The rejections come back to you a little quicker.
It was only one, and quite truthfully, I was shocked when I found it in my inbox this afternoon. Not shocked to be rejected (I' m not that vain), but that I'd get a response in less than a day. It was for a query submission only, so I didn't have to fret as much as if I'd sent a synopsis & sample chapter with it. Plus, I already knew this particular agent was super picky. At least it was a polite, nicely worded rejection letter.
I don't know if I'm dense, or I just bounce back quickly. It stung, like a bad sunburn, for about an hour ... and then I let it go. I've got more out already, and more going out before the end of the week. If I get up to a dozen or so with no nibbles, then I might begin to fret a little.
In the meantime -- I'm such a follower! At least three of you have posted snippets or sample chapters of your story on your blogs, and I liked them so much I decided to follow suite. So if you'll direct yourself to my sidebar, I now have the first chapter of my paranormal romance "Gemini Cursed" posted for all the world (okay, only those of you who read my blog) to see.
Or if you're lazy and don't feel like looking to the right (like me) you can just click here to read it.
9 witty remarks:
Just read it (I know that was fast, your blog just popped up on my Google Reader and I clicked away) ...and I love it! Wow, Tracy! You had me hanging on, asking so many questions... I can't wait to read more sometime! :)
Awesome piece of writing, Tracy! I'm hooked. Are you planning to post more, or do we have to wait for it to hit the bookstore?
Oh, and my MC is a Cubs fan. Poor bastard. ;)
Cool concept and you did a great job with the cliffhanger ending of the chapter.
I can't even imagine having the patience waiting for a snail mail rejection! I've heard horror stories of the YEARS-long wait on slush pile feedback there, if any feedback at all.
Can't wait to look over your chapter tomorrow!!
You know--your ability to bounce back quickly is a real gift--also, what separates the long-distance runners from the quitters. (I know a baseball analogy would be more appropriate, but I don't know much about baseball!) Thanks for sharing this post!
haven't read your chapter yet, but I will :)
If you've only sent a dozen queries out, it's definitely not time to start fretting.
When you've sent out 100 and every one got rejected - then it's time to start fretting! :)
Shelley - Thank you for saying that! I've written, re-written and edited that first chapter so many times, it sounds boring to me when I read it now. It's nice to hear a fresh perspective on it.
Terry - Since I'm shopping this out to agents right now, I think I'd get a slap on the wrist if I posted more than the first chapter. Hey, I figure if Stephen Kind can get away with making nearly every protagonist either a writer or a Red Sox fan, we can get away with a little team allegiance too, right?
Mary - I didn't realize until I was going through my first draft that I naturally end each chapter with some sort of mini cliffhanger. Guess all that suspense reading in my teens really paid off, lol.
Boh - I think it was just a fear of not knowing what the email looks like when it comes out on the other end. Even though I "plain text" all my agent emails, I'm worried they are going to wind up with hyrogliphics (know I totally spelled that wrong, but I'm too lazy to go look it up)
Samuel - Thanks, I still got the marathon runner analogy just fine! :o) I'm hoping I have what it takes to hang in for the long haul. Otherwise, why put all this effort into it, right?
Jessica - Knowing me, if I got up to 100 rejections, I'd start getting an attitude. What kind of attitude I'm not sure, but I'd get one. lol
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