tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post2510118322895503279..comments2023-10-29T06:20:58.540-04:00Comments on This Too...: The Query GameMelissa Sarnohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11215683401795724259noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-87037347164019504672011-01-11T12:23:12.548-05:002011-01-11T12:23:12.548-05:00Rejection is the intial stage of the game, I'm...Rejection is the intial stage of the game, I'm afraid, for us 'scared little snails' (how aptly described). Although I have written my way through my life, I have not, until now, achieved writing a book. I sent it to agents and publishers and the rejection slips piled up. Each hope dashed as the post arrived.<br /><br />Imagine my delight when my book was accepted .... not the end of the story. The crisis loomed and the publisher released those books chosen (not out there but back to the writers) having decided to concentrate on 'big names' that would bring in money.<br /><br />By this time, I had prepared a web site (as suggeted); a web site but no book. My wonderful web designer put it on as an ebook and then we resorted to making the books by hand - great fun. I thought that it had been good enough to be accepted, so let's go for it. <br /><br />I have since been to schools and libraries, doing workshops and talks and this I love. I do this free and sometimes sell a book or two. What is important to me is the feedback and that has been wonderful and from children unknown to me - or whom I have briefly met.<br /><br />I have now put it on amazon.com and have begun to send it out to publishers again, and agents are to be targeted, too. I have had one new rejection and, I suppose that I am waiting for more.<br /><br />This post of yours is so honest and enlightening as we are all in it togehter. If you were already famous ... a different story, I think.<br /><br />When your book is taken up I am sure that we will all crack open the champers ... and become scared drunken snails??? I know that I still wonder if my book is truly fit to be out there.<br /> <br />My hopes are with you for this year and thank you so much for your post.agujahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15857809123531088629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-65556688109951149062011-01-11T02:22:20.676-05:002011-01-11T02:22:20.676-05:00WTG on putting your work out there, Melissa! I...WTG on putting your work out there, Melissa! I'm proud of you!!! I need someone to poke me with a hot stick to get me to query anyone...Maybe I should put that on my to do list for tomorrow...buy hot stick and find friend to poke me with it. :) <br /><br />I think I would send a SQ to the agents that have had your ms since May.<br /><br /><br />Hugs!Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-26784481062734462132011-01-10T23:40:02.452-05:002011-01-10T23:40:02.452-05:00Frickin' May, SWEET! ;)
This is how Beth did ...Frickin' May, SWEET! ;)<br /><br />This is how Beth did it and I am doing it this way too, sorta. Five to ten every Monday. <br /><br />And about that May thing. Nudge, definitely. Dang it girlfriend, that's been eight months.Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-91333574749030387952011-01-10T18:55:55.677-05:002011-01-10T18:55:55.677-05:00I like working small batches - that way, I can twe...I like working small batches - that way, I can tweak things as needed.<br /><br />And I agree with Lisa above - I'd probably send a nudge.<br /><br />Good luck :)Jennifer Pickrellhttp://jenniferpickrell.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-68715278572855889482011-01-10T17:01:07.199-05:002011-01-10T17:01:07.199-05:00I always want to rush, but I have to remind myself...I always want to rush, but I have to remind myself to take my time and make sure that what I have is as perfect as I can get it before I start querying again.<br /><br />Getting rejected sucks. I was rejected loads in my inital round (part of the reason might have been the age of my characters and the voice, which I've since changed). But, like you said, you survive and learn and move on.<br /><br />Also, I wonder if you want to nudge the agents who still have had your MS since May?Lisa Galekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02438927319122874125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-10426367695742630562011-01-10T16:59:05.186-05:002011-01-10T16:59:05.186-05:00I'm sorry that your book has been rejected. It...I'm sorry that your book has been rejected. It takes guts to even send the manuscripts out in the first place. I'm scared to send my work out and I haven't even finished the first draft of my short story yet.<br /><br />Keep going!Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03677623973651031381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-46038247375966022342011-01-10T16:45:25.338-05:002011-01-10T16:45:25.338-05:00Thanks for sharing this. You've captured so ma...Thanks for sharing this. You've captured so many of my emotions about the query thing. I think it's smart that you do it in small batches. My best feedback came from an agent who gave me a page of notes w/her rejection. If I'd queried in big batches, I'd have blown the opportunity to revise, but, er, now it sits revised, and I've no plans to jump back in w/it just yet. Snail. Snail. Snail. But also, I wanted to focus on getting the next one done.<br /><br />Best wishes for Spared!Lori W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15513938828806159874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-17305683129269123722011-01-10T16:37:34.488-05:002011-01-10T16:37:34.488-05:00We care a lot cause we are going through it too! I...We care a lot cause we are going through it too! I queried a ton in the fall--rejections!! So started a new book and will take my time before rushing to query. But I always share the stuff--makes others feel not so alone.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-72558081300185809192011-01-10T15:36:41.805-05:002011-01-10T15:36:41.805-05:00Good luck hopping back in!! Interested to know how...Good luck hopping back in!! Interested to know how it goes from here! Keep us posted!Colene Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086195075690893194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-60028146063354856592011-01-10T13:33:03.038-05:002011-01-10T13:33:03.038-05:00I've also done small batches of queries, becau...I've also done small batches of queries, because the number of agents repping my genre isn't huge. It IS slower, but think of it this way--you haven't burned briges with this project by querying everywhere only to discover you needed more revisions. Small batches means you have room for "course corrections."<br /><br />I think the trick is to decide how many "irons in the fire" you want at any one time. For me, it's five. Each time I get a rejection, I query someone else. As long as you are getting a mix of requests in there, you should keep trying, is my feeling.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-61808003418053529302011-01-10T12:56:24.502-05:002011-01-10T12:56:24.502-05:00I care! Also, I find this endlessly fascinating. :...I care! Also, I find this endlessly fascinating. :)trishhttp://heylady.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-21696016020005125132011-01-10T12:56:20.892-05:002011-01-10T12:56:20.892-05:00I think I did batches of 30, mostly because that w...I think I did batches of 30, mostly because that was all I had the patience for, since everyone wants something different.<br /><br />I found the more I sent out, the less individual rejections bothered me, because I knew there were more fish in the sea!<br /><br />Best of luck - the right one is out there somewhere!Eleanor Brownhttp://www.eleanor-brown.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060010344115435519.post-76368692877400115002011-01-10T11:48:57.109-05:002011-01-10T11:48:57.109-05:00Oh, I'm a scared little snail, too. I think I ...Oh, I'm a scared little snail, too. I think I have to feel that my project is ready. I've put off querying my last novel, but my next is about ready to query, and I feel tons better about it. So *big breath*, here's to jumping in!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.com