Stop Playing Small

More to the Story Podcast with Janna Maron

When you’re close to being done with a manuscript project, what do you do? Do you finish the manuscript, and then start submitting? If it’s an essay collection, do you submit individual essays first, wait for them to get published, and then submit the manuscript?

These questions and more in today’s episode about playing small, by which I mean limiting yourself by not taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you.

In this episode:

- submitting on a parallel path for individual essays + an essay collection manuscript

- strategy for querying when an agent has expressed interest in seeing your work when you’re ready

- following up with outstanding queries if/when you get an offer

- thinking about finding an agent as if you’re hiring for a job, and you want to have as many applicants as you can

- why starting to query before the manuscript is done is a good strategy

- playing small=internal turmoil over should I/shouldn’t I/what should I do, instead of finding a place where you can feel confident and take action

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Get 10% off your first order of whole bean coffee from a boutique Northern California coffee roastery.

- More about Under the Gum Tree

- More about my coaching & editing services

- $47 for my 90-min masterclass: Finally Write (& Finish) Your Nonfiction Book

- Follow, subscribe & find show notes for this episode at moretothestorypodcast.substack.com

- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies

- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree

Question for you:

Is there a time in your life that you went after what you wanted? And how can you incorporate that energy in your writing/publishing life? Share your experience in the comments! Or, if you need perspective on how you can stop playing small, tell us where you are struggling and let’s help support each other!

Thanks so much for listening and for being here!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit moretothestorypodcast.substack.com