Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! To read more IWSG posts, click here.
Statistics
Queries sent to date: nine
Request for full manuscripts: two
Request for a partial that turned into a request for full: one
Rejections out of the above: one
Dead air: six
The Process
I’ve taken to tracking down the agents for books I’ve read recently and loved,
then researching the heck out of them before sending a first batch of five individualized
queries.
For every response I received I planned to send
out another query. Out of that first group, I received two full requests and a partial that resulted in a full. One of these ended in a rejection with some
pretty actionable feedback. Part of me
wants to dig right in an address it. But
it was one agent’s opinion. If I get
corroboration from someone else, I’ll be all over it.
And if you are counting on your fingers, I know the math
doesn’t add up. I sent another query
last week because I got too tired of not doing anything. It’s important to me that this process be
methodical and planned. But the
waiting. Oy.
What do you do while you wait?
Best wishes to all you A-Z bloggers out there. I’ll be checking in over the month. I may skip a few days blogging this month in
order to spend more time on my current writing project.
That's smart to wait until you have a little more feedback. The next agent could tell you to do something in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteJust keep submitting!
Why you are methodical. Are you a Virgo?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when you wait? You write some more! Even if it's a separate project, a short story, a blog post about waiting - you keep writing.
Hey, congrats on the two (three) manuscript requests. I'd down a bottle of wine if I ever got one request. *Clearly* you are rocking it.
You've got the right approach to querying by making it personalised rather than a blanket approach. Makes a good impression!
ReplyDeleteIt's so great that you've received requests for partials and fulls!
ReplyDeleteAs for the waiting, I would keep writing, keep subbing, and keep eating chocolate. You have been eating chocolate, haven't you?! :o
One's reply may not be shared by another. You might get a favorable reply soon with your next submission. Wishing you lots of luck! Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how I send out queries. Usually while I wait, I get busy on the next project.
ReplyDeleteslow and steady. Sounds like you are on track. Stay positive. It's a cold cruel publishing world, but have faith in your writing. I do
ReplyDeleteMy answer is boring. I wait. I do have a link I'd like to share. You never know it might help with a giggle.
ReplyDeletehttp://querytracker.blogspot.ca/2015/03/the-5-essential-steps-to-getting.html
Here's my link if you'd like to drop by :-)
Anna from Elements of Writing
You have really good stats for requests. And good thinking about waiting on more feedback. On the last novel I queried, I got two comments that were similar and one totally out there. So, it's good to wait and see before you rearrange anything. I also do "query revenge" and send out a new query whenever I get a rejection.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
It's good to get feedback, but do keep in mind it is just one person's opinion. I like your idea of waiting for collaboration before making changes.
ReplyDeleteThink I'm getting close to this activity. I have my latest with a mentor and as soon as make the changes (or not...) I think that's where I'm headed. It takes soooooo long to hear back about novels. Is this to agents or publishers? Anywho, my heart is with you and keep on keepin' on.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'd say you're off to a great start! I agree with the other comments to wait on the feedback and keep writing in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not at this point (feeling like my novel is "finished" and ready to query). In fact, I'm fully in the throes of revision (again). I think this is the result of not having much of an idea of what I was doing. It's led to MAJOR revision. But I do think the story is better for it.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do while waiting?????
Read a good book. Start another writing project. Maybe just work on an idea notebook until something "grabs" you. Read another good book.
I don't know. What do YOU actually do????
Sounds like you're making progress! When I was doing the waiting game I began new writing projects... That's Isaac Asimov's advice.
ReplyDeleteIt's all a numbers game. Throw enough pasta against the wall and some of it will stick. The hard thing to keep in mind is the rejections aren't personal. Sounds like you're doing all the right stuff.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing to do while waiting except write another book! That's the only thing that has ever kept me sane!
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like you're getting some good results, so your approach is working, and obviously, you have a darned good manuscript. As for what to do while you're waiting? Celebrate getting to this point, and then start doing something else. Could be another writing project, or something else entirely. Just keep busy, so you don't get stressed out by the waiting process.
ReplyDelete