4 May 2026

Looking for what lies behind the next corner: 崂山 - I.M.He

My Submission Journey: A Debut Author's Diary

I bet many of you are wondering: So, where's the book? When can we read this story you're constantly going on about?

Fair question. I think the answer deserves some short diary entries – little updates I can drop every now and then about the process and what I'm encountering as I seek traditional publishing.

Why Not Self-Publish?

Some have suggested I publish it myself. Self-publishing has become popular and far more streamlined. Many authors have found success that way, and it no longer carries the old stigma ("Ohhh, you self-published"). There are even authors who self-published, took off, and then got picked up by major publishers.

So why not me?

Honestly? Self-publishing takes more self-discipline than I know I have. Marketing, hiring editors, choosing printers, finding cover artists, fulfilling orders... it's a lot. So, I'm attempting the traditional publishing route.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

First, you should know: even though I've prepared myself for rejection, even though I've told myself countless times to be patient, I still feel my heart drop when things don't go my way.

Every author dreams of being plucked by one of the big five publishing companies with grandeur and fireworks. But that's not what happens most of the time. Instead, I keep a detailed Excel spreadsheet of who I've sent letters to, expected response dates, notes, and, of course, rejection notices.

Why the Big Publishers?

Big publishers can afford to publish stories for the story itself. The plot, the characters, the genre. Small publishers, on the other hand, often have to play the popularity game. They feel they can only choose work aligned with current political or social issues to build a customer base. That means they might openly say, "We are only accepting stories about XYZ struggles / marginalized groups / XYZ life stories."

My book is none of those things. So I can't submit to them.

The Typical Message (and My Very Different Reactions)

The typical rejection message from a publisher or editor goes something like this:

"Thank you for submitting... however, we don't feel this fits with what we are looking for at this time... we wish you luck."

Polite. Vanilla. Always the same.

My reactions? Not so consistent.

To be fair, I've only had two rejections so far. Well, three – I was ghosted by one even after a follow-up, so that's a no. I have three more follow-ups to send today.

I also received an offer from a vanity publisher (that means I help pay for publishing and marketing – no thank you). And an offer from a small company that asked me to sign an NDA before I could even see the contract. They said it was to protect their company. Uh, that’s a huge red flag. No, thank you!

My emotions have ranged from relief ("Well, if you don't want me, I avoided a bullet") to frustration to full-on self-doubt. I start thinking: Do they even truly review it? Who is doing the reviewing? Maybe I suck. Maybe I SHOULD self-publish.

I didn’t think it would bother me, but being ghosted was the worst. They can't even send an auto-response rejection?

The Waiting Game

I've queried editors as well, and they are... quiet. I'm waiting for a response from one I would love to work with, but she didn't provide a timeline. I have the "we received your query" email, and that's it. Granted, it's only been a week since I found her. But let me tell you: waiting in silence, hoping a message will come requesting more of the manuscript? It's painful.

The Plan

I save every message I get. I write myself notes. And I keep trying.

I've waited years to start this journey. So, I tell myself: I can be patient and wait a little longer. The right publisher or editor will pick it up and love it (or at least see the potential). And then I'll know I've found the one.

So, today? I'll send follow-ups to three publishers (their response dates have passed) and wait for a reply or nothing at all. In between, I'll keep working on book two, where a surprising character has surfaced and made herself a key thread in the plot.

Here's to success and praying for "the one."

See you with an update soon,

I.M. He

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Text reads "the challenge is to love it all"

Bonus Writing Exercises!

10 Weeks of Character Development

Week 5: The Intercepted Conversation

Inspiration: Dialogue and filtered observation

Write a conversation between two characters. Then, rewrite the entire exchange, but this time from the point of view of a third character who is watching from a distance. They cannot hear the words. Instead, they must interpret the scene using only body language, facial expressions, and the objects they can see. Show how the meaning of the conversation is completely transformed by the observer's perspective.

Video Highlights from TikTok

I.M.He

Without conflict, there’s no story. My characters are blurring the lines between choices that save and choices that kill. #bookcharacters #authorlife #writing #booktok

♬ original sound - I.M.He