God sent me an awesome blessing. A critique partner volunteered to send a recommendation for me to her agent. This agent "just happened" to be on the top of my list of agents to query. He responded to my query/proposal in a record-breaking 4 days (it normally takes a minimum of 2 -6 weeks). What a difference a reference makes. He didn't ask for the full manuscript, but he left the door open. He said he felt the book starts out a little slow for a suspense novel, then invited me to make changes and resubmit.
I jumped right in to revising my first several pages, then sent it out for critiques. What came back wasn't good. I racked my brains trying to figure out how I could put more action into the beginning, but kept hitting roadblock after roadblock.
Then during my Bible study, I read a story about a lifeguard who saved a drowning maN. He couldn't save the man while the man was floundering around trying to save himself. He had to wait until the man tired himself out. I realized I was doing the same thing. Once I quit trying to do it myself, God revealed not only how I could revise the opening without messing up the storyline, but why the other opening wasn't right.
So I am now finishing up another revision of the first couple of chapters (for what seems like the umpteenth time LOL) and will resubmit it by the end of the week. God is so good. I still don't know how it will all come together, but I understand more than ever now that God is in charge.
Showing posts with label querying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label querying. Show all posts
QUERYING AGAIN
While the small publisher who requested the full manuscript of The Race that Lies Before Us did not ask for an exclusive, I felt that God wanted me to stop querying agents and publishers for about 4 months Since that timeframe has passed I feel that God has released me from waiting, even though I have not heard back from the publisher.
I don't completely understand why God would have me spend so much time waiting when I could have been putting my book out there more places--giving me more opportunities for acceptance somewhere--but I do know that I haven't been wasting the time. God has led me to work on my blog and techniques to increase the hitcount, and increasing my contacts via Facebook and Twitter. Efforts in both of those areas have been successful. As a matter of fact, yesterday I received a request to be a guest blogger for a fellow writer! I'm so excited.
Anyway, maybe the reason God wanted me to wait was so I could focus on networking and platform-building instead of spending time querying. Whatever the reason, I will begin querying on The Race again, next week.
I don't completely understand why God would have me spend so much time waiting when I could have been putting my book out there more places--giving me more opportunities for acceptance somewhere--but I do know that I haven't been wasting the time. God has led me to work on my blog and techniques to increase the hitcount, and increasing my contacts via Facebook and Twitter. Efforts in both of those areas have been successful. As a matter of fact, yesterday I received a request to be a guest blogger for a fellow writer! I'm so excited.
Anyway, maybe the reason God wanted me to wait was so I could focus on networking and platform-building instead of spending time querying. Whatever the reason, I will begin querying on The Race again, next week.
FULL CIRCLE
It only took two weeks to receive a response back on the resubmission of my revised first three chapters to the latest agent to request more information on The Race that Lies Before Us. I had really hoped she would request the full manuscript, but it was another rejection.
Since receiving this rejection, I feel the need to put my writing on hold until the end of summer. I have been trying to work on planning our next homeschool year and writing at the same time, and it’s not working. I haven’t been able to give my complete attention to either project, therefore I haven’t accomplished what I would like in either venture. Homeschool planning is the more pressing issue, so I will concentrate on that for the next six weeks or so, the return to my writing.
In many ways, I feel like I have come full circle with my writing. Although I now have a "finished" project, I am returning to the beginning…again. I need to examine the manuscript with fresh eyes and make another trip through the revision process. I’m also close to the end of the list of agents I originally created. So I in some ways, I need to start over with this aspect of writing as well.
Hopefully I will return to my writing in six weeks refreshed and full of creativity once the weight of homeschool planning is no longer hanging over my head. With a new list of agents, a more professional query letter, and a fresh beginning to the story, I hope the agents I contact will be drawn in and enticed to ask for more.
Since receiving this rejection, I feel the need to put my writing on hold until the end of summer. I have been trying to work on planning our next homeschool year and writing at the same time, and it’s not working. I haven’t been able to give my complete attention to either project, therefore I haven’t accomplished what I would like in either venture. Homeschool planning is the more pressing issue, so I will concentrate on that for the next six weeks or so, the return to my writing.
In many ways, I feel like I have come full circle with my writing. Although I now have a "finished" project, I am returning to the beginning…again. I need to examine the manuscript with fresh eyes and make another trip through the revision process. I’m also close to the end of the list of agents I originally created. So I in some ways, I need to start over with this aspect of writing as well.
Hopefully I will return to my writing in six weeks refreshed and full of creativity once the weight of homeschool planning is no longer hanging over my head. With a new list of agents, a more professional query letter, and a fresh beginning to the story, I hope the agents I contact will be drawn in and enticed to ask for more.
AN INVITATION
While it feels great to get feedback from my queries, I’ve still been wondering exactly what I need to do to make The Race that Lies Before Us acceptable. The feedback I’ve received has given me hints, but without more specific direction it would be easy to spend hours upon hours revising, yet in the end simply be spinning my wheels. But God is so good. Today, He provided exactly what I’ve been asking for—very specific direction.
The response I received from the third agent to request a partial manuscript was neither a rejection nor a request for the full manuscript, but an invitation. It said, "This needs a new hook. The beginning did not grab me. May resubmit." Again, this isn’t exactly the glowing report I’d like to hear, but it’s what I needed. Besides that, it does have a positive element. She must have seen something she liked in the remainder of the first three chapters that she liked or she would have simply sent a rejection.
Now that I know what to do, it’s time to get busy!
The response I received from the third agent to request a partial manuscript was neither a rejection nor a request for the full manuscript, but an invitation. It said, "This needs a new hook. The beginning did not grab me. May resubmit." Again, this isn’t exactly the glowing report I’d like to hear, but it’s what I needed. Besides that, it does have a positive element. She must have seen something she liked in the remainder of the first three chapters that she liked or she would have simply sent a rejection.
Now that I know what to do, it’s time to get busy!
GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
Yippee, I finally received another request! After 2 ½ months of nothing but rejection after rejection, I can’t even begin to explain how relieved I am to receive something positive from another agent. But I can’t take the credit. The way I found this agents name was pure and simple a God-thing.
Months ago, my critique partner, Judy, sent me information on a contest her local chapter of the RWA was promoting. But it seemed so far off that I wasn’t interested. Last week, she posted the information on a Christian writers’ group we both subscribe to. This time when I read it I decided to check it out. I noticed that the agent who would be judging the inspirational category wasn’t on any of my lists of Christian agents, so I searched for her website. When I saw that one of the few fiction genres she represents is Christian fiction, I did some quick research and fired off an e-query. A few days later, she responded with a request for a partial manuscript.
Months ago, my critique partner, Judy, sent me information on a contest her local chapter of the RWA was promoting. But it seemed so far off that I wasn’t interested. Last week, she posted the information on a Christian writers’ group we both subscribe to. This time when I read it I decided to check it out. I noticed that the agent who would be judging the inspirational category wasn’t on any of my lists of Christian agents, so I searched for her website. When I saw that one of the few fiction genres she represents is Christian fiction, I did some quick research and fired off an e-query. A few days later, she responded with a request for a partial manuscript.
REJECTION
In the last week, I received the long-awaited responses from the two agents who had requested a book proposal and partial manuscript from me. Unfortunately, both were rejections. They were very nice rejections that assured me that the rejection was no reflection on my writing, but that my book simply didn’t fit their needs at this time. And I didn’t take it personally; I know publishing is a business and their decisions were business decisions. That made it a little easier to accept the rejections, but I have to admit that no matter the reason, rejection is just plain hard to deal with.
It’s taken me about a week to let the emotions roll through me—disappointment, discouragement, then finally anger. I questioned my ability as a writer. I wondered if I should quit (not too hard though; I just can’t stay away from my writing very long). Although I know God’s in charge of my project and that my success thus far has been a God-thing, I am ashamed to say that I questioned Him and his plans for my book. He has been so faithful to provide affirmation and encouragement throughout my writing journey, how can I question Him? I began to understand how the Israelites could question God, despite His awesome miracles. I had to admit to myself that I’m not much better than they were.
In the end, I kept doing what I’ve been doing—researching agents and sending out query letters. In a sense, I feel like I’m starting from square one again. But the reality is that I have much more experience now than I did when I began to send out queries in January. I’ve refined my hook, settled into a comfortable form for the letter that gives all the information agents say they want, and know better how to research agents to determine whether they’re a good fit for my book.
Deep down, I know God is in control. He has a plan for my book and it will unfold with His perfect timing. I know that in my head, but I also know that patience is not one of my better virtues. Thankfully, God understands this. I’m certain that’s why He has sent so many affirmations. I can survive this process, but not without God’s strength.
It’s taken me about a week to let the emotions roll through me—disappointment, discouragement, then finally anger. I questioned my ability as a writer. I wondered if I should quit (not too hard though; I just can’t stay away from my writing very long). Although I know God’s in charge of my project and that my success thus far has been a God-thing, I am ashamed to say that I questioned Him and his plans for my book. He has been so faithful to provide affirmation and encouragement throughout my writing journey, how can I question Him? I began to understand how the Israelites could question God, despite His awesome miracles. I had to admit to myself that I’m not much better than they were.
In the end, I kept doing what I’ve been doing—researching agents and sending out query letters. In a sense, I feel like I’m starting from square one again. But the reality is that I have much more experience now than I did when I began to send out queries in January. I’ve refined my hook, settled into a comfortable form for the letter that gives all the information agents say they want, and know better how to research agents to determine whether they’re a good fit for my book.
Deep down, I know God is in control. He has a plan for my book and it will unfold with His perfect timing. I know that in my head, but I also know that patience is not one of my better virtues. Thankfully, God understands this. I’m certain that’s why He has sent so many affirmations. I can survive this process, but not without God’s strength.
I GOT A REQUEST!
I GOT MY FIRST REQUEST!!! I sent two e-queries last night, so when I saw an e-mail from one of them when I got on my computer this morning, I thought it was simply a verification to tell me that it had been received. I was in shock when I read "several chapters" and "book proposal". I had to go back and reread it for it to really sink in.
Guess I'd better get busy on my book proposal!
Guess I'd better get busy on my book proposal!
I GOT ANOTHER REQUEST!
I received another request from an agent! I'm so excited I'm still shaking. I think I’m almost more excited about this request since it validates that the first request wasn't a fluke. This agent wants me to send the first 100 pgs., a chapter-by-chapter synopsis, and an author bio (including a picture-yikes!) I'd like to start working on this tonight, but I don't know when I'm going to stop shaking and be able to think straight again.God is good!!!
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