What Are You Waiting For?

Image by Jonathan Cohen via Flickr

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?