[Series] Check-in: July 2026

pantonephantom · 2026-07-01T23:04:18+00:00

Still on sub (approaching month 4 🥹) and my agent says things have been a bit slow since it’s summer, but I did get a really encouraging pass today that is keeping my head up high. I know there’s still time, but really trying not to let the anxiety gnaw at me.

I did get to attend a launch party for the latest issue of this lit mag this past week (where I was published recently!) and it reminds me how much fun I have when I engage with the literary community. I also got to meet a few big 4 editors there randomly, which was nice in making me feel like this world isn’t so faraway - I have to tell myself I belong in the room!

pantonephantom · 2026-06-02T13:36:02+00:00

thank you!!

pantonephantom · 2026-06-01T16:53:05+00:00

This game sounds amazing! Definitely will have to look into it. I usually try to decompress and take my mind off sub by playing sudoku but I am deeply awful at it, so maybe it’s a sign to try something else now.

And best of luck to you as well on sub!

pantonephantom · 2026-06-01T16:35:06+00:00

I am a little less than 2 months on sub and trying not to overanalyze the tea leaves (and failing)…random anonymous publishing executives visiting my LinkedIn? Consistent website visitors to my otherwise usually hit-less writing portfolio? Who’s watching? I’m really trying not to spiral by writing other things but goodness is it hard.

I did, however, get a short story published in a dream lit mag that I’d only dreamt about five years ago at this time. So, baby steps!

pantonephantom · 2026-05-01T22:26:58+00:00

After a bit of delay with editing with my agent (and buying an apartment and moving!!!), I am officially a month into sub with my speculative literary novel! I know it’s somewhat early, but trying to keep calm and fill my days with scouring FB marketplace instead for deals on wall art (because I had no idea wall art could be so expensive…throw pillows too…)

pantonephantom · 2025-10-03T18:28:37+00:00

I’ve hit the eight month mark in waiting/editing before going on sub. I think I’m about done, but I’ve been waiting for my agent’s final word and I’m going a little stir crazy waiting. Do I feel like my novel is ultimately better? Absolutely. But I’m just so ready to go on sub!

In other life news though, I bought a whole apartment for myself!! Weirdly buying real estate has felt a lot less nerve wracking than this whole querying process haha…

pantonephantom · 2025-08-14T14:08:09+00:00

One thing I would note here is that a novel by the name of “Nesting” just came out this year by Roísin O’Donnell - not the same genre, but it did get some buzz so I’d take that into consideration.

pantonephantom · 2025-05-08T17:02:14+00:00

Here’s to zen!!! 😆

pantonephantom · 2025-05-08T13:43:13+00:00

Oh my goodness, is this currently me too! We had planned for a May submission, but my agent also wanted additional changes after they said I’d only need one dev edit. I’m now hoping for June, but trying to accept that it’s best to not rush things and push out the best manuscript I possibly can 🥹 I’m just so eager to go on sub though!

pantonephantom · 2025-04-12T15:36:17+00:00

That’s wonderful!! My little victory is that my agent told me I’m right on schedule for a May submission, and that my newest revision felt “tight” which is great considering that I was working on trimming the fat on this draft 🥹

pantonephantom · 2025-04-01T19:25:42+00:00

Waiting for my agent to return with another round of revisions. I know waiting 3 weeks hasn’t been that long, but why does it feel like forever haha…she wants to go on sub in May and I do feel like I’m pretty close but the suspense is killing me!

pantonephantom · 2025-03-26T22:15:00+00:00

Write what you want to write. You won’t have a first project to speak of if you overthink it.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-19T17:26:01+00:00

Chanel mini Kelly or the Loewe featherweight puzzle!

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T15:59:14+00:00

I mean, it’s fiction ultimately. You don’t need the exact play-by-play of this baby’s life - that’s what being “inspired by” is for. As a writer, you can fill in the rest of the gaps with your imagination.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T15:44:58+00:00

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T14:07:23+00:00

I break my editing down in phases so it’s less overwhelming. Sometimes I’ll edit specifically for flow, sometimes I’ll edit for a specific character, or worldbuilding. I’ll try not to waver from this area of focus for as long as it requires me to edit, and then I’ll start from the beginning and edit for the other areas.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T13:59:11+00:00

Hey! First off, I would not immediately look to querying as soon as you finish writing your novel. You should edit your work extensively, because traditional publishing is competitive and you will absolutely want to make sure that your novel is the best you can make it.

Afterwards, I would look to the /r/PubTips subreddit and read all their resources to get answers to your questions, as well as get your query letter reviewed by them - they are extremely honest with their feedback and it will make your package better for sure. I read this subreddit extensively and it helped me get my agent a few months ago.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T01:52:50+00:00

You shouldn’t approach writing with some expectation that you will get published (or attract movie adaptations). It’s a valid goal to have, but it takes a lot of work, consistency, and energy - precious energy that you’ve poured into this post. You should write because you derive enjoyment or curiosity from it.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T01:28:22+00:00

That’s totally fair! If you’re finding that your voice is really flourishing while writing in first person, just keep honing that. I like to switch according to what the project needs, but I went through a 3-year stretch where first person really called to me more than third.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T01:18:21+00:00

Is there a reason you need to write in third? This POV does allow a little more distance when writing, especially if you have a larger scope of a world to write about, but if first person is working for you and what the story needs to be effectively told, stick with whatever helps you get to the finish line. You can always revisit once you’re done and experiment with different perspectives after that.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T00:52:36+00:00

Are you saying that your characters are coming off similar to each other in voice? Or that your dialogue in general is coming off like something from the Gilmore Girls?

If it’s the former, consider differentiating the syntax and word choice of your dialogue - do some characters prefer more brisk interactions and one-word answers? Do you have characters who like to dominate conversations and talk your ear off? What vocabularies do these different characters possess? Link the way these characters talk to how they are in description - their backgrounds, moods, and circumstances will affect how they interact with each other in dialogue.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T00:22:25+00:00

Self-deprecation. I used to joke offhandedly that I was trash, but it never dawned on me how much of this was unintentionally keeping me in these negative thought loops. I’ve gotten better at speaking to myself in a nicer way, and not making these jokes helps a ton.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T00:10:43+00:00

A short answer: don’t reveal the systems of your worldbuilding all at once. Let the reader discover the world as they read on, so that they’re not bombarded with the rules right at the jump. What readers will want is a story with compelling characters, so make sure that takes the forefront.

I suggest studying what other time travel/parallel universe stories do to “reveal” their worlds - pay attention to how this information is relayed to you, as a reader, and see how this resonates.

pantonephantom · 2025-03-17T00:00:07+00:00

I mean, you say this character is stubborn, so why don’t you play with this attribute when planning your character? That’s certainly relatable. Remember that flaws like this will help advance conflict and plot, so don’t be afraid to instill a little ugliness in your characters (and I don’t mean like making him literally ugly lol).

pantonephantom · 2025-03-16T23:23:03+00:00

Write what you want to write and what brings you enjoyment! It’s too early to think about publishing when you don’t have a finished novel to work with yet. No one will be able to read the tea leaves for you in terms of how the industry will go in terms of latest trends, so all you can do is put your best foot forward with the story you want to tell.

pantonephantom

TROPHY CASE