Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Afraid of What?

So it's been a while since I finished my first book. I mean ready to go to query land finish, but I've been extremely reluctant to push the send button.

I have a spreadsheet of over 80 agent names, but yet I hesitate. What do you think that means?

Part of me is afraid I'll be rejected by everyone and the dream of having that book published will be crushed.

Right now I can day dream about it. Imagine what it would be like, but I'm sure that each rejection will slowly cause that dream to fade away and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

What about you? When you were done or are done, will you be super eager to press send?

12 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

I'm probably too eager to press send but it's just because I want to KNOW if my book works and if anyone wants it.
Rejections are very, very hard. Good luck!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I think I was too eager after I wrote novel one. I sent a handful out. Got a bite. Lost the fish. Wrote three more novels and haven't sent another query since...am waiting. You know how fishing is good in the early morning. I'm trying to figure out what is the equivalent to early morning when I query.
~ Wendy

Aubrie said...

I'm querying my fourth manuscript right now and each time I get more bold because it takes soooo long for the agents to get back to you. I'm impatient!

Laura Pauling said...

It seems to be better to wait. But once you know you are ready - get them out there. yes. It's scary. B/c all our hard work could end in rejection. But all it takes is one! Good luck!

Anne Gallagher said...

After I finished my first book I had the world by the oyster. I was such a newbie and had no clue so everything was fresh and new. I also wasn't on the blogs yet and had no idea what I was doing.

Now that I've been through it and gotten my share of rejections it's not any easier but at least I learned a few tricks of the trade.

1) Make sure your query is as good as it can get. Send it out to sites, to beta's to other writer's for help.

2) Go through your agent lists and categorize them A-B-C. Send out to the C's first, that way if they reject you, you're not wasting the A's or B's time. Which if they all come back as rejections you have time to rewrite the query or first few chapters.

3) If you should get requests from the C's then by all means start sending to the B's and A's, however

4) Don't send everything out all at once. 7 -10 at a time. When the requests come in, pick 3 from B and 4 from A and then send those.

Rejections hurt there's no doubt about that but this is part of the business. As soon as the queries go out, find another project to start. Not only will it semi keep your mind off the queries, you'll have started another book so if you do get the call you can tell the agent you have something in the works. Best of luck.

Sorry for the rambling but it's what I do.

Tana said...

I'm done with several novels and I'm not actively querring what does that say about me? I don't know. I do have my dream agent interested and I wait for her like a love-sick puppy. lol!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Ooh, it's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.
Best of luck!

Jessie Oliveros said...

That's it. I'm packing my kids and flying to Banff. If you won't push that button, I WILL.

Terri Tiffany said...

I've sent our a few queries and have and had a few bites but now I have decided I hate the rejections with that book and am moving on to the next one:) I pray you are successful right off the bat!

Unknown said...

I can relate to this feeling! I have to say that I would love to think that I would be ready to click send, but judgement is something that I have to be ready for!

Good Luck!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

No... probably scared. But I look at rejections as battle wounds. That makes it more interesting, even if not easier.

Dara said...

I'm eager now but something tells me once I'm finally done, that won't be the case :P It's mainly for the same reason Jessica said--I just want to know if it'll work!