Monday, October 26, 2009

Expect the worst or Hope for the Best

My soccer team pretty much rocks. In fact we are so awesome we have been promoted to the highest division in over 35 women's soccer. Now as good as that sounds it does come with a few minor issues.

1) Most of the ladies who play in this division have been playing since they were kids and a few even played university level soccer.
2) Most of the ladies on my team started playing 8-10 years ago.
3) We will be playing against a national winning team.
4) We will be playing against another team from our small town. (That's right our soccer program is so awesome we have two over 35 women's team in the top division)
5) We are probably going to get our butt's kicked.

I say probably because I don't know for sure. We might be okay, we might even win a few games. We just don't know. So do you go into the games expecting nothing (to lose) or hope for the best.

I'm hoping to start querying agents within the next two weeks. Now as most of you know querying is stressful, difficult, and did I say stressful. You have to get your query letter just right for each agent you query. You need to research which agents represent what you write and decide whether or not you think you could work with them.

So here's the question of the day. Do you think when you query you should expect nothing that way you won't be disappointed, or should you hope for the best.

By the way I play my first soccer game tomorrow against the other team from my town.

17 comments:

Susan R. Mills said...

Good luck at your soccer games, and with the querying. I think you have to go into with a balance of skepticism and optimism. If you go into it with defeat, it will show, and your query will lack confidence. But, on the other hand, you want to be prepared for disappointment.

JKB said...

I started off with optimism, and every answer in my inbox (no matter which) had my heart leaping. Some days I was excited (like that first partial request! that first full!) some days...not so much. (Rejection hurts).

My only big point: don't talk about what and who you're querying on your blog. But feel free to whinge some.

We've got your back. Which is what blogs are for.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Patti said...

Susan: I agree, it will be a balancing act, but I'm hoping to err on the side of optimism.

Jen: I won't be talking about who, when, what at all on the blog. Thanks for the encouragement, these blogs are so awesome.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the soccer. My hockey league has an A division and B division, but the leagues blend together so you never know what you're going to get.

As far as the question goes, I think it comes down to self-preservation and whatever makes you happy. I'm more of a "expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised" person, but you might be the other.

Patti said...

SW: That's my brothers favorite saying.

Dara said...

Hard to say...I generally try to go in with a balance of optimism and cynicism, although I must admit I tend to expect the worst (probably because I have the unfortunate tendency to be a little more negative). However the best is a balance, but it's hard to achieve that.

Natalie said...

That is so exciting about your soccer team! Good luck!

I always went in expecting rejection. I might be a pessimist, but I saw it more as a defense against the inevitable. I had 7 requests out of more than 50 queries (and from what I've read those are okay odds) but that meant I got rejections like 6 out of 7 times. All of the rejections still stung but at least I was prepared. :)

Kasie West said...

Good luck on that soccer game. How did you manage to get on the over 35 year olds team? Do the other teams realize you are illegally playing?

I think you should hope for the best in all aspects of life, especially querying. Even though it seems like a huge, giant you must defeat, it is conquerable. I hear success stories every day. I can't wait to hear about yours.

Tamika: said...

Wow Patti, I didn't know you played soccer! How cool!

I pray you all win.

Approaching everything with a spirit of expectancy. My Pastor says, "Prepare like it all depends on you. Stand (Query) like it all depends on God.

Patti said...

Kasie: I had some fake ID made up so I can look like a super star on the old ladies team.

Tamika: That's advice I will definitely take to heart.

Candice said...

I say hope for the best! You can't say you truly worked for something if you don't have a few disappointments to overcome along the way.

Good luck with your game!

Patti said...

Candice: Good point. Thanks for the well wishes, I'm starting to get butterflies.

Dawn Simon said...

Hmmm... I think you should do everything you can to make every query your very best, but don't put too much emphasis in any ONE response--unless it's positive, lol! ;)

Patti said...

Dawn: I think it comes down to expect the worst but hope for the best. See how adding a "but" changes it a bit.

K. M. Walton said...

I hope you win!!!

It is so hard to not be wishful and hopeful and all dreamy-like while querying. At least it's hard for me. I'm a total dreamer, always have been.

Good lucky querying! I wish you well.

Patti said...

KM: I dream all the time. I'm not sure how healthy it is.

Anonymous said...

I am late to this discussion, but I say hope for the best. I think that your attitude will be displayed in your query - you must know you will succeed for someone to believe in you and your work.