All-American Reject
There is one word that explains why women don't like to ask men out first. REJECTION. Women have to have the babies, men should at least have to deal with the rejection.I've gotten more than my fair share for this book. See the latest letter
Thank you so much for sending the "N" Agency sample pages of THE LIST.
After a careful reading, we are sorry to say that we don't believe that we are the right agency for you.
You deserve an enthusiastic representative, so we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" and with so many different opinions out there, you could easily find the right match.
CRAP! I don't know what to do now. I have gotten some good feedback on the idea of the book. Do I send it out to the second list of agents? Do I rework this book and resend it to the original agents? How do I write that query letter? Or do I just give up on this book and hope I can write another one? Argh!
I was thinking about posting it chapter by chapter on my blog, getting feedback from you guys. But I want to maintain the copyrights. I don't want someone to steal the idea. Sigh.
Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.
posted by Carmen @ 6:48 PM
15 Comments:
One day I would like to have a book published. Just have to get in the groove and work on writing one!!
I hope it works out for you in the end and that it doesn't take much longer!!
Hey girl, I just subscribed here and will be back to read soon!!!
I'd say join a critique group. There are ones you can do online chapter by chapter. I think the key is that if everyone's serious about it, and if you don't post the whole thing in a public forum, there can be good feedback out there. I am tweaking a novel for sending out to agents hopefully in August. Rejection sucks. My short stories keep getting rejection. But I think you have to realize you have put a lot of work into it already, and keep plugging away, because you know you don't suck.
But having not been rejected (yet), what do I know? I have read your archives, though. It's very interesting to me, since I'm gearing up to go through the process. Good luck with the book.
I would DEFINATELY send it around to another list of agents! DON'T give up! (that's what I did ... gave up... and now a book will NEVER come out of me again...) Do NOT let this happen to YOU! ;)
Oh yea... Wendy directed me here today!!!
Hi Carmen,
Thanks for posting on my blog!
Sorry to hear about the R. I totally understand.
DON'T post it on your blog, because that might make the manuscript be considered "published."
In your comment on my blog, you mentioned any tips. I have a few articles on this blog:
http://camys-articles.blogspot.com/
And I have short tips and also a contest for my critique service on this blog:
http://storysensei.blogspot.com/
Camy
I can relate. Believe me.
This might make you smile. My own agent shared this letter that she wrote (yet never mailed, of course!)with her clients as a method of encouraging us in our publishing ventures.
Dear [Publisher];
Another fine CBA publisher is interested in acquiring the series that
you've been considering for [umpteen] months. When submitting my proposal
simultaneously, I promised to keep you posted when and if other publishers
expressed interest.
I appreciate the time you¹ve taken to consider this proposal. I wish I
could be more encouraging, but I have limited writing resources and must
decline any interest you may still have in this proposal.
Please allow me to encourage you. You have a solid publishing house and
this rejection in no way reflects on that fact. I do hope you¹ll continue
to consider other writers in the future.
Sincerely,
The Best Writer, E.V.E.R
Kind of makes you chuckle, doesn't it? Hey, we writers have to find humor in the process where we can!
Ever thought about self publishing somewhere to start with? I use Lulu.com. It doesn't cost you anything up front because it is print on demand versus buying 10,000 copies. Just a thought. I'll have to mark your blog and come back and read.
Have you thought of self publishing your book? Rejection is apart of writing.
I really love the title of your other blog, about searching for non-idiot land. (If you find it, please let me know.)
But more on topic, have you checked out Ms. Snark's blog? I think it's called Ms. Snark the Literary Agent. She helps writers with the whole process of agents, queries, etc. She's snarky, but informative. Might be worth a search for her.
And on rejection, not to worry--I just got rejected today, too and can only tell myself that it's all just a question of taste.
Not everyone likes chocolate. Doesn't mean it's bad.
Good luck to you...it's terribly impressive that you've completed a book at all!
I have been told to take care putting my writing on my blog. Everything I put there is something I have no intention of trying to market anything else.
Here are some thoughts:
1) try short fiction first. If you write genre work, then there are numerous markets. There are several online sites that will accept work. Some of these sites may be "for the love" but it is something to build your confidence.
2) Find a good writing group. Online or off. This group will be composed of people who critique a work and do so with some level of expertise. I have been in groups where people either rip everything apart without rationalization, or find everything someone writes to be "marvelous".
3) Write. A lot. People improve by writing. Come to my blog. I will be posting assignments there for my group, which meets every other Thursday. I will be happy to look over the assignments you submit. I will even take them to the group for you for feedback.
I love writing. I love encouraging people to write. I do not believe that writing is a god given talent. I believe it is a craft that must be learned.
Peace
Hello Carmen!
I stopped at a couple of your blogs.. obviously didn't know which ones I could actually leave a comment on, but I did want to say ...what beautiful photos you take! Lovely colors and views with an eye for originality. I love it!
I am also pleased to meet you as I am here visiting from Wendy's Whimsies.
Hope to see you again!
I hope this is the blog you wanted us to leave a comment in.
Fix things you think need fixing and query another batch...unless you have your heart set on the agents in your first batch.
Rejection is painful, but all writers go through it. Good luck!
If I collected all the rejection letters I've recieved, I'd be able to build some sort of living quarters. Keep researching good "agents" or "markets" for your book and keep sending it out until you run out. If you think you can improve a querry letter or sanapsis, you probably can. Do your best and then send them out. And start on your next project. Kudos to you for pursuing your writing dream. As for writing the query letter, I wrote an article about it in THE WRITER magazine a few months back. But tips and tricks are all over the internet. The best book on the subject I've read is "How to write attention-grabbing Query Letters." I suggest you buy it if you don't already have it in your collection. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless. www.lulu.com/ck.
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Don't let it get you down...it happens to everyone. You could do both your first and second options at once: rework while sending it out. Then, if you've got any takers, tell them you've been tweaking things a little, and could you send the revised work.
Good luck!
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