I’m no expert on trad publishing, but as I understand it the typical first contract is a two- or three-book deal. If they love the manuscript of your first submission, they’ll publish it and accept in advance your second and third submissions. So you need to write those at your own pace before you get the deal so that there isn’t any pressure on you to write them once you get a contract.
But don’t worry! Usually it takes YEARS to get a book deal, so you can be writing your next book while you’re querying and still have plenty of time. The whole point is to write at your own pace instead of allowing them to put pressure on you. They want the next book as soon as possible since it takes them a year or two to edit it, cover it and package it.
I am going to still continue traditional publishing. I want to pursue it regardless of the glaring problems that people face. Yes, I will face those issues and no it will not be easy.
But not everyone’s experiences are going to be my own. This is another problem on what I waiver, I think that every single person’s experiences are going to be what I experience. I am not like everyone else, I will have it a bit different than others.
I am going to traditionally publish my stories first and foremost, writing is my life and my hobby.
Having some novels published and placed on bookshelves is not bad. If I want more money, I can self-publish some other stories, though I’d rather not dwell too hard on trying to manage both.