Chapter 1: The Initial Breakthrough

Lindsey Harding found herself overwhelmed with emotion upon receiving the email from her publisher. Her dream was coming true; in just 11 months, her book, Pilgrims 2.0, would hit the shelves.

Just days earlier, Lindsey had been enjoying lunch with close friends at The Royal Peasant, a local pub. While the weather outside was dreary and rainy, the atmosphere inside was warm and lively. They were all engaged in the excitement of the World Cup, but conversation soon turned to Lindsey's manuscript. Had she heard back from the publisher yet? “I’m still waiting,” she replied. Her friends encouraged her to follow up with the publisher before the holiday season began.

Fueled by her friends' belief in her, Lindsey took the initiative to email Nicola Mason, the fiction editor and publisher, for a casual update. All that was left to do was wait. During her daughter's three-day swim meet, Lindsey found herself checking her email (again) as they drove home on Sunday. And then, she saw it—the long-awaited message.

“Hi Lindsey,” Nicola wrote. “I’d like to include it in our fall 2023 list.” Lindsey was stunned, tears welling in her eyes as she shared the news with her family.

"That was definitely one of the best days of my life," she reflected during our interview.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsey Harding via Zoom during a book club discussion, and I knew her story would resonate with aspiring writers. Like many of us, she juggles a full-time job and a bustling family life. As a mother of four, she faces the same pressures and obstacles that often deter writers, yet she persevered. She completed her manuscript and successfully secured a publishing deal.

Her journey wasn’t instantaneous; it took her seven years to finalize her manuscript, followed by multiple rounds of editing. What began as a writing prompt in 2011 ultimately transformed into a published book in 2023.

Chapter 2: The Genesis of an Idea

The inspiration for Lindsey's novel came from a writing prompt: engage creatively with a historical text. This assignment in her book history course ignited the spark she needed to pursue the novel she had envisioned for so long.

After immersing herself in Chaucer's work, an idea struck her: what if she created a contemporary, beach-read adaptation of the tales? She envisioned a modern pilgrimage set on a plastic surgery cruise.

"I can't pinpoint the exact moment the idea hit me," she admitted. "Looking back, it feels like this concept has always been within me: writing a book centered around a plastic surgery cruise."

In her research, Lindsey observed several surgeries, including gynecological procedures. She assisted in the operating room, passing instruments and even intubating a patient—an experience that left a profound impact on her.

"I vividly remember touching a tumor inside a woman's abdomen while assisting the surgeon," she recounted. "It was mesmerizing to witness the intricate choreography of surgical instruments and hands at work."

As she pieced together her story, Lindsey incorporated elements from her past short stories, particularly character backstories, but this novel was destined to be her first significant project.

Chapter 3: Finding Momentum

Though she had a solid start with nearly 150 pages by the semester's end, life had its way of slowing her progress.

“Other graduate classes, family obligations, and the chaos of raising small children hindered my writing,” Lindsey shared. “I had my third child during the winter break of graduate school, which made it challenging to maintain my writing momentum.”

About a year after graduating, a new opportunity arose. Lindsey received a Sustainable Arts Foundation Fellowship, granting her two weeks at Rivendell Writer's Colony in Monteagle, TN, in November 2017.

This was the moment she had been waiting for to complete her novel.

"I weaned my fifteen-month-old baby before heading to the Tennessee mountains to write for two weeks. During that time, I drafted and revised about 70,000 words."

Surrounded by other writers, she found inspiration in the natural beauty around her while fueling her creativity with simple meals and late-night reading.

"Although I didn’t finish the book then, I gained enough momentum to carry me through the rest of 2017," she added.

For the remainder of the year, Lindsey wrote whenever she could, whether in the car during her children’s activities or at home amidst holiday chaos. By January 2018, she had completed her draft and was ready to reach out to literary agents.

Chapter 4: Securing Representation

The next two years flew by as Lindsey signed with agent Kent Wolf and submitted her manuscript to numerous editors across various publishing houses.

"I found Kent the traditional way: after finishing my manuscript, I crafted a query letter and searched for agents who would be a good match. I queried around 20 agents before finding Kent at The Friedrich Agency."

With Kent's guidance, Lindsey made revisions to develop her four main characters and reorganize her manuscript.

"I assumed that having an agent would guarantee my book's publication, especially with a major publisher," she said. "But we didn’t sell it. I wasn’t ready to give up."

Facing disappointment, Lindsey took a step back to explore the world of small presses.

Chapter 5: The Right Fit

Lindsey began contacting small presses that didn’t require an agent. One of them was Acre Books.

“From the start, I felt that Nicola Mason, their fiction editor and publisher, would be a perfect fit for my project, based on her profile and the titles they published.”

She was right.

"I received a detailed list of revision suggestions from Nicola the following summer, which reignited my enthusiasm. Her insights illuminated the potential of my book and provided the roadmap I needed to complete it."

Chapter 6: Overcoming Self-Doubt

Throughout her ten-year journey, Lindsey experienced moments of doubt about whether she would ever finish her book.

"There were times I felt that my contribution didn’t matter in a world full of published works. What could I possibly add?" she admitted.

Despite these feelings, she maintained a glimmer of hope that her story was worth telling and would find its audience.

"It was that hope that kept me motivated and pushed me to improve my writing, backed by invaluable feedback from readers at different stages, and the unwavering support from my family and friends."

Chapter 7: Making Time to Write

In the fall of 2021, Lindsey committed to revising her novel whenever she could.

"I wrote every day for at least ten minutes, whether on weekdays or weekends, in the car, or at home when I was exhausted. I even wrote while my daughter swam early in the morning."

Essentially, if she wasn’t working or parenting, she was writing.

After two more rounds of revisions and a year later, she received the email every writer dreams of: “I’d like to include it in our fall 2023 list.”

Chapter 8: The Road to Publication

Shortly thereafter, Lindsey received her contract and a small advance, which kicked off a whirlwind of activity.

"In the following months, we finalized the cover, title, catalog copy, and pitch for the sales team. We tackled the minor details before diving into the final edits."

During a family road trip, Lindsey completed her final revisions, cutting a staggering 100 pages from her manuscript.

"I edited in the car between stops and even while camping at night as my kids played games. I edited in a laundromat in Canada."

Ultimately, the manuscript was ready for publication, with Pilgrims 2.0 scheduled to launch in November 2023.

Chapter 9: Lindsey Harding's Essential Tips for Writers

Lindsey shares valuable lessons from her extensive journey:

1. Seek Representation

   “For a first book, finding an agent is crucial. If I could do it all again, I’d prioritize securing an agent for my work.”

2. Craft Your Query Letter

   “A compelling query letter is essential. Start with an engaging hook and adhere to each agent’s submission guidelines.”

3. Consider Small Presses

   “I found my home with a small press and felt genuinely supported throughout the process. Working closely with the fiction editor was invaluable.”

4. Social Media's Role

   “While a strong social media presence isn’t vital, it can be beneficial for marketing.”

5. Embrace Marketing

   “Hearing from readers who chose my book is incredibly rewarding. I’m dedicated to promoting it beyond my immediate network.”

6. Write Consistently

   “I’ve been diligently working on my second manuscript. I’ve committed to writing at least ten minutes a day, which keeps me progressing.”

Lindsey Harding currently serves as the Director of the Writing Intensive Program at the University of Georgia. You can find her novel, Pilgrims 2.0, at your local bookstore or online.

Note from Kelly: I began drafting this on January 16 and finally completed it thanks to Medium's Draft Day initiative. More information can be found at MediumDraftDay.com.