013. a second book is coming 💌

& how i sold both books without an agent

sunrise on my parent’s farm

the last month has been a real reset for me. by the end of july, i was burnt. not like lightly toasted but straight up burnt. the cross country move and book launch caught up to me and the reality of my mom not being well set in. (hi mom.)

i didn’t take the vacation i told myself i would the week we moved to new york. nor did i take time off after my book released—again, as i told myself i would.

so, i took some time off in august.

i deleted social media. i got a lot of rest, worked on my parents farm, reconnected with my creative and yoga communities, planned my first a vacation in a year, and figured out what i want this newsletter to be for the future because…

🥁 a second book is coming in 2026 🥁

i will have so many details for you in a few short weeks, but for now… more on what i envision this newsletter being. stepping back reminded me how isolating writing can feel. that’s why i want this space to become:

• a resource for new writers. when i started my writing journey i knew zero writers. almost all new writers i talk to today also know zero writers and have no idea where to start. that’s normal!

• a source of community where writers can connect with other writers. i want to host writing swaps, share tips and tricks, and plan IRL events!

• a destination for inspiration. the second best part of writing book (because writing the book is the best part!) is getting inspired. i want to share the things—real life things and humans—that are inspiring me from month to month…and maybe will inspire you too.

and what better way to kick off this new format than sharing how i sold both books without an agent and some ideas for how you can too?

background on my journey to publishing

• how long it took me: there were 6 years between the first poem i wrote to the day my book hit shelves. while i don’t know how long it took me to write my first collection, i can tell you it took six months to carefully curate all my poems into a collection i was ready to share, six months to get my pitch ready, six months to hear back from my publishers, and two years between contracts signed and books printed. i know what you’re thinking, that’s a really long time! yes. publishing with a house is not for those who are short on time.

• what my practice looked like: in the beginning it was chaotic because my brain was chaotic—remember, i turned to poetry because of divorce. i kept a pad of paper and a pen with me at all times so i could write anything that came to mind. there’s a truth from my beginnings that remains core to my practice now: i write EVERYTHING down. the good, the bad, and the really cheesy-awful. it’s critical. not only do you have to get it out, but sometimes that little nugget of cheesy-awfulness can be polished into something beautiful with the right amount of time and space.

• the moment i decided i wanted to publish: i woke up one morning and decided i was no longer ashamed, and maybe my story could help just one other person.
  

what worked

• i did enough research to articulate why i thought the publisher i pitched was the right fit. i looked at their roster of authors, titles, and how they positioned themselves in the market. i saw myself in a lot of their authors, which made it easier to share my work in a way that i thought would resonate with the publishing team.

• i also did the research to know why i thought my book would land in the market. in short: poetry was and is still on the rise in popularity.

• i was super clear on who i knew my audience would be. not like, “women in their 20s.” but “women in their mid 20’s-30’s who are going through or about to embark on divorce and may not have the support system they need in their life right now.”

• i was able to show that i already had a community. and, to be clear: i wasn’t exactly sure that my following was “enough” for a publisher to care. my friend, kara, informed me that all community sizes matter to publishers.

• all of the above made for a really tight query letter. and i won’t gate keep: i hired an editor to help me. and if you’re like, “what’s a query letter?” the way i like to explain it is a maximum 500 word pitch on who you are, what your work is, and why a publisher should care.
  

a roadmap just for you

• before you begin: clarify your why. what’s driving you to write? why do you want to publish? write it down. this is your north star until (and even after) your work gets into the world.

• build a consistent writing practice: make it a point to write every. single. day. and make it your goal to finish the manuscript or at least a strong proposal.

• define your audience: publishers care as much about who your readers are as they do about your writing. and trust me when i say: there is no answer that is too detailed here.

• research publishers aligned with your genre: take the time here to be thorough. who you pitch could make your dream a reality. make a list, find emails, research who exactly it is on the team you’re reaching out to, get to know about their authors and titles, and the houses’s positioning.

• craft and test your query letter: can you answer who you are, what your work is, and why a publisher should care? p.s. bonus points if you have a friend beta read for you.

• email away! seriously, just hit send.

• expect rejection: it’s part of the journey, not a reflection of your worth or how good your book is. there are SO many reasons a publisher rejects a title—timing, funding, resources, and more. keep moving forward.

• be ready when the yes comes: legal review, contract negotiation, marketing prep. the years between “yes” and the bookshelf are long, but busy.

• keep writing: throughout this entire process, keep writing. you got into this (likely) because you love writing, so don’t lose sight of that.
  

deciding to publish something is a really big deal! it’s also a very long process. and despite what anyone else says: i’ve learned that finding the right publisher fit is as important as getting your book bought. the right publisher will take your cover ideas and make the best possible cover they can; the wrong publisher will completely change the name of your book without telling you. yes, that did happen to someone i know!

i hope you liked this month’s new-ish format. and now i’m curious: have you ever thought about publishing a book? drop a comment or hit reply. i’d love to hear your why.

you got this,
nicole