EPISODE 40: PART 1: Exploring and Explaining The Acquisitions Process

Send us a textIn this episode of Way-Word Writers, hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer discuss the intricacies of the acquisitions process in trade publishing. They offer a detailed walkthrough of what happens after a manuscript is submitted, including the roles of agents and editors, the significance of second reads, and editorial team reviews. The hosts share their personal experiences, provide useful definitions, and answer questions from listeners about navigating acquisitions without an agent, timelines, and managing expectations. They also provide tips for submitting directly to editors and emphasize the importance of patience and research. The episode promises more insights in part two, featuring a guest editor from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.00:00 Introduction to Way-Word Writers00:33 Overview of Acquisitions in Publishing01:18 Defining Key Terms in Acquisitions01:51 The Submission Process03:01 The Role of Editors and Teams05:37 The Reality of Acquisitions07:12 Revise and Resubmit (R&R)14:55 Tips for Unagented Submissions16:50 Managing Expectations and Patience20:10 Understanding the Publishing Cycle30:13 Submission Timelines and Strategies36:35 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com