I am getting responses on my first queries, and none of them have been good.
I thought I dove into the querying process with my eyes wide open, understanding that it wasn't going to be easy; but I have to admit, those form rejections are hard to take - especially since they all seem to arrive in my inbox in the early morning, just as I sit down eagerly to tap out another scene in the sequel to said manuscript.
And poof, there goes my writing drive, my creativity, my belief that I can be published someday - cut down by one sentence that begins with "I'm sorry, but..."
And suddenly it would all be too easy. Just pack it in and admit it. I suck!
Giving up is easy. Slogging away to improve both my finished manuscript and to improve my craft so that my second novel is even better is hard. Way hard.
I read over and over how even the best, most popular and successful authors feel like this sometimes - or at least, they did at some point in their careers. Even J.K. Rowling must have felt the writer's angst each time she saw another blow to her confidence in the form of an agent's rejection. Until one day. There it was.
The golden ONE.
If a series about a boy wizard can fly, and a story centered around a selfish girl who falls for a sparkling vampire can make the hearts of teenage girls (and their moms) go all a-flutter, then my story has a shot, doesn't it? I mean, there's a girl, there's a boy and they are both searching for a way to be together even though their history hints that it's impossible. Okay, so there's a vampire too, but his race is more important in the next book. And besides, vampires are still very much in.
Or at least I hope that Agency The Gatekeeper is right!
Okay, talked myself back into this writing thing! See, that wasn't so painful, was it?
I have yet to begin the querying stage, so I can't say I know how you feel. I do, however, know my rejections are coming, and you're right, they will not easy. We write stories we are passionate about, and when someone doesn't respond the same way we do, we begin to question our talents. All I can say is, don't. First of all, there is more junk out there selling than quality literature. Publishing is a business, and every agent is looking for different clients. It's like putting together a puzzle - you have to find the one that fits perfectly with you. Rejection and I are well acquainted, and it stings. Since graduating college, I've collected so many rejection letters, I've never struggled to find a piece of scrap paper. Just keep sending them - you can never stop trying. Good luck, and I look forward to communicating with you more.
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