Becoming a Published Author: Insights from Tennessee Tech English Professors
Publishing a book is a demanding process. As professors from the Tennessee Tech English
department made clear, publication is far more complex than it seems from an outside
perspective. It is a long process of research, revision, rejection, persistence, and,
most importantly, commitment. Each professor’s publication journey looked different.
Several professors began with carefully crafted proposals, others with full manuscripts.
Nearly all navigated extensive peer review and production timelines. Yet despite their
varied paths, each of their experiences reveal that publication is not simply about
talent, it is about dedication to your work, openness to growth, and the willingness
to keep going long after the first draft is finished.
Finding the Right Path to Publication
For most writers, the journey begins long before a manuscript is complete. Dr. Jennifer Gray, author of Culinary Diplomacy’s Role in the Immigrant Experience: Fiction and Memoirs of Middle Eastern Women, explained that her publishing process began with extensive research into academic presses, or book publishers known for their high-quality scientific and reference publications. She learned quickly that different presses have different expectations, and that proposals often need to be tailored to each press. Dr. Gray stated:
“I discovered that there are A-level, B-level, etc. presses. So, I started writing a proposal. Each press has its particulars for proposals, but a basic proposal is a good way to start and then adapt it for each press.” She explained that some presses did not want proposals that were in consideration elsewhere, but she realized that it may take years if she had to submit to one press at a time. Ultimately, she sought advice and submitted to several presses at once, which worked out in the end.
Dr. Kristen Pickering, author of Environmental Preservation and the Grey Cliffs Conflict: Negotiating Common Narratives, Values, and Ethos, took a different route. Seeing that her topic was deeply personal, she drafted the full manuscript before approaching publishers. With this route, an editor would not have input in the design of the book and its topic development. Dr. Pickering explained:
“I wanted this manuscript to authentically represent the topic I had researched and wrote about; the topic involved a conflict that occurred between a government organization and local community where I live, so staying true to the topic was important to me,” After peer review, revisions, and final edits, her manuscript was accepted. Even then, production took nine more months.
Dr. Monic Ductan, author of Daughters of Muscadine, reminded us that acceptance is only the beginning. After her book was accepted, it took about a year and a half to see the book in print. She went through multiple rounds of developmental edits, followed by copyediting and proofreading. Dr. Ductan explained the difference between developmental editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders:
“The developmental editor suggests edits that change the content of the story. For instance, they might ask why a character makes a particular choice, request the writer to rewrite some sections for clarity, omit unnecessary parts of the story, etc. The copyeditor and the proofreader find grammar and punctuation mistakes. They're the folks who know the difference between "lie" and "lay," etc.”
Dr. Ted Pelton described the difficulty of being taken seriously without name recognition, especially when manuscripts land in what is often called the “slush pile.” His first major breakthrough came after receiving a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. The recognition opened doors, and the very next manuscript he submitted was accepted by Fiction International, a journal he had pursued for years. His second book, Malcolm & Jack (and other Famous American Criminals), took ten years of research, writing, and rewriting. At one point, needing uninterrupted time to finish, he made a life-altering decision:
“I quit my academic job… this was scary, but I took a year off to write… I never regretted the decision, because I finished and published the book and it was my most successful and enabled me to get a better academic job a few years later.” Dr. Pelton puts into perspective the difficult decisions and potential risks that may come with being a published author.
From Notes to Manuscript
Turning research and ideas into a polished manuscript requires structure and patience. Dr. Gray described the process as a hands-on, practical approach:
“I made multiple copies of notes, highlighted the parts from each that fit within my chapter divisions, and typed them in to get the basics for each chapter onto the page.” She even keeps an “overflow” document for material that she decides does not fit, that way no part of her writing is ever gone. Dr. Gray also explained that getting away from the manuscript for a few days and coming back to look at it with fresh eyes helps her to polish her writing even further.
When working with multiple topics in one story, Dr. Ductan begins with outlining, which she explained helps her figure out how the topics fit together. She works through multiple drafts and relies on writing groups for critique before considering a piece finished.
Similarly, Dr. Pickering began with chapter outlines before drafting the manuscript based on the outline. Peer review feedback played a crucial role in strengthening her manuscript, though the revision process was intense and deadline driven.
Staying Organized and On Track
Organization systems vary, but goal setting appears universal. Dr. Ductan tells us that she keeps detailed Word documents listing projects she plans to finish over the course of the year, finding motivation in checking items off as they’re completed. She also discussed how she keeps a list of potential journals to which she may submit her stories.
Dr. Pickering emphasized breaking large revision tasks into smaller categories:
“I categorized the revisions from the reviewers and discovered that each reviewer’s feedback was similar to the other’s. Once I determined that, I prioritized the revisions (such as significant ones versus more minor ones), and then I assigned date ranges for when I wanted to work on these and have them completed realistically. The resulting schedule kept me on track for finishing the revisions.”
Facing Rejection and Staying Motivated
Every professor emphasized that rejection is not an exception, but rather it is the norm. Dr. Gray offered straightforward advice:
“Keep an eye on the end result, persevere, expect to read the material so many times that you utter it in your sleep. If you expect it to be an uphill effort and accept that, you're not as likely to give up.”
Dr. Ductan puts rejection into perspective by explaining that most creative writing journals accept less than 5% of the work they receive, and the most well-known journals accept even less than that. Instead of seeing rejection as failure, she sets submission goals and expects both rejections and acceptances as part of the process. Along with emphasizing that rejection is simply part of the process, Dr. Ductan explained that getting published and winning contests for her work were big motivators.
For Dr. Pickering, motivation came from believing deeply in the value of her topic:
“Anything worth having is worth working for,” she said. She wanted to make sure that the research participants’ voices were heard and preserved. Dr. Pickering stayed committed not only to the project, but to the people whose voices were represented in her ethnographic research.
Dr. Pelton emphasized the importance of detaching from external validation:
“As an artist, you have to focus on what you can control – the quality of what you are seeking to produce; you can’t control how it’s received.” He explained that staying motivated is difficult because many people assume that writing a book is easier than it actually is. Dr. Pelton also stated that it is important to love what you are doing. He recalled 2500-year-old advice from Lao Tzu that has guided him:
“Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.”
The Most Important Step Toward Publication
When asked for the single most important step toward becoming published, the professors’ answers varied, but shared the common theme of commitment to the work. Dr. Gray advised:
“Write something that really means a lot to you – that contributes to your drive to see it in publication.” She explained how difficult it would be to read, reread, write, and rewrite something that she did not care much about.
Dr. Ductan encouraged consistency by asserting:
“Write every day, even if it's just for 15–20 minutes.” Writing, like any craft, improves with practice. She talked about how having the patience and work ethic to become better at writing will carry you very far.
Dr. Pickering stressed goal setting and openness to feedback:
“I would say identifying and selecting research goals and steps, then sticking to them as much as possible… One more important point is accepting the feedback and guidance of peer reviewers and your editor. Even if their feedback may be unexpected, their input could be key to strengthening your work and its relevance to the field to which you are contributing.”
If there is one final takeaway from these conversations, it is this: publication is not a single moment. It is a sustained commitment. It may take months. It may take years. It may require rewrites, rejections, networking, competitions, and even life-changing decisions.
Ultimately, write what matters to you. Revise relentlessly. Accept feedback. Expect rejection.
Stay organized. Keep going.