The Phases of a Publishing Offer

Why offers don't (usually) drop out of nowhere + Why it takes so long to announce deals

When I was a baby writer—even an agented baby writer—I thought that, once my agent sent my book(s) on submission (or “on sub”) to editors, we would get one of two responses via email:

• a “no” (of which I received many, ehem), or—

• a “yes, let’s do this!” Kind of like my days querying, when I thought at any moment an agent from New York might call me from th…