Tuesday 1 July 2025
3 Errors That Led to My Small Press Contract
Jean Burgess, Ph.D.
If you’re a “full steam ahead” type, who is too impatient to learn from your mistakes, then stop reading now. However, if you are willing to learn how, as a novice fiction writer, I made a few major errors and still landed a contract with a small press for my debut fiction, read on.
As writers, we tend to get so excited when we finish our manuscript that we just can’t wait to push it out into the world. Some writers want to skimp on steps like beta readers or competent development editing. Some are tempted by visions of dollar signs, then movie deals, then television series, then world domination…(See how quickly things can spin out of control?) And sadly, some have lost their grounding and forgotten why they were drawn to writing in the first place.
I can point out these flaws because I’ve been there. Let’s dive in and see what can be learned from these errors.
Error #1: Pitching to literary agents before the manuscript is ready
Yep, that was me. The book was completed. Several beta readers offered input and I made a few edits based on their feedback. I thought I’d caught all the grammar goofs and typos. I decided I was ready to secure a literary agent. So, I queried and queried and queried. I received plenty of “Thanks, but no thanks” responses.
I also pitched at writing conferences. That was a better experience because, after submitting my three chapters or fifty pages, at least I received a few “Thanks but no thanks and here are two reasons why… .”
With something to work with, I was able to make revisions…badly needed revisions.
Lesson learned: The feedback I received from the literary agents was invaluable for me because it pointed to developmental issues. It caused me to ask: How do I fix those issues? As a novice fiction writer, I was able to analyze my skill weaknesses. I took workshops and classes to strengthen the holes. The biggest lesson, however, was I needed to be prepared and open to revising (and revising and revising) my manuscript. I learned that hiring a development editor BEFORE copy editing is an important step.
Error #2: Being uneducated about the industry
Guilty as charged. Looking back on my own journey, I now ask myself, “What was I doing querying agents when I didn’t understand a thing about the author-agent relationship?”
What did I want from a literary agent? Did I even understand their function in the industry and what they do for authors? And what about self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What was that hybrid publishing I kept hearing about? How can I avoid scams? Yikes! I realized I needed to get myself educated.
Lesson learned: While there are a variety of paths to getting these questions answered, I chose to join several professional writers’ organizations. These offer seminars and resources that help me immeasurably, plus I appreciate the networking aspect of the groups. I also encourage others to read reputable blogs, join podcasts, and find other resources about the industry. Jane Friedman’s blog, Writer’s Digest, Authors Publish online magazine, and this one are just a few examples. Secure a complete understanding of all the various publishing approaches — self-publishing vs traditional publishing vs small press publishing – before deciding which is right for you and your book.
Error #3: Not having a clear writer’s purpose
I do believe that not being clear about my writer’s purpose when I took the next step in promoting my book, whether querying a lit agent or even chatting about it to readers, was a huge obstacle. It interfered with my messaging and my confidence.
When I say, “writer’s purpose,” I’m not talking about my reason for writing this particular book, but rather for writing anything. What motivates one to write? And if your answer is “For the big bucks,” you might want to dig a bit deeper!
I found that I was flailing with connecting to my purpose, which caused me to be unfocused when I spoke about my debut novel.
Lesson learned: Once I permitted myself to indulge in uninterrupted quiet reflection on the question “What motivates me to write? What is my purpose?”, I finally found clarity. My writing purpose applies to both my nonfiction and fiction works:
I write to encourage others and to start conversations.
Understanding and connecting with this purpose has helped me to define my goals and decisions moving forward. I pivoted my thinking and decided to put all my efforts into pursuing small presses for publication of my debut novel set in the late 1970s around themes of emerging feminism, social injustice, and retro music. As a result, at the next regional writers’ conference I attended, I skipped pitching to the literary agents on the roster and focused on the small press publishers instead.
In the past, regardless of whom I pitched to, I must admit I’d be anxious about the whole process. But once I was grounded in my writer’s purpose, I found enjoyed pitching. I was relaxed as I chatted about my book and its marketing possibilities.
The best news of all is that my debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice, was picked up by Apprentice House Press and published in April of 2024. Based on my journey of being open to revisions, learning all I could about the industry, and taking time out to define my personal writing purpose, I encourage you to apply these vital steps toward securing your own publishing success story. Best wishes.
Jean Burgess, Ph.D. is a writer, editor, and playwright with a background in theatre and education. She holds a M.A. in Theatre from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Theatre from New York University. Her debut novel, That Summer She Found Her Voice: A Retro Novel, was published by Apprentice House Press in April 2024 and is available on Amazon and other online outlets. Follow her publishing journey by signing up for her monthly newsletter at https://www.jeanburgessauthor.com.
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