorial committee and the following week I received the final acceptance. All of this was done via email. I realize I've probably been very lucky in the proposal/acceptance area. But, after this latest speedy (John, yours was a tad more than speedy! Congrats!) turnaround, I'm already spoiled and I'm not sure I will be able to wait months or years for the next one. What's an author to do?

My agent started sending out my proposal and sample chapters in June 2005, and by the end of the year, I had a number of publishers expressing interest, each of whom wanted one more chapter before making a decision. I took about a week to write another chapter (thank GOD for outlines!), shipped it off . . . and had a signed contract in March 2006. So, my journey was about ten months long, from first submissions to signing.

If you add in the time it took me to land an agent, it goes to thirteen months, as I started querying in February 2005.

No idea whether this is fast or slow. I think the correct answer is: there is no Usual Time!

About a month but it was for a specialised line which probably increased the speed.

I got an agent very quickly, in about two weeks, then it took about five months to get the proposal in shape (in part because we were hitting during he holiday season and few people in publishing do any new project work from November to the New Year), and then another six months or so to get a book deal. Once my agent found the right editor who responded well to my book, the book deal happened in about three days, long enough for a few editors at a couple of other houses to take a look at the proposal.

So about a year for me. I think it took me less time than normal to get an agent but maybe more time to shop the proposal around and get an actual book deal.

My first humorous non-fiction book proposal was sent to an agent who specialized in humorous nonfiction. Within 5 days after it left my mailbox, I had a call from him, followed by a faxed agency agreement. A week later he'd sold the book. Now, that was fast!

Unfortunately that spoiled me. Even more unfortunately, my first agent retired. I've had several non-fiction proposals out there since then, humorous and non-humorous. I guess my proposals are well done, because they found agents quickly, but never more than a nibble from publishers.

My last non-fiction humor book was local interest only, so I sent the proposal directly to a local-interest publisher I know personally, who agreed right away to publish it.

I think my modest success at least with agents was due to doing the homework to make polished proposals targeted at exactly the right agents, rather than a shotgun approach of sending masses of proposals out to every agent in the book.

Oh, Laws, yes. Both of mine got back to me at the speed of light without an agent. Both contracts arrived within two weeks for both of my non-fiction books. I think one guy said "We're offering $1,500 for Auto Repair Shams and Scams." I said, "Nah, I'll $1,800 or it's no deal." I upped the other advance to $2,000 and tried like heck to red-pencil both of my contracts. I guess I did all right for a stupid newb. It actually happened so fast in both cases, that I didn't EVEN think about an agent. Man, I could have used one then. I found out that I really undercut myself and gave some rights away. Oh yeah, and Ralph Nader ripped me off for four-thousand buck--that lil bastid.

The point is--Non-fiction SELLS!! I don't care what anybody says. Novels might be fame, friends and eight-by-tens. But...non-fiction pays the bills.

So good luck with your project!

Tri

I feel very fortunate. Very late last year, I got my first "real" book contract. When things got moving, they moved VERY fast. I had contacted the person who eventually became my agent about a different project. She passed on the project I initially pitched, but then asked me to submit a proposal to an editor for a different project. I did as she asked, got the job, and wrote the book. I had been published in the past, but only by VERY small publishers. This was my first experience with a major publisher, and it was a dream come true. It also has led to more projects with the same agent and editorial team. I am filled with gratitude. It has been a very good year thus far.

-hopeful

The publisher of my first book had the option on my next book, so after discussing concepts with my editor I submitted, with her encouragement, a proposal in January. Although I had verbal acceptance within a few months, I didn't get a contract until late August and then it took my agent a couple of months to negotiate a better deal and the contract wasn't signed until October.

From proposal to hearing back:
It has varied for me from *never hearing back* to *a request for the whole enchilada the day after I sent to proposal (I think)- and contract signing within a couple of weeks.

Hard to come up with a mathematical average if one of the extremes is *never*.
Beam.

Congratulations! Several people here have written Arcadia Books, with Under the City doing three of them, I see. I have a ton of ideas for those types of books, but no pictures. It seems hard to find willing participants who give freely. Everyone I contacted wants a cut of the pie (which I don't have a problem with) or control over what goes in the book (which I do have a problem with since I will be doing the writing.) Still, I've thought about contacting the editor and seeing what they have to say. When is your book scheduled for release?

Moon Goddess, thanks. I just received the cover proof today. The manuscript is due the first week of September, and the editor said it usually takes them about four months, so I'm guessing somewhere in Jan. They will have a pub date after I turn in the completed ms.

As far as pictures - just keep trying. Most historical societies have collections and so far, at least for me, are being very helpful. Their members usually know people who know people who have photos. I've only encountered one source so far that wanted $25 a photo. Not on this writer's budget! Check your libraries, museums, local photographers, newspaper archives, town hall (of course, this will all depend on your topic) but since Arcadia's books are historical, you should be able to find sufficient number of photos with a little legwork.

This publisher has been great to work with and the editors are very helpful, so yes, I would think you could also discuss it with them. Good luck!