Get. Back. Up.

Take a gander at the sidebar labeled "Updates & Happenings." If you're feeling lazy, here's a screenshot...

See those highlighted portions? Those are the current stats for THESE WICKED WATERS. And these stats aren't counting the agents who equate silence with a big fat NO.

I queried fifty agents.

So basically, imagine that 25 as an enormous five, zero.

What's my reaction, you ask?

THIS!

Excuse me, rejections in my inbox, I really don't care about you (anymore, at least). I've heard the phrase thrown around writerly circles, "Don't give up until you send 100 query letters."

Well, guys! I'm only halfway there. I've done some tweaking on my query letter to alter the focus to other elements.

Placing in the few contests that I already have is proof to me that THESE WICKED WATERS is worth something.

I'm not giving up.

Neither should you.

Even if it means totally redoing your query letter, your cliched plot, or your synopsis.

Vlog #12: Query Letter Reactions

It Only Takes One. It Only Takes One. It Only...

I hate querying.

I really do.

The stats don't looks so lovely for THESE WICKED WATERS. I've been repeating the phrase "it only takes one" over and over in my head. Yet... I'm still largely pessimistic. What if the concept for TWW is too outdated? I mean, sirens aren't hugely popular anymore. But then I tell myself that it's not really about sirens.

Ugh. I'm obviously a bit discouraged. I just want to show up at an agent's office and be like, "Please want me."

 Those of you who have followed my blog from the beginning watched as I fielded rejection after rejection for AFTER ALICE. You saw me throw in the figurative towel and move on to another project.

Well, guess what?

As much as I get depressed over and frustrated with the "business" aspect of the literary world (agents have to make tough calls on what will sell--and what won't--I know), I'm not giving up.

THESE WICKED WATERS is worthy of a publishing contract. Just wait, guys. It will be on a bookshelf. Maybe not this year or next year, but one day.

Keep the faith!

P.s. I recorded reaction videos for the first five of my query letters. They'll be up on my YouTube Page on 6.26.15.

A Writer's Wounds

I got another rejection yesterday.

Well, more like yesterday at 5 AM. Why did I voluntarily put my email on my phone again?

The rejection stung particularly more than the others. Why? Because now I only have one submission out, a full request. Of course there are still some odd twenty query letters awaiting responses, but still. The realization that I might not get an offer of representation for "After Alice" was terrifying.

               

It still is, honestly.

I allowed myself to mope for an hour or two. I googled "way to deal with rejection" and all the sucess stories of writers who were rejected tons of times. I even contemplated the possibility of driving to the store and purchasing Woe-Is-Me Chips (aka Cool Ranch Doritos). Luckily for my waistline, I didn't.

                                

Instead I started writing "Shattered," the sequel to "After Alice" and the book I'm doing for NaNoWriMo. At first the words didn't flow.

And then they did. Oh, yes they did!

Yesterday, in the midst of my despair and self-doubt, I hammered out over 6,000 words in five hours. And by the end of the night, I didn't care what any agents thought about my book. I know it's worth publishing, I've just got to make them realize that too.