Into the Trenches: Navigating the Publishing World as a Young Writer | a guest post from hannah ruth johnson

Hello, all! ^^ How has November been for you? Wow. To be honest, I truly cannot believe it’s November 10 and it’s already been more than a year since I joined NaNoWriMo 2024 and actually started meeting other writers. So much has changed since then, and I really am glad that past-me made the leap to join NaNo. Since then, I have met so many writers and authors and made some of my closest friends through writing communities and really have grown in my writing and publishing journey.

And speaking of publishing, that reminds me! I am so excited for today’s blog post because as you can see….

Tis a guest post!!! And said guest post is about navigating the publishing world as a young writer and is from a fantastic young writer and book blogger (who has one of the cutest blogs I’ve ever seen)!

Everyone, please welcome Hannah Ruth Johnson, from Faith, Fiction, and Fairytales!

Into the Trenches: Navigating the Publishing World as a Young Writer

Hi there! I’m Hannah Ruth Johnson, and I am SO excited to get to be here today to share with you some tips for navigating the publishing world as a young writer.

Let me preface the post with this quick disclaimer: I am not yet a published novelist. I do have short stories and devotional readings out in the world, but not one of my books… yet. However, despite not yet landing a deal, I’ve learned a lot along my journey.

Here’s my background with the publishing world. I queried my first novel out to agents the summer after ninth grade—it was a middle grade mystery that, in retrospect, was nowhere near ready for publication. Nor do I care to make it so. Two years later, I was querying with a YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Now, I’m refining my current manuscript, a Christian historical romance, and getting ready to dive into the query trenches again.

Along the way, I’ve learned some pretty significant lessons, and they’ve made me all the more prepared for my next round of queries!

Without further ado, here are my top five tips!

1. Make sure your product is market-ready.

This should probably go without saying, but it doesn’t.

Trust me. I’ve tried to sell some stories that were nowhere near ready. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Summer Secrets.)

Here’s the thing—if you’re looking to go the traditional publishing route, your book has to be marketable. Your agent and publisher don’t get paid unless you do… so they don’t take on projects that don’t have a lot of promise. Hence why it’s very difficult to break into the publishing world.

Difficult, but not impossible.

Read through your book twenty times. Rework the plot so it’s everything you yearn for it to be. Tweak the prose and paragraphs to align with your vision.

Send it to alpha readers and beta readers. Get multiple perspectives—trust me, it will be eye-opening! My current manuscript, Shadows Over Broad Street, is the first one I’ve entrusted to other readers (besides my alpha reader Mumsie), and I was able to get so much helpful input from them!

It’s a hassle, yes. But every moment will pay off when your diamond in the rough comes out glittering and gleaming. An agent won’t be able to help from taking notice!

Also, it does bear mentioning that you may want to write within a genre that has a readership. While there is a market for YA retellings, it’ll be much easier to find a publisher for, for example, Christian historicals, since there are many more people who read those. But don’t give up your personal passion to satisfy readers!

2. Build your platform.

I know, I know. There are already SO many people harping on about this.

Unfortunately, it’s true. As much as we’d like to imagine that we’ll get a deal based on the sheer merit of our wonderful book, that’s not usually enough. Your publisher wants to see that you’re putting in the work.

In my view, a platform isn’t all about fans and engagement and fame. It’s about finding your tribe… the people who are already out there, already loving books like yours. It’s about making yourself available to potential readers, and building connections with similar authors. And it shows your publisher that when the time comes, you’ll do the work to make sure your book gets in front of readers.

Now, you might be saying, “My parents don’t want me on social media.” Or maybe it’s a personal stance. And hey, I totally respect that. I didn’t get on Facebook until I was 18, and I didn’t join Instagram this summer. But unfortunately, it can definitely put a hamper on your ability to get published.

Maybe social media is out… but what about a blog? Could you launch an author newsletter?

One of the key issues agents had the last time I queried was that I had no platform. It’s crazy to think that I queried for A Noble Heart, my Beauty and the Beast retelling, before I even launched my blog, which is over two years old now!

Since then, I’ve made all the accounts. If you look up my name, they’ll all pop up: my blog, my Facebook page, my Instagram account… even the signup page for my monthly email newsletter!

I’ve gotta believe that will make a difference to agents when I start querying with Shadows Over Broad Street, because it says, “Hey, I’m here! I’m putting myself out there! I’m ready to do the work!”

So yes. Build your platform. It’s important.

3. Do the research.

Man, all these tips feel so basic… but they’re SO important.

Research is a vital element of the querying process. You have to find agents, figure out if they’re a good match for your project, work with their submission guidelines, and all that jazz. It’s a lot.

Fortunately, there are many, many resources out there for querying authors!

Some that have been especially helpful to me have been the Christian Writer’s Market Guide by Steve Laube (a new edition is published every year), QueryTracker, and Manuscript Wishlist. Also, look up your genre, and you can usually find a list of agents and small publishers!

Once you’ve located agents, start taking note of names and websites. I like to get a lengthy list before I start narrowing down. Then, take the time to look into each and every agent. Does your project align with what they’re looking for? Does their agency represent projects you would support? Does your manuscript adhere to their requirements?

And then… the query itself. Pay attention, because different agents want different things. One may want only a query letter, and then request more later. One might want a full proposal with a synopsis, sample chapters, the works.

In my two-part post “Ready… Set… Query!” I cover a solid list of materials you should have prepped for your manuscript BEFORE sending to agents, so I highly suggest you check that out!

Don’t go into queries under-researched!

4. Be professional.

Again… basic. But necessary.

You are a young writer, yes. But that’s no excuse to be immature in your dealings with the publishing world. If you want people to see you as publishable, you’ve got to be professional!

Take care with the wording of your emails. Be courteous, and always thank agents and publishers for considering your work. Include specific names in any communications and/or query letters so it’s personalized.

Basically, write in a way that no one would suspect your youth.

Because here’s the deal: they don’t really need to know you’re young until you’re signing a book deal. Even if you’re a minor, your age doesn’t need to come into play until your signature needs to be corroborated by a parent.

Behave like a mature, experienced author, and you’ll be treated like one. It’s as simple as that.

5. Stay organized.

The last, but certainly not the least.

I will admit that I’m a planner aficionado, so I may be biased here, but doesn’t the world seem so much happier when things are organized?

Even if you aren’t big on planning, I think it’s valuable to keep track of everything you’re doing. For your manuscript, I suggest making a folder on your device with all your documents (various drafts, proposals, query letters, etc). Save EVERYTHING. It will make things easier in the long run!

Keep a document of agents you want to query. Note the dates when you send your letter/submission, and keep track of how long the expected response time is. Some agents will say if you haven’t heard from them within three months, it’s a no… remembering that will help you know when to move on and send out a new batch.

Organization will make the whole process run smoother, and it will also help you be more professional, as discussed in tip 4!

In conclusion…

If you’re getting ready to dive into the query trenches (or maybe you’re already in them!) remember to make sure your novel is market-ready before anything else! If you’ve got that down, focus on building your platform and conducting research. Throughout the whole process, do your best to stay professional and organized.

And let me know when you get a book deal in return for your hard work!

~ ~ ~

A huge thank you to Hannah Ruth Johnson for agreeing to this guest post swap!! ^^ (And yes, this is actually a guest post swap, which means I’ve also written a guest post for Hannah over at her fantastic blog, Faith, Fiction, and Fairytales!) She has some fantastic advice for any young writer navigating the publishing world, and I especially agree with her advice on behaving like a mature, professional author! It’s most certainly something that I have learned in my own publishing journey as well!

Do let me know down in the comments what you thought of Hannah’s guest post and if this has helped any of you young writers who are querying or getting ready for querying! :))

Till next time!

-Isabelle

About the Author:

Hannah Ruth Johnson is a budding author of sweet, faith-filled historical fiction. When her nose isn’t in a book or a pen in her hand, you’ll probably find her plugging away at college homework, cuddling with her dogs, or tromping around her family’s blueberry farm in muck boots. Visit https://faithfictionandfairytales.wordpress.com/ to get sneak peeks at her current project, writing tips and advice, and book recommendations!