"No" Strikes Again!

Image by Abhi via Flickr

Another rejection arrived into my inbox a couple of days ago, and I was surprised by how little it disappointed me. Although the agent was not my top pick, she was creditable and I would’ve seriously considered representation if she’d extended it to me. It turns out that following up on an agent’s full request is very important. She’d had my manuscript for exactly three months when I decided to request a status to ensure she received it, and that it was still under review. She emailed me back the very next day stating that she didn’t remember receiving the material. I think that statement struck a nerve even more than the rejection.
 

Isn’t it funny that I’ve been waiting the last three months believing that she was taking the time to read my manuscript, and she hadn’t even noticed it in her inbox. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt though – maybe she didn’t receive it at all. Maybe in was sent straight to her junk mail and was deleted from existence. That’s perfectly believable. Still, you want to think your query left a big enough impression that she would’ve remembered requesting it. The truth is, my story is just one of many fish in the sea. On a lighter note, she did take the time to review it on the spot, so I didn’t have to continue waiting.
 

Ultimately, she passed on it, deciding that the beginning was too slow and cliché. This statement was a little hard to swallow since I had only recently revised the entire beginning, and was very satisfied with it. It’s easy to get defensive in this situation, but instead, I stepped back and thought about it. She’s just one opinion, and although I was grateful for her response and feedback, I realized that she doesn’t speak for all agents. However, she did offer to take another look if I adjust the beginning to her liking, so I don’t plan on counting her out, and I certainly don’t want to burn any bridges. If I later receive another rejection with similar recommendations, I’ll mostly certainly consider changing it again.
 

I’m sure this post isn’t very positive, but the reason I started this blog was to track my journey to publication. In doing so, I have to tell the bad with the good. This is a realistic look at this long and stressful process, which sometimes feels like a waiting game. The bad news is, I received another “no”. The good news is, I’m not giving up. As a fellow blogger recently said to me, I’m one “no” closer to a yes!  



What Are You Waiting For?

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It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of having been shown interest from a literary agent. It’s also easy to ignore that they have much more to do than read our manuscript. We too often image them receiving our query letter and suddenly getting a sparkle in their eye followed by an immediate and most enthusiastic reply to our letter. Receiving that request for a full manuscript is important to an aspiring author after all. It means our letter was intriguing enough to spark their interest and create curiosity. On the other hand, it also means our manuscript has been added to their long to-do list, and, no doubt, at the very end.

The more I read and learn about the lives of agents, the more I realize their human just like me. Yes, they have feelings and they get stressed, over-whelmed, and tired. They have sickness, tragedy, and heartache. They also have annoying co-workers, difficult bosses, and impossible deadlines. They even procrastinate. Then, why is that so hard to imagine? It’s not – really. It’s just easier to get caught up in the excitement of possibly finding success. In the process of doing so we can’t help but to religiously check our email and study the “Top Ten Questions to Ask an Agent when You Receive the Call.”

When one week turns into a month, and then two and three months, we finally realize that we’ve been doing nothing but waiting and allowing precious time to pass along with other opportunities for success. I’ve waited seven months for a no before, and I’ve read where others have waited much longer for the same result. At some point I had to ask myself, “What are you waiting for?” As I thought about the answer I realized, I’m waiting for one person to determine my writing success. That’s one person with one opinion in the entire agent community. Those odds are terrible! Why am I doing that?

The conclusion? I’m not waiting anymore. I might take a break now and then, but I’m not going to sit around and wait for one agent to decide my literary future. I’m taking some control and seeking other means of success. I’m not going to stop writing stories, querying agents, and looking for opportunities to learn and grow. I have determined that success doesn’t come from an agent’s offer of representation. It comes from a writer’s effort and determination. It comes from our diligence and hard work. It certainly doesn’t come from waiting.

Are you waiting? What are you waiting for?

Waiting... Part 2

Image by Tom Magliery via Flickr

Ironically, I’ve kept you waiting for this post, which happens to be the topic today. Just so you know, this was not intentional. My usual, very predictable, schedule took an unexpected turn last week and I received a deadline for work that felt unattainable. Normally, I’m given adequate time to complete my part of the work for a project and based on previous experiences, I wouldn’t consider my job stressful. Last week was stressful, and at times, I felt completely miserable. On top of getting the terrible deadline, our project manager took a vacation (which he certainly earned), and I was left to complete my responsibilities and take on some of his as well.

 As you can see, last week has passed, and I have obviously survived the week of chaos. Yes, I did make my deadline, and now our PM is back from vacation and things will likely go back to being “normal”. Nonetheless, last week was not normal, and on Thursday afternoon when I realized I forgot to post, I had to laugh thinking that this was the point I wanted to make. Simply put, things happen and sometimes the usually predictable can become very unpredictable and inevitably someone will be affected.

 About a month ago an agent who had already requested my full manuscript had sent me another email complimenting my story, and then requested a synopsis and author bio, which seemed a little unorthodox. Based on my research, after an agent has requested the full, read it, and liked it, the next step is usually to offer representation. Although the agent’s actions were unexpected, I still counted it as a possible victory, and decided to wait and see what happens. What else could I do?

 After four weeks though, I find myself getting a little discouraged. I’m optimistic, based on the agent’s past behavior, that if she decides not to represent me she will communicate that to me, but waiting is hard. I find myself thinking the worst. She found someone better for the slot. She forgot about me. She hates the synopsis. That’s just a few of the questions that have entered my mind. Although most of those ideas are possible, there are many more sensible reasons for the delay. I need to remind myself that she hasn’t communicated a rejection, so there’s a good chance I’m still in the running. In addition, she has multiple other authors she is managing. She can’t drop her responsibilities to them to meet my expectations. Most recently, I have found out that the company of the series I am being considered for was just bought by another company. Although there are no plans to eliminate the series, it’s still reasonable to believe there might be delays during this transition.

 The point I’m trying to make is that we all keep someone waiting, so it’s a good idea to consider that when you’re waiting on someone else. Be patient. There’s good reason behind the famous quote, “Good things come to those who wait.”

 Are you waiting on a decision from an agent? Has it been a long wait? How are you handling it?