5 things you must do when you get your first book deal
I want to start this article off by saying that if you have been offered a traditional publishing deal for your book, then this is a MASSIVE DEAL.
It is getting harder and harder to get published - the landscape is changing dramatically with every year and publishers have become more and more risk adverse. So getting a book deal is an incredible achievement - even more impressive than when I got my first deal in 2017.
So you should be very proud. But… you may also be feeling rather overwhelmed.
Working towards a huge goal like this takes a long time and often means you haven’t thought much about the ‘other side’ - ie what it will be like when you achieve it.
So today, I thought I’d run down 5 things you must do after getting that exciting, life-changing email.
1) Celebrate
I’m going to start with the most obvious one. But I don’t mean to be facetious. The truth is that the run up to getting that email with news of an offer is often fraught, stressful and can test even the most stable person’s sanity.
Is there actually anything worse than being on submission to publishers? It is the most hideous process! I’ve had eight novels published and I still find it completely draining.
So when you finally hear that someone actually wants to buy your book, you are often so exhausted by it all that it’s hard to feel anything but numb relief.
Or at least, that’s how it was for me.
Looking back now, with my years of experience, I can safely say that being offered a book deal is one of the highest highs of the whole process of being published. Not to say that it’s always downhill from then on, but getting an offer is almost certainly the highest point of the rollercoaster and although the rollercoaster will go back up again, it’s important to make the most of the view from the top every time you get there.
I don’t want to sound negative but I do think it’s important to be realistic about what being published is truly like, because there are often disappointments involved. However, when you get that first book deal, anything is possible. Your book hasn’t been tested by the market yet, it hasn’t been deemed unworthy of shelf space in a supermarket, or been pulled to pieces by frustrated-writers-turned-reviewers on Netgalley.
So please, for the love of god, make sure you celebrate!
It doesn’t matter if you’re completely burnt out by the submission process, you absolutely must make a fuss of yourself. Go for dinner. Go on holiday. Buy a huge cake. Treat yourself to something you’ve wanted for ages. Do whatever you usually do when you celebrate something, and take tons of photos.
It is a HUGE thing to get a book deal, and it needs to be celebrated in the same way as any endeavour that someone has worked long and hard for.
I’ve always been guilty of not living in the moment, and always looking ahead to the next thing to tick off the to-do list. I’m trying to work on it! And looking back, I wish I had celebrated my first book deal more. So don’t be like me!
2) Get your online presence in order
OK, so once you’ve got the fun stuff out of the way, it’s time to start reframing the way you look at yourself.
It’s time to start seeing yourself as An Author. And treating being An Author as you would any other new job.
Being an author is like being the CEO of your own business. But often, new authors don’t see it that way.
The issue is that writing a book is often something that’s done ‘around the edges’ of the rest of a life, and for a long time has to be treated like a hobby.
But once you get a book deal, it’s important to shift your mindset and start treating it like a(nother) job.
This means, you have to do start-up stuff, in the same way you would if you were launching any other kind of business.
As soon as your deal is announced, there will be people In The Industry (because it’s a job, see?!) looking you up online.
What will they find when they do?
If it’s nothing but an out-of-date Facebook page then it’s time to up your game!
Ideally, here’s what you need to have in place when your debut book deal is announced:
A simple, clear author website with contact details for all your professional contacts (agent, publicist etc)
An up-to-date author bio
A professional headshot
A mailing list sign up
Public social media accounts in your author name (if you want to use social media)
None of this has to be flashy or complicated. You just need to have the basics so that people who are interested in you / your book can find out what they need to know easily.
And if you want help with your author website then you’re in the right place!
I know I’m biased but the earlier you get this stuff sorted, the better. Time and time again I get contacted by authors who want a website for their debut that’s coming out next month, and I have to turn them down because I’m fully booked.
The run up to publication is a hectic time, so the sooner you can get your online presence sorted, the less work you will have on your plate in that busy period. Your future self will thank you for it.
It also takes time for the SEO of new websites to establish, so the earlier you get your website up and running, the more chance you have of it appearing if someone Googles you.
When should I launch my author website? →
As for social media, this is personal preference but IMHO, you do want to be using at least one platform in a professional capacity. I am not an expert but I have done a few interviews with social media experts that you can read by clicking the links below:
Instagram for authors: interview with Nicola Washington →
Marketing for authors - top tips from Katie Sadler →
At the very least, it’s worth setting up professional accounts on the major platforms - using your professional headshot for continuity - even if you don’t intend to use social media.
This way you have at least ‘claimed’ those accounts / usernames should you wish to invest time on the platforms in the future.
3) Get involved with the author community
This point was originally called ‘network’ but it’s such a horrible word I decided to change it!
Still, whatever you want to call it, getting out there and meeting other authors is crucially important, if you want to stay sane in this business.
My author mates are the only ones who truly understand what the aforementioned rollercoaster ride is like, and I don’t think I’d survive this crazy career if I didn’t have them to talk to.
So please get out there and meet as many authors as you can! Even better if they are debuting at the same time as you.
Go to as many events as possible - yes it’s utterly terrifying turning up to a book launch not knowing anyone but I PROMISE you it will be OK and someone kind will take pity on you. And before you know it you’ll have made your first author friend.
If you don’t know any other authors or you haven’t been invited to any events, ask your agent or editor if they can pair you up with someone – most authors would be more than happy to chat to you!
4) Get an accountant
I have been self employed for fifteen years and yet I still only understand the very basics when it comes to tax.
Luckily, I have a great accountant.
Many authors I build websites for have never been self-employed before and understandably don’t know much about tax, either. Which is why it’s REALLY worth getting an accountant.
A good accountant should always save you money, but they will also help advise you on how to set everything up correctly, ensure you keep accurate records and basically hold your hand through your first tax return as an author.
They are worth their weight in gold! Especially if you have to do VAT returns too (if you earn over a certain threshold, you will have to register for VAT).
As an author, you can choose to set up a limited company or become a sole trader. There are pros and cons to both of these routes. There are also certain things that authors can take advantage of - such as ‘creative averaging’ (I’m not going to attempt to explain this here, please Google!).
Again, this is where a really good accountant can make everything a lot less stressful.
However, when it comes to finding an accountant, it’s important to do your research. Also, bear in mind that accountants can vary hugely in cost but more expensive doesn’t always mean better.
I would always seek a recommendation from a trusted friend or relative when it comes to finding an accountant. Also, make sure that they understand the nature of authors’ incomes, that they can vary drastically from one year to another, and that they have experience dealing with similar clients.
5) Keep writing
OK, last up. Again, something that might sound obvious but from experience I know that many authors are so caught up in the excitement / stress / admin involved in their first book deal that they put writing their next book on the back burner.
Please don’t do this!
Not only will writing a new book give you something to focus on and keep you sane throughout your debut journey, you’ll also be so thankful to have the next book underway when your debut comes out and you are stupidly busy promoting it while on a deadline for book 2.
Writing is HONESTLY one of the only things we traditionally published authors have control over. It’s our domain. Our thing. The thing we do best.
So you must keep writing. Keep up the momentum and try to separate what’s going on with your first book (reviews, cover reveals, sales slots) from your work in progress, because every book is unique and if your first book doesn’t end up being the mega seller you’d hoped for, there’s every chance your second book might.
You are a writer and it’s your job to keep writing, no matter what happens to the output of your efforts.
I also think that publishers appreciate authors who are able to continue writing and behave in a professional way throughout their debut year - not getting too emotional (even though god knows it’s the most exposing, excruciating thing to have a book published!) when things don’t work out as hoped. It shows that you take your writing seriously and that you treat it as a job.
I do honestly think it makes a difference to your chances of remaining published if you can take bad news on the chin and always look ahead to the next book.
Also, as I always say, the writing really is the best bit about it all - you got into this business because you loved writing, and it’s important to remember that!
6) Bonus tip! Download my Debut Authors’ Survival Guide
If you found this post helpful, then you will find tons more advice and solidarity in my Debut Authors’ Survival Guide, which I wrote alongside fellow author Caroline Hulse a few years ago.
In it, we cover everything we wished we’d known when we first got our book deals.
I hope you find it helpful, and I’m sending you huge congratulations on achieving something that so many people want to do, but so few people do! ❤️
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