PSA: This is a very heavily debated topic on #booktwt and the #writingcommunity, so please note that this is just my take on just how honest you can (or should) be on social media as an author trying to find their footing in publishing. You do not have to agree with me or even follow my advice. You do you, boo!
I have two reasons why you should share your publishing journey on social media, and one very big and very important reason not to. Let’s get to it, then!
Yes, because it helps you find your people.
When I was (unsuccessfully) querying from 2018 to 2020, I didn’t talk about my rejection numbers on social media at all—I was too embarrassed! But I did vent about how hard querying is, especially for diverse authors like me, and through these little conversations on Twitter, I found a community of fellow querying authors that took me in. Many of them have, in the 4 years since, become published or agented. One of them is even a literary agent now, alongside being a romance author!
I wouldn’t have found these people if we hadn’t been open about querying on Twitter. So yes, whether you share just your feelings or your stats too, you can find the people who will cheer you on and support you on the good and bad days, because they’re on the same path as you.
Yes, because contributing to publishing awareness is important.
There’s nothing I hate more than how tight-lipped publishing is. Most querying authors don’t know what to expect when they do receive a full request, or better yet, an offer. Predatory agents (“schmagents”) are always hiding in plain sight, and I personally know more than one author who’s been burned by a bad agent through no fault of their own.
Whisper networks exist on social media and group chats, but is it enough? What about the authors who aren’t part of these secret communities? The more that experienced authors talk about the shady experiences they’ve had, the easier it is for other, newer authors to find their agent-equivalent of The One.
Nowadays, agented authors, published authors, and literary agents themselves are busting common myths about the publishing industry on social media. I couldn’t be more grateful, but it isn’t anywhere close to being enough. There’s still so much that everyone in the industry needs to be made aware of.
No, because you need to know how to keep a secret.
I’ve seen, over the years, that some querying or on-submission authors are quite comfortable sharing their stats on their main account while they’re in the trenches—sometimes in real-time as they get their rejections. Some even share screenshots of their rejections (thankfully, most blur out important info and names, but again, others don’t). While I love that these authors aren’t embarrassed of their stats like I used to be in 2018 (even though there was no reason to be ashamed), I also worry a little about how they’ll handle what comes next.
Being in publishing means holding onto news for as long as months, sometimes years, without letting anyone publicly know. Sure, you can tell your family and trusted friends, but most likely, when you get a book deal, you won’t sign your contract for months after saying ‘yes.’ Why? Because publishing is the slowest industry known to mankind. Even after your biggest publishing dream comes true, i.e., you and your agent receive an offer from a publisher, you don’t get to make it official right away. First come negotiations on the basic terms of the offer. Then delays on the publisher’s end. Then more negotiations after they undoubtedly push back on your agent’s very reasonable requests. More delays. And then, finally, after much back and forth… a contract appears!
Except it’s 20 pages long, you don’t understand 90% of it, and your agent finds more things to negotiate. And then, after you sign the contract and it’s all finally real, you still have to wait to tell the world because the announcement (usually) must first appear in one of the major publishing websites. Depending on what you write and where you’re from, it may be Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Weekly, or The Bookseller… none of whom particularly care that you’re bursting at the seams in impatient agony.
Now, back to my original point: when you share ‘too much’ on social media about your publishing journey (and the definition of ‘too much’ varies from person to person and situation to situation), it might convey to the agents or editors or publishers considering your work that you aren’t the best at keeping secrets or waiting patiently for news. And patience, unfortunately, is the most important skill you’ll need as a traditionally published author.
So how do you find a balance?
Here’s what I did, and what I propose you do, if you vibe with this advice:
First: Share how you’re feeling as an author in the trad pub industry without disclosing names or specific details of your rejections/good news. Look for others on the same journey as you and find your ride-or-die writing community. (More info on how to do that here)
And then: When you do feel particularly frustrated, impatient, or restless, talk to your ride-or-die community about it—whether it’s a private Discord group chat, DMs with your author bestie, or even your Twitter Circles or Instagram Close Friends list. There’s really no reason I would talk about good news or bad news on my ‘main’ social media until I got the green signal to announce it.
Again, please make your own decisions and only use my opinions as guidance. Whatever you do, I’m rooting for you to get all the good news you rightfully deserve in this dumpster fire publishing industry.
If you liked my newsletter, please share it with your friends so they can get in on this juicy publishing goodness, too. Word of mouth goes a long way for me!
I’ll see you next Friday.
Love hard & dream big,
Swati