Well, I got my Delacorte Yearling rejection in the mail yesterday. Though I expected it, I'm still bummed about it. It feels like I've done all I can with my gnome story. *sigh*
Guess I'll make Christmas candy to cheer myself up.
Showing posts with label rejections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rejections. Show all posts
7/15/09
Gun Shy
Well . . . I'm ready to query . . . I guess. I was ready, but Jody hasn't gotten back to me with her comments about query version #3B. (Just kidding, Jods! I still have a synopsis to write!)
I HATE this part of the process. I get all excited about querying my precious story. I deliberate which agent would be the best choice in large agencies. I obsess over each agent's personal query requirement. And then I hit send.
--Yes, I only send equeries. Sorry, but I think it's totally asinine to waste money on paper and postage. If an agency hasn't gotten with the electronic times, then I wouldn't want to be represented by them anyway!
Sometimes it doesn't take long for the rejections to start rolling in. Sometimes I never hear back AT ALL (Personal pet peeve of mine--at least have the courtesy of an auto-response that it was rec'd!).
Revamp query and try next batch of agents. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I've been in this hot seat before and it doesn't get any easier. MISSING: One Garden Gnome is my fifth complete manuscript, but that doesn't count my picture book rejections or the first two stories that I only queried minimally. It's the part of the business that is extremely frustrating because if you do get a rejection it is usually a form letter--well, at least all mine have been with only a rare exception.
So as a writer you don't know WHY the story is being rejected. It could be anything from the plot needing a major overhaul, to they just bought something similar, to just didn't strike the agent's fancy. Shoot, for all we know, it could be just because the query wasn't enticing enough!
Rejections happen. Develop a thick skin. Just because you get published doesn't mean the rejections stop. From what I've heard it gets worse with every Joe-Schmoe dissing your book on Amazon's link.
And if all else fails.
Write on!
I HATE this part of the process. I get all excited about querying my precious story. I deliberate which agent would be the best choice in large agencies. I obsess over each agent's personal query requirement. And then I hit send.
--Yes, I only send equeries. Sorry, but I think it's totally asinine to waste money on paper and postage. If an agency hasn't gotten with the electronic times, then I wouldn't want to be represented by them anyway!
Sometimes it doesn't take long for the rejections to start rolling in. Sometimes I never hear back AT ALL (Personal pet peeve of mine--at least have the courtesy of an auto-response that it was rec'd!).
Revamp query and try next batch of agents. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I've been in this hot seat before and it doesn't get any easier. MISSING: One Garden Gnome is my fifth complete manuscript, but that doesn't count my picture book rejections or the first two stories that I only queried minimally. It's the part of the business that is extremely frustrating because if you do get a rejection it is usually a form letter--well, at least all mine have been with only a rare exception.
So as a writer you don't know WHY the story is being rejected. It could be anything from the plot needing a major overhaul, to they just bought something similar, to just didn't strike the agent's fancy. Shoot, for all we know, it could be just because the query wasn't enticing enough!
Rejections happen. Develop a thick skin. Just because you get published doesn't mean the rejections stop. From what I've heard it gets worse with every Joe-Schmoe dissing your book on Amazon's link.
And if all else fails.
Write on!
2/10/09
Wheel of Fortune tarot card
Over a year ago I started a daily drawing of a single tarot card. For the most part I started doing this as 'research' for a characters. Yup, hubby thinks I'm weirding out on him, but he's the one who bought me the cards for Christmas! I told him to get over it and only start worrying if I collected crystals and burned incense.
. . . hm, maybe I need to shopping at the local New Age store, or pull out my undetectable poisons book and leave it next to my computer. BWAHAHAHAHA. Dude should know by now not to mess with a writer.
Anyway, when I pulled that card excitement tingled through my body. The tide is turning, change is on the way.
Yeah, Riight.
Reality check to self. I sent out about 9 partials/queries last week. This card meant the form letter rejections will start pouring in.
Of course, the mail was late, like it is every Monday, and it wasn't until after the kiddo's gymnastic class that I had her get the mail.
Lo and behold! One of my SASE had arrived from FinePrint. I took a deep breath and ripped it open.
Dear Author--
Yep, I think the Wheel of Fortune card certainly pegged it yesterday!
As I wrote this blog I was shuffling my cards for today
GREAT--I just drew THE DEVIL. I've Never drawn the Devil before. I looked up the meanings. Hm, one of the meanings is bondage--maybe I need to start writing Erotica's involving bondage instead of UF. What do you all think? No? That's not what they meant?
Oh, well, shit happens.
Write on!
. . . hm, maybe I need to shopping at the local New Age store, or pull out my undetectable poisons book and leave it next to my computer. BWAHAHAHAHA. Dude should know by now not to mess with a writer.
Anyway, when I pulled that card excitement tingled through my body. The tide is turning, change is on the way.
Yeah, Riight.
Reality check to self. I sent out about 9 partials/queries last week. This card meant the form letter rejections will start pouring in.
Of course, the mail was late, like it is every Monday, and it wasn't until after the kiddo's gymnastic class that I had her get the mail.
Lo and behold! One of my SASE had arrived from FinePrint. I took a deep breath and ripped it open.
Dear Author--
Yep, I think the Wheel of Fortune card certainly pegged it yesterday!
As I wrote this blog I was shuffling my cards for today
GREAT--I just drew THE DEVIL. I've Never drawn the Devil before. I looked up the meanings. Hm, one of the meanings is bondage--maybe I need to start writing Erotica's involving bondage instead of UF. What do you all think? No? That's not what they meant?
Oh, well, shit happens.
Write on!
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