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Highs & Lows
Mar. 22nd, 2009 04:13 pmI've likened sending out novels queries to being beaten about the head and shoulders with the amount of work you need to do in order to make sure that all of each agent's requirements are satisfied so that you do not automatically get chucked into the "No." file. There is a lot of cross checking facts and websites to make sure that the agent you are looking at is looking for what you want to show them.
After that, there are the responses to look forward to, anticipate and fear.
The "No" responses. There are many different kinds of "No." responses. These range from the "If we don't respond in 1 month, the answer is no." to the general form letter to the personal rejection. To me, personal rejections are always victories. The reader cared enough to take the extra time of saying "No." and why.
The "Maybe" responses. These are the requests for partial or full manuscripts. These are the responses that make all of the hurting worth it. These are the responses that say that you, as an author, have some merit. I tell you, when I'm in query mode, I live for these responses. They make all of the hurting go away. At least for a little while.
The "Yes" responses. The Holy Grail response for calls for submissions and query letters. To me, these validate me as a full time author. I do a little dance (sometimes literally) when I get one of these and think to myself, "They like me! They really like me!"
I just got another "Maybe, let me see more" response. It makes me happy.
After that, there are the responses to look forward to, anticipate and fear.
The "No" responses. There are many different kinds of "No." responses. These range from the "If we don't respond in 1 month, the answer is no." to the general form letter to the personal rejection. To me, personal rejections are always victories. The reader cared enough to take the extra time of saying "No." and why.
The "Maybe" responses. These are the requests for partial or full manuscripts. These are the responses that make all of the hurting worth it. These are the responses that say that you, as an author, have some merit. I tell you, when I'm in query mode, I live for these responses. They make all of the hurting go away. At least for a little while.
The "Yes" responses. The Holy Grail response for calls for submissions and query letters. To me, these validate me as a full time author. I do a little dance (sometimes literally) when I get one of these and think to myself, "They like me! They really like me!"
I just got another "Maybe, let me see more" response. It makes me happy.