The Waiting Game
In 2021, my picture book titled I Am A Thundercloud sold to Running Press Kids. I was ecstatic and couldn’t believe I finally got the YES I’d been waiting for. From signing the contract to holding the book in my hands, I was happy waiting:
Waiting to tell the world.
Waiting on edits from the enthusiastic team.
Waiting to hear who my illustrator would be (shoutout to the wonderful Marie Hermansson).
Waiting to see black and white sketches.
Waiting to see the color palette Marie selected.
Waiting to view final art .
Waiting to see the art with the words on the page.
And finally… waiting to hold my book in my hands in April 2024.
The art of waiting was okay during this time. I had mastered it because I was so excited for the wait to be over.
But now… it’s 2025, and I’m back to waiting, but the-less-fun-exciting kind.
And honestly, it’s been really hard waiting this time.
I’ve been on submission with new projects with my agent for a while (shoutout to the amazing Dan Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency).
We’ve heard some maybes, some ghosting, some compliments, some constructive feedback.
To be frank, I thought I would be in a *different* group now that I’ve been published. Like the one-time-published gang should have an easier time getting another yes, right?
But alas, what do I do now? I wait.
I know this seems like a downer of a blog, but it’s not —
Because I feel like all this waiting has made me a better writer.
I can’t control the publishing industry.
I can’t control what one person likes or doesn’t like.
I can’t control
the trends,
the market,
the celebrity books with the same title as mine (ugh, true story!),
the unpredictable tariffs.
So… what can I control?
I can book more visits to libraries, bookstores, and schools. Over this year, I’ve done more than 20 school visits. Each time, I feel more confident and more valuable as a speaker and presenter.
I can support my critique group and writing peers. I celebrate their successes, genuinely. I know how hard this industry is.
I can try my best not to compare my writing journey to others. I want to sometimes, but I know that doesn’t help anyone.
I can go to conferences for more face time with those in the industry and make connections with other authors.
I can be a part of active groups that inspire me (shoutout SCBWI and 12 x 12).
I can write, write, write. I’ve been trying different genres like nonfiction, rhyming, early readers. Why not see what sparks my creativity?
I can not write, write, write. Sometimes, it’s helpful to do anything but write to take a break and clear my head. For me, it’s playing tennis, hanging with my kids, husband, and dog, substitute teaching, volunteering, reading for pleasure, spending time with friends, and my new favorite, playing mahjong!
I can read, read, read picture books. What IS being published today? What makes these books stand out? What makes them great? What did I love about them?
I can allow myself to be disappointed and frustrated. I know it’s justified to feel this way, but I don’t allow myself to stay there in that yuck for too long.
I can keep working hard and keep believing. If I stop, then it’s over. If I don’t believe in myself and my stories, why should others believe in me?
I can keep waiting… optimistically. I always tell my agent that I’m keeping my fingers crossed with each new submission. Maybe today is the day the wait is over for any one of us.
All it takes is one YES to go from the long waiting game to the stage of happy waiting.
Leah Moser is a children’s book author living in Virginia with her husband, three children, and dog. With degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology, Leah has spent years as a classroom teacher. She is agented by Daniel Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency and also works as a freelance picture book editor. To learn more about her editing business, please visit https://www.leahmoserwrites.com/editing-services. I Am a Thundercloud (illustrated by Marie Hermansson) is her debut book and was released in April 2024 with Running Press Kids/Hachette.
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25 Responses
Leah;
Thank you for your blog. It is a waiting game. I’ve been told many times that getting published is having any two of these three things: Perseverance, talent and luck. The waiting game (perseverance) is one you can control. Congratulations on your first book and best wishes on coming up at least two out of three on the next one.
Leah, thank you so much for reminding us how waiting plays a giant part of any writing career. We all have expectations especially after we may have made giant investments of time, sacrifice and even expense in our dream. I do believe that good things happen in their own time. And I wish you patience as you ride your journey to more success. Happy Holidays to you and all your love ones.
Thank you for this post. I so needed to read it and appreciate your words. Waiting is hard and patience is a difficult virtue to cultivate! I loved I AM A THUNDERCLOUD:)
Thank you so much for your inspirational words! You give us all hope during trying times. Passion keeps us going. You demonstrate this loud and clear.
Thanks so much for your words of inspiration. Your passion for writing comes across loud and clear.
Thank you for this particular reminder, “I thought I would be in a *different* group now that I’ve been published. Like the one-time-published gang should have an easier time getting another yes, right?” There is no easier path. There is the journey, the destination, and of course our attitudes along the way.
Hello Leah!
It is amazing to realise how you constantly need to be reminded the blunt truth. Thank you for your post ” I thought I would be in a different group …” Your words brought peace in me. We just have to do what we do : write, write, write and write always. You sound like a thundercloud yourself!
I love a list and I love pep talks, but to combine them?!? I’m obsessed. These are the words I needed to hear right now. Thank you thank you thank you. Wishing you more bouts of happy waiting in 2026!
Great pep talk, perfect for this season of waiting, too!
Very inspirational! Thank you for your post!
Thank you so much for sharing this Leah! It is indeed a waiting game and I love your list of things we can do and can control! The “keep working hard and keep believing” part hit me – I have been struggling with that at the moment. I hope your optimism pays off soon and you get some good news soon!
Tic-toc, tic-toc, the waiting game is such a struggle! Your list of can and can’t control is so true and a great reminder to us all. Interestingly, I did have the illusion that once your first book is published it’s so much easier to continue the trend. Disappointing and informative to know that is not always the case. The struggle is real – this industry is hard – but so worth it I imagine when you hold your book in your hands, see it in stores, read it aloud in classrooms…this idea keeps me moving along.
Can’t wait to read your book.
Congratulations, Leah!
Leah, thanks for sharing your season of a win and your season of the in between. I love that you acknowledged the waiting in both seasons and reframed your current wait into more opportunities, even if that doesn’t always equal what we want to see as a win. And one of your “cans” being taking a break is so valuable. Any venture can be too much if we don’t build rest into that work.
Thanks Leah for sharing your experiences. It’s always helpful to hear what other writers are going through. And I love all the things we can do while we wait for our book to receive the attention it deserves. I look forward to reading, “I Am a Thundercloud” and I wish you more writing success stories.
Thank you, Leah, for reminding us that waiting can be a good thing. During my waiting, I always tell myself I am a storyteller and no one can take that away from me. I wish you continued success in your writing endeavors.
Thanks for writing this post. You’re absolutely right that, as writers, we can’t control the industry and are beholden to its whims. I appreciate your great advice on how to stay productive and continue to move forward in our own writing journeys while we wait!
Thank you Lisa, for this encouraging post. It is a reminder to keep plugging away at the things we have control over. Hopefully the stars will align on your next book soon.
Leah – Thank you for the reminder to enjoy the journey, even when that means waiting.
Thanks Leah for sharing your happy waiting list – I imagine waiting to see final art for something that I wrote would be exciting!
I wish you patience and faith.
I look forward to reading your book “I am a Thundercloud”
Leah, you wrote a powerful post that was both comforting and inspirational. I loved how you told your story.
Thank you so much Leah for sharing your journey with us. You gave us a glimpse of the uphill climb, the summit and the continual twists and turn along the way. Thank you for this post as we begin our journeys and know that we are not alone in our endeavors, someone has gone before us.
This post comes at a good time for me and it seems like, for many writers. Waiting is difficult and when life presents other complications that steals time, it’s even more so. I appreciate your acknowledgement that becoming published doesn’t mean the next book will be an automatic acceptance. We all like to believe that’s what happens. This isn’t a depressing post; it’s honest. Thanks and congratulations on becoming a published author. I now plan to read, I AM A THUNDERCLOUD. 🙂
Hi Leah I found it very helpful and inspiring that you highlighted the things you can and can’t control!
Leah, many thanks for reminding us of the importance of perspective. It helps to hear from published authors about the challenges they face right along with those of us who are waiting in pre-published limbo.
Leah, I love Running Press Kids publishing. Glad they picked you to publish. This morning’s church sermon was about patience. Fits right in with your essay on waiting. And, yes, we need to work on what we can control and you are a great example. Thanks for your words and encouragement. All the best with your next book and the ones after that, too. I believe in you!