Rejections for Almost 365 Days

It's been almost one year since I received my first manuscript rejection and I'm still hanging in there... or, err... here.

Last year, I wrote my first real manuscript.  By real I mean the first story I ever worked hard on, edited to death, researched and submitted with hopes of seeing it in ink.  Though, I hope everything I write will eventually be in ink.

Here I am, almost a year later, with many rejections under my belt.  You know, something I often here is, "Such-and-such was rejected 10 times before they got a book deal."

Really?  Just 10?  Ten is nothing!  If you tell me your story got rejected less than 20 times, to me that is the equivalent of zero rejections.  I'm pushing 50 total rejections on multiple stories.  But, enough of the bragging.  Back to writing...

Back to the Waiting Game, Eh?

On September 29 I queried one picture book agent in particular.  It was the first query with a new picture book that has been in the works for over 6 months.  I still haven't heard from the agent, and he's one that responds to all queries, too.  Today makes two weeks, so I decided to go ahead and query a few more agents.  I queried four more, all of which have the record for responding quickly.  Who doesn't love speedy responses?  Also, my "dream agent" is closed to queries until November 1.  That particular agency quotes a 6-8 week response time, but when I previously queried them it took 3 months to get a response.  Whew!  I guess their mailbox really is overflowing.

How's your WIP coming along?

Starting Up With Queries Again

Ten minutes ago, I submitted another PB query to an agent.

I chose this agent because he represents children's picture books (duh!), and last time I queried him he replied within nine days.  I was quite happy with that response time, plus he gave me a tad more feedback than the typical form rejection letter that most people receive.

I chose to only query this one to see if he provides different feedback, or any insight.  Why?  Because this time I queried a book that features inanimate objects as the main characters.  So, if I'm way out of my league here, I hope he'll tell me, and maybe I can work on the revamp of the query.  Not a revamp of the story.  I really like the story, but sometimes it's all in the way you present it.  Or, I'm just crazy.

I remember starting this blog early this year, setting a goal for myself, then getting totally burned out on obsessing over the queries.  No more.  It'll either happen, or it won't, but either way, I'm keeping my sanity.  But I reeeeaalllyy hope I get an agent soon :)

On Track with Queries

It looks as though I've changed my mind... again.

In a previous post, I mentioned only querying publishers.  Well, the problem is that MANY picture book publishers will only accept queries from agents.  So, for a better chance of getting published, it looks like I HAVE to query agents first.

So, here's the new game plan:  I am going to query EVERY agent I have ever queried before.  This is about 35 agents.  If I give all of them time to respond, that will mean I must wait until early December to query publishers.  That's exactly what I am going to do.  You know, my 2013 goal was to get an agent, and I must remain hopeful it will happen before January 1, 2014.  But, there's nothing wrong with getting an agent next year either :)

I'll be honest, though.  I really don't want to query agents, and it's because agents are only one step of two very important steps (those steps being 1) get an agents attention and 2) get a publisher to agree to publish it).  But, whatever, I guess I need to just be patient and get in line like every other person who queries agents.

Before I query, I am going to make a promise to myself.

I PROMISE that when I begin querying agents, I will only check my e-mail twice a day.
I PROMISE not to lose sleep over wondering if an agent is going to contact me or not.

Two promises should cover it.

Is anyone else out there as fickle as me?

Do you believe in signs?

Earlier today I sat down to create a spreadsheet of the publishers I plan to query.  As I was creating the spreadsheet, my computer went black.  My first thought:  "Is this a sign that I am not ready to submit this story?  Should I wait?"

I shouldn't jump to conclusions, though, because my computer does this from time to time.  Plus, today when I tried to do a Java update, some weird thing was installed on my computer, which I believe is causing the problem.

ANYWAY... is this silly for me to believe in signs?  Do you have thoughts like that too when important work is interrupted?

Back in Business

Hey everyone!  Whoa, I hope I still have some followers.

As you know, over a month ago I had to take a break from writing.  I was so obsessed with finding an agent that all I did was research agents, submit to agents and check my e-mail constantly, hoping to hear from an agent.  It was so bad I found myself not wanting to do anything else but check my e-mail.  On average, I checked my mail every three minutes (just try doing that and you'll see how often that is).  At that point I decided I needed  my life back, so in the past two months, I have not written a single word, nor have I read a single picture book.  In a way, I guess that is bad, but I can't help but feel refreshed.

Next on my to-do list is to submit one of my picture books to publishers.  No more agent queries for this gal, I'm skipping straight to publishers.

I hope everyone else has been doing well.  I hope to do more blog reading, and more reading in general.

Let me know what you have been doing recently!

Ugh

I've been a little flustered lately, as Blogger has decided to place ads on blogs... ads which are... nasty.  I mean, who wants to see an ad of someone holding 10+ inches of their own belly fat?  No one.

Every time I wanted to post something, I would get angry from seeing nasty ads, other which I won't even mention, but they do not compliment a children's picture book blog.  Ugh.

On another note, I have been taking a little break.  I have not written a single word in a while, because I have found myself wanting to read novels.  I also needed a break from submitting manuscripts and waiting to hear from agents.  For a while there I felt so stressed and I checked my e-mail roughly ever 3 minutes.  No, I'm not kidding, it was that bad.  So, before I go crazy, I just have to take a break and read more than write.

I hope all is well with you.  Feel free to update me about your writing journey! :)