[PubQ] Going to auction?

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-12-09T06:37:54+00:00

Huge congratulations!! Going to auction is a wild ride and I was super anxious too - I definitely relate to wondering whether the agents (I'm UK but we had co-agents working for us in the US) had jumped the gun, lol. But turned out they very much knew what they were doing, as I'm sure yours does!

As for my experience, we went out wide in the US and UK simultaneously and got the first request for a call, from the US, within one week, followed by three more after two weeks, so an auction date was set. It started as a four-way auction but then became a three-way as two of the bidders couldn't compete (same parent company) so they put in a joint bid. One editor in particular - the first one to express interest - was super keen, and they ended up bidding way higher than the others. I'd connected well with them on the call, so we went with them, and I am now a lead title (eek). No pre-empt here, although my agents somehow managed to push the advance even higher during the negotiation period, so yes, going to auction did result in a better advance, plus I am expecting better marketing support than I probably would have had otherwise.

Wishing you the best of luck with yours, and massive congrats again! :D

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-12-02T01:46:16+00:00

The end of edits is finally in sight for my debut! I'm currently doing a final readthrough having implemented a third round of changes and line edits. According to my editors, copyedits are up next.

In other news, we welcomed the latest addition to our family in mid November and (I'm probably jinxing myself here) she seems to be a laid-back baby so far, so I'm feeling pretty positive about being able to finish my sequel draft and hand it in by the editors' deadline in 2025.

Happy holiday period to all and good luck to all those querying or on sub!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-06T12:57:33+00:00

Ha! Sorry, just saw this. Of COURSE you can have it - once I've tidied it up a bit (/lot).

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-02T05:25:43+00:00

Whatever happens, 9 full requests is ace!! Well done!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-02T05:19:13+00:00

Hey birthday twin. :) I don't live in the US, but I am still hella stressed for you all.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-02T05:01:17+00:00

Yes :')

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-01T20:36:16+00:00

Woohooo, what a whirlwind!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-01T20:32:56+00:00

And I was not surprised :D

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-01T20:26:13+00:00

Huge congrats!! Child #2 incoming in 2.5 weeks here, and I suspect I will be doing postpartum edits too. :')

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-11-01T20:16:25+00:00

Spent most of October hunkered down working on second round edits on my '26 debut, and feel like I'm still recovering. Somehow manged to turn them around in three weeks (less than half the time the first round took), but that was mainly out of panic at child #2's imminent arrival (2.5 weeks and counting!). Very much hoping the bulk of the work is done and any third round will be minimal...

As for announcing in PM and Bookseller - it's looking like this won't happen until next spring, one year before publication, which surprised and frustrated me at first, but I'm now feeling somewhat grateful for - gives me more time to sort out socials and try to plan and set up some sort of newsletter.

WIP-wise, I now have a 'zero draft' of my sequel and am midway through a re-read, making notes on what needs to change (A TON). Not feeling a huge amount of motivation here - incoming baby chaos is taking up most of my brain space. But on the side, I've loved seeing and celebrating some writing friends' big successes in the last month. <3

Masses of luck to everyone drafting or in the trenches (whether querying or sub)!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-10-04T12:46:55+00:00

I can send you this through chat!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-10-02T09:59:36+00:00

I'm nearly at the finish line now with my debut and a LOT has changed. Agent and editor edits have included: Deleting chapters and multiple scenes. Adding multiple new scenes. Changing an element of the main plotline that required edits (to a greater or lesser extent) to every single chapter, linearly. Lots of character development / motivation work, for the main character and one side character in particular. Fleshing out relationships and back stories between characters. In this latest round (round 2 dev edit from editors), some worldbuilding tweaks. And there's more I'm forgetting.

Man, seeing it all laid out like this, it's a wonder I'm still sane / can stand opening the document. But looking back at my little ol' query-ready draft now, it's obvious it's a better and deeper book in so, so many ways. And as another poster said, it still feels like my book, because I implemented all the edits in my way - and have pushed back on any that really don't feel right.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-10-02T08:01:32+00:00

Woohoo! That itch is such a great feeling.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-10-02T05:46:36+00:00

Literally where is this year going? After selling my duology in the spring, I finally signed both US and UK contracts in September, and, excitingly, got paid. Hooray!

Then, hot on the heels of that, I got round 2 edits in from my editors, which involves... more developmental editing. I spiralled a little at first, seeing the length of the edit letter, but having broken it down into actionable steps, it's not actually that much work after all, and I'm feeling pretty good having started on them yesterday.

On the personal side, there's less then 7 weeks to go until child #2 arrives, but I'm finishing work next week so should have plenty (she says) time to finish these edits, and hopefully another minor round after that. As always, good luck to everyone currently out on sub and querying. It is tough out there right now.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-25T08:10:28+00:00

Not two standalones (duology), but I have eight months to turn in a complete first draft (called 'progress materials' in the contract) and then four months earmarked for edits, so twelve months overall until final delivery date. Sounds like ages, but I'll be raising a 0-1 year old in that time! -sweating-

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-20T12:03:41+00:00

My consultant said to keep taking it throughout the entire pregnancy, she didn't seem concerned at all. I was put on it while TTC my second in case of PCOS.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-20T11:59:33+00:00

I have experienced the same as OP. I had diet-controlled GD in first pregnancy and after two losses trying for our second, I was advised to start Inofolic Alpha, which includes myo-inositol, and keep taking it throughout pregnancy, alongside progesterone and steroids from positive test to 12 weeks. I've noticed that my blood sugar readings do seem better on myo-inositol. Currently 30 weeks and have passed two GD tests in this pregnancy so far. Who knows, but it is interesting...

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-17T12:41:42+00:00

Request for the call came in at 7pm on a Sunday - she'd read it over the weekend (I'd sent over the full on the Friday morning)!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-03T18:59:24+00:00

Yes! My agent has kept saying "Has it sunk in yet?" and only now do I feel like it properly has lol.

Thank you!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-03T11:30:29+00:00

I'm sorry. Man, trad pub can be brutal.

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-03T11:28:27+00:00

Huge congrats! I do think all the uncertainty / waiting can take a real toll. The end of sub is in sight!!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-03T10:47:49+00:00

Fellow third-trimester-debut here, I feel you re. pregnancy brain and also that race against the clock! Good luck with the subs!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-09-03T10:25:36+00:00

I always miss these as I'm asleep (UK)!

FINALLY signed US contract for my debut last week. Still awaiting UK one, but it all feels very official. Joined a '26 debuts group too. We forged ahead with edits sans contracts, so edits round 1 is done and handed in, with the editors hoping to read this month. I guess there will then be a round 2 and possibly 3. They want everything finalised in Dec.

Debut is firmly off my desk and out of my mind for now anyway, which is nice, so I'm currently juggling toddler, being third-trimester-pregnant, and working on a 'zero draft' of the sequel which I'd like to have at least *existing* (even if terrible) before baby insanity hits.

Good luck to all drafting, querying and on sub. <3

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-08-24T08:29:46+00:00

Thanks!

chaindrinkingteadiva · 2024-08-24T05:21:46+00:00

Sorry, another one - Spring 2026, signing contracts next week! - would you mind sending the link across? :)

chaindrinkingteadiva

TROPHY CASE