It's the old "fall off the horse, get back on the horse". I get a rejection, I send a new submission. The hamster wheel as exercise instead of torture. And above all: take a moment to shrug or sob (briefly) and keep writing.
I’m grateful for Substack…not for sending out pieces of what I’m submitting but for turning to other work. As with that essay class, for which you wrote 5 essays… YES!
Thank you Natalie…Nice to stumble on you here. I feel all of this so much. Can’t wait to read the book… love the title! I can picture the movie adaptation already.
Thank you for this, Natalie. For what it’s worth, here’s a thought about your one-sentence pitch: I’ve often heard that agents don’t like to be told that your book is funny; that writers should aim, in their query letter, to show that they can be funny. (I once had an agent tell me that she’d laughed out loud at a line in my bio!) Your book sounds great; good luck with the querying!
What I hear, with agents, is that they want to decide for themselves if the work is funny, rather than be told that it is. It's the old 'show don't tell' thing. :)
Becky, Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful comments. I was just on Publisher's Marketplace (I'm querying) and found this comp..."Author of the forthcoming WOMEN’S HOTEL Daniel M. Lavery‘s NINE BEST FRIENDS, about a woman in her mid-60s who looks back on the nine significant friendships of her life and must decide between two vastly different people as her tenth, and final, choice, to Harper Via." It can happen, and good luck!
I am very familiar with the frustration of trying to find an agent. Been doing it for ten years now. So, I am a patient person!!!! I guess I have that proof. I am giving up on the agent idea. I have to say that I'm shocked at the number of total non-responses I'm getting. So, these agents can't be bothered to create a generic rejection that they keep on their desktop? They could send it with one click. I think it's really rude that the majority of them don't bother. Wow, that says a lot --- my manuscript is not worth a click!!!!
Now, I'm submitting to publishers. I DO get responses from publishers. I'm putting a time limit on that. I don't have another ten years to waste. Moving on.
I wanted you to know that I thought the subject of your book was riveting. It reminds me of a book called Revelations Diaries of Women by Mary Jane Moffat and Charlotte Painter. That book blew me away. It is an inspiration for life. One of the reasons I read is because I want to know how other people solve their problems. I'll be waiting for Must Be Nice. I'm sure you will publish it. And I'm hoping you'll tell us how it happens!!!!!
Thanks for sharing this. It helps to know that other writers wrestle with the same issues!
Aww man! I'm so sorry you've been in limbo for so long. Good for you for moving on and sending directly to publishers. I would also suggest going to university presses as a possibility.
Thanks for reading my essay, and for your kind works! Onward!! xN
Thank you for this!! Deep in the suckitude here! YOu get so many things exactly right. I feel like you were reading my mind. Yes! It doesn't matter where you have published in the past, all that matters is this piece now. And of course I have outsourced my confidence! Also keep writing because it's impossible not to. I was thinking of giving up on publishing completely and just posting everything on my substack! Do you have an opinion about this approach?
I certainly don't want to guide you on the idea of publishing everything on your substack page, however, you could try out with a few things and see: 1. how does it make you feel. 2. how do the readers respond?
Thanks for this. I have subscribed to you on Substack and so I hope that I will be among the first to hear when you publish, "Must Be Nice." FWIW, your pitch sounds perfect to me. The thing is that it feels great to write for Substack. It's freeing. Without the worry of where I'll publish X and given that it is a more informal space, I am writing more quickly about topics I've always wanted to write about (not yet posted!). I am skeptical that I will ever have more than a few readers, but it matters that being on Substack is good for my writing. As you say, keep writing. In solidarity! xS
I’m going to buy that book when it’s out. And it will be.
Oh my! You just sent a jolt of happiness through me! Thank you, Sarah!
😊
It's the old "fall off the horse, get back on the horse". I get a rejection, I send a new submission. The hamster wheel as exercise instead of torture. And above all: take a moment to shrug or sob (briefly) and keep writing.
Good advice! xN
Good luck with your book! Must Be Nice is a great title.
Thank you! xN
I’m grateful for Substack…not for sending out pieces of what I’m submitting but for turning to other work. As with that essay class, for which you wrote 5 essays… YES!
Thanks for sharing your despair & recovery moves!
Thanks for reading! And yes to despair/recovery! xN
Yes, Meg, this kind of convinces me I really do need to set up a Substack!
You’re ripe for it!
I like your reaction to the agent who read your manuscript all the way through!
Got to say, it stung! She said she usually didn't make it all the way through. Such a near miss!
xN
Thank you Natalie…Nice to stumble on you here. I feel all of this so much. Can’t wait to read the book… love the title! I can picture the movie adaptation already.
Thank you for your kind words! xN
Keep writing is the absolute saving grace -- no doubt about it. I even change genres whiles I'm waiting to here. It refreshes my soul!
Thank you for this, Natalie. For what it’s worth, here’s a thought about your one-sentence pitch: I’ve often heard that agents don’t like to be told that your book is funny; that writers should aim, in their query letter, to show that they can be funny. (I once had an agent tell me that she’d laughed out loud at a line in my bio!) Your book sounds great; good luck with the querying!
Thank you for your insight. It’s like when someone tells you they have a funny joke and you just know it won’t be funny! xN
What I hear, with agents, is that they want to decide for themselves if the work is funny, rather than be told that it is. It's the old 'show don't tell' thing. :)
There's so much waiting involved with writing - the only cure I've found for the waiting (and the rejections) is more writing.
Exact! xN
Becky, Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful comments. I was just on Publisher's Marketplace (I'm querying) and found this comp..."Author of the forthcoming WOMEN’S HOTEL Daniel M. Lavery‘s NINE BEST FRIENDS, about a woman in her mid-60s who looks back on the nine significant friendships of her life and must decide between two vastly different people as her tenth, and final, choice, to Harper Via." It can happen, and good luck!
Oh my gosh! Thank you! xN
I meant Natatlie!!!
Thank you, exactly what I needed to hear this morning!!
Perfect! Thanks for reading! xN
I am very familiar with the frustration of trying to find an agent. Been doing it for ten years now. So, I am a patient person!!!! I guess I have that proof. I am giving up on the agent idea. I have to say that I'm shocked at the number of total non-responses I'm getting. So, these agents can't be bothered to create a generic rejection that they keep on their desktop? They could send it with one click. I think it's really rude that the majority of them don't bother. Wow, that says a lot --- my manuscript is not worth a click!!!!
Now, I'm submitting to publishers. I DO get responses from publishers. I'm putting a time limit on that. I don't have another ten years to waste. Moving on.
I wanted you to know that I thought the subject of your book was riveting. It reminds me of a book called Revelations Diaries of Women by Mary Jane Moffat and Charlotte Painter. That book blew me away. It is an inspiration for life. One of the reasons I read is because I want to know how other people solve their problems. I'll be waiting for Must Be Nice. I'm sure you will publish it. And I'm hoping you'll tell us how it happens!!!!!
Thanks for sharing this. It helps to know that other writers wrestle with the same issues!
Ellie J. Anderson
I am also baffled and annoyed that agents won't have a form rejection so that you are not left to wait and wonder for a stupidly long time.
Aww man! I'm so sorry you've been in limbo for so long. Good for you for moving on and sending directly to publishers. I would also suggest going to university presses as a possibility.
Thanks for reading my essay, and for your kind works! Onward!! xN
Natalie, I feel seen. Loved your post. Thank you!
Good pep talk.
Thank you for this!! Deep in the suckitude here! YOu get so many things exactly right. I feel like you were reading my mind. Yes! It doesn't matter where you have published in the past, all that matters is this piece now. And of course I have outsourced my confidence! Also keep writing because it's impossible not to. I was thinking of giving up on publishing completely and just posting everything on my substack! Do you have an opinion about this approach?
I certainly don't want to guide you on the idea of publishing everything on your substack page, however, you could try out with a few things and see: 1. how does it make you feel. 2. how do the readers respond?
In solidarity with you!
xN
Thanks for this. I have subscribed to you on Substack and so I hope that I will be among the first to hear when you publish, "Must Be Nice." FWIW, your pitch sounds perfect to me. The thing is that it feels great to write for Substack. It's freeing. Without the worry of where I'll publish X and given that it is a more informal space, I am writing more quickly about topics I've always wanted to write about (not yet posted!). I am skeptical that I will ever have more than a few readers, but it matters that being on Substack is good for my writing. As you say, keep writing. In solidarity! xS
FEEL - The sting of a declination (NEVER A REJECTION) is real!
DEAL - Not this time, not this space; BUT a poem has been written in this place!
Love the vocabulary switch! A 'declination' is such a smart view!
xN
I’ve been declined more often
than the first declension
in Kennedy’s Latin Primer.