tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post924185490954858609..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Does It Get Any Better?BookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-18363406328991572752010-07-19T09:50:01.932-04:002010-07-19T09:50:01.932-04:00I'm no writer. But if i lost inspiration on my...I'm no writer. But if i lost inspiration on my work (which is also important) then it's traveling time for me ;). Well, a little bit of vacation won't hurtzororiver | babysitting gameshttp://thebabysittinggames.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2453200455869549802010-07-12T18:43:58.340-04:002010-07-12T18:43:58.340-04:00Hi,
I just read through the huge pile of comments ...Hi,<br />I just read through the huge pile of comments and realized I probably mentally processed them the way an editor or agent might do it. When dealing with a huge pile of material, focus on what jumps out at you. That was an eye opener!<br />So, I could give all you commenters a comment back but...narrowed my focus!<br /><br />Kimber An: Your loss of a child puts all this in perspective. I don't know you, but I am very sorry. That was the "screeching halt" reaction.<br /><br />150: Have a plan for what comes next. Thank you!<br /><br />Patty Blount: Yes: when I approach burnout I need to read!!<br /><br />S. Spann: Yes, my real life career is attorney. And I have cats. They appreciate your cat's input not to cry on them. Sometimes, though, ya just gotta.<br /><br />All the comments were great. I am (still) nowhere near anything finished but am listening most carefully.LivelyClamorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930694336919638521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59224536275147269472010-07-07T00:07:25.024-04:002010-07-07T00:07:25.024-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07794312228223197413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26089247802432885022010-07-05T10:00:56.521-04:002010-07-05T10:00:56.521-04:00I can add little to what has been said already.
H...I can add little to what has been said already. <br />However, I have been getting similar feelings — after 8 years of trying! It has been a long path of false agents and others of similar ilk. I have no regrets for paying out for good editing, that has taught me to write better.<br />However, success comes in different guises. With the help of my son, I have my own 'publishing house' and seven books in print. One book with an E-publisher. Others could be but I'm hanging on first. <br />I have a self-publishing company in the USA publishing some of my books (but I do not pay for the privilege as they are happy to have them on their list).<br />My books get excellent reviews but not from top reviewers. They only review books that are readily available in bookshops throughout the country. A chicken and egg situation.<br />I have lots of starts for new novels but not the will to complete them. Having said that, I have decided to rewrite one of my books to give it a wider audience appeal. I will start the submission round again. I think this is the way for me to go.<br />Self publishing is okay if you have great connections and an ability to sell yourself as well as your books. <br />If you have a love of writing, you will find it impossible to give it up. Rejection is part of the course. Most best selling authors had many rejections (Harry Potter would still be confined to paper had Rowlings given up so easily!)<br />I believe the book I am now rewriting was 'before its time'. A lot has happened in the six years since it was published (by me). Much more in the years since it was first written. So with writing again, my enthusiasm is beginning to return.<br />For me, Writing is an addiction.I can tear out my hair and scream but my fingers return to the keys!Gladys Hobsonhttp://hobsonsbooks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72758547657568164742010-07-04T16:25:22.905-04:002010-07-04T16:25:22.905-04:00Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but S.King put hi...Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but S.King put his rejection letters on his wall as a badge of honor. I think he started when he was a teen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-42249702301153252672010-07-04T16:19:17.142-04:002010-07-04T16:19:17.142-04:00By now, with the many agents who are kind enough t...By now, with the many agents who are kind enough to blog, you should know that the agent's job is not to teach. That's what your writers' group, your professors, your workshops are for. Use your beta readers to give you notes to tell you what isn't working.<br /><br />An agent's job is to sell the work of their clients. They read submissions that seem promising because they might take them on as new clients, IF they feel they can sell their work. The slush pile process is a tedious and time-consuming one. If they were to try to give notes on why you were rejected, they wouldn't have any time left in the day for their real work - talking to editors, negotiating contracts, discussing the next project with a client, etc. These are the things you will want your agent to be focusing on when you are finally signed.<br /><br />Agents who have tried being nice and giving some small feedback typically find they are sucked into a lengthy and sometimes bitter email confrontation. It really is better to accept that they are not your teacher, your mommy or your daddy. Accept that fact and you've taken a first step to being a pro. <br /><br />Your job is to write the best manuscript you can that makes more than one agent want to sign you so they can sell your work and make money for you, for the agency and hopefully for the publisher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45790226668087526982010-07-04T14:59:07.215-04:002010-07-04T14:59:07.215-04:00Nicely put:
What you need to remind yourself is ...Nicely put: <br /><br />What you need to remind yourself is that these rejection letters have absolutely nothing to do with you. Heck, they might not even have anything to do with your writing. Instead of thinking of these letters as letters of rejection, think of them as part of your journey to publication. Each rejection is one step closer to achieving your dream. <br /><br />There isn't one writer who has received rejections. Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup for the Soul received 144 rejections from publishers before hitting pay dirt.<br /><br />I love commenter Cindy's adage:<br /><br />REJECTIONS ARE SIMPLY AN INVITATION TO SUBMIT ELSEWHERE!<br /><br />These are words to live by.Karen Cioffihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492421057039326702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58196690774414883932010-07-04T00:27:55.311-04:002010-07-04T00:27:55.311-04:00That letter has expressed my feelings exactly. Wr...That letter has expressed my feelings exactly. Writing my novel was such a pleasure. Then the rejections. I got so down about it that I let a whole year slip by without doing anything. Now I've regained my confidence, am learning more about the craft of writing and I've joing a writing critique group. Their feedback is proving to be invaluable... wishing agents would at least give us that much. Even on Idol you can trust Simon to tell you not to quit the day job, you can't sing.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51717798252445894332010-07-03T23:47:27.583-04:002010-07-03T23:47:27.583-04:00You just have to suck it up and keep hashing it ou...You just have to suck it up and keep hashing it out. A writer in The Writer's Chatroom said he'd had countless rejections before he finally found an agent. I know it's hard, but if you give up, how can you ever succeed? <br /><br />I spent a year and a half reading rejections before my short stories started getting published. That says it all.arbraunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691442638251901380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12158476332870063892010-07-03T14:06:35.413-04:002010-07-03T14:06:35.413-04:00Print the following line and tape it to your compu...Print the following line and tape it to your computer.<br /><br />REJECTIONS ARE SIMPLY AN INVITATION TO SUBMIT ELSEWHERE!<br /><br />And congratulations, sweetest, you are now packed with the necessities needed to begin your journey toward publication. Serenity, courage and wisdom also belong in your suitcase of success.<br /><br />The world of writing is full of hard knocks. What you do from here, and how you knock back with even better understanding, knowledge of this industry, and motivation toward creating tighter, crisper prose is what defines your future as a writer. <br /><br />You are well on your way. And one day, you'll look back on your angst-filled words and smile. I promise. Never give up on your dream! Only you define them...no one else. <br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Warmest,<br />Cindy NordCindy Nord https://www.blogger.com/profile/00218707473893790352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62173664022763083882010-07-03T12:32:57.663-04:002010-07-03T12:32:57.663-04:00Well said Jessica! Very well said.
I have an enc...Well said Jessica! Very well said.<br /><br /> I have an encouragemnet page on my website dedictaed to this. Just click on my name and go to the page.<br /><br />Yes, it's a long windy road and that is why so many writers quit. But don't let it. If the passion dwells wnough in your heart nothing will stand in your way. I always say if my first book doesn't sell then it will be my second. If not my second my third...I will write until one sells.<br />Hang in there. You're in good company.<br /><br />"Rejections are often gifts of direction" <br /><br />--Paul YoungMartha Ramirezhttp://www.martzbookz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4686996817649238162010-07-03T10:51:35.793-04:002010-07-03T10:51:35.793-04:00Jessica is right. Rejection is part of the proces...Jessica is right. Rejection is part of the process.<br /><br />I've been rejected many times. But you can actually buy books that talk about how many times successful authors were rejected before they got their break.<br /><br />Luckily, my father has a highly competitive streak and insatiable need to find every fault that my skin had gotten thick over the years. Although rejections still sting, it just proves that I'm a writer. I'm stubborn, so I'm going to keep trying.<br /><br />You are a writer. So many people say "I could write a book." and never do it. You actually did it. You are in the small percentage of "writers" that have finished their book.<br /><br />Have you edited your book? If you have and are satisfied that it's in the best shape possible, then move on to writing another book. To quote Walt Disney, "Keep Moving Forward"Saranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40747809503475169682010-07-02T22:52:54.278-04:002010-07-02T22:52:54.278-04:00That's an awesome suggestion about not using a...That's an awesome suggestion about not using an e-mail address that comes to my blackberry. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. LOL...I was just walking around with a ticking mood destroyer in my purse. When I'm ready to query again, that's a suggestion I'll definitely incorporate into the process.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68850683299920910092010-07-02T15:48:59.508-04:002010-07-02T15:48:59.508-04:00First off, sip some champagne! You should celebrat...First off, sip some champagne! You should celebrate the chance to get rejected. It's a rite of passage. At least you've accomplished writing a novel. That's something to be proud of on its own.<br /><br />Second, there are tons of articles about how XYZ famous author got rejected so many times. Meg Cabot has said she has a suitcase full of rejections which she has saved as part of her journey. Read about other authors and it's sure to make you feel better.<br /><br />Third, try getting your query critiqued on an online forum or at a writing group. Writing a query is a whole different skill than writing a novel, and it's possible that is where you need work. (Though 4 rejections really is not that many).<br /><br />Finally, I would recommend that you use an email address that does not get sent to your Blackberry. Check your email when you are mentally prepared. There is no reason to get a rejection when you are at a nice dinner or barbecuing on July 4th. <br /><br />Hope any and all of those help!Mayanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81268438871246976922010-07-02T15:30:15.208-04:002010-07-02T15:30:15.208-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49736303857895875262010-07-02T15:10:08.657-04:002010-07-02T15:10:08.657-04:00I recently finished a manuscript, not my first, an...I recently finished a manuscript, not my first, and sent out the first round of queries.<br /><br />I too am depressed and I haven't even received my first rejection yet.<br /><br />The feeling I have is a sense of loss. After working so hard and so passionately on my project, waking up one morning with nothing to do but wait for rejections hit like a ton of bricks.<br /><br />It's sort of a postpartum depression for authors.<br /><br />Only thing to do is start outlining the second project and put the first as far out of your mind as possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62654356244736080632010-07-02T13:18:35.021-04:002010-07-02T13:18:35.021-04:00There's been so much awesome encouragement and...There's been so much awesome encouragement and advice already, but I just wanted to add my support as well. <br /><br />First of all, congrats for finishing your MS at all. I recently read that less than 1% of books are actually finished by their authors. So you've already beat those odds and that's fantastic! Secondly, thank you for being brave enough to share how much rejection can hurt. I haven't undertaken the scary query process yet , but I feel like there's so much pressure to act as though we're "fine" after rejection in any form (whether it's losing your job, getting dumped, or having your MS rejected). It's as though everyone around you wants you to just be OK and act like these things don't hurt as much as they do. So I think your courage alone in admitting that it DOES hurt (a lot!) deserves kudos! Seriously! Thank you for being so honest and raw about it. I really respect that.<br /><br />Lastly, I read in "Entertainment Weekly" that the author of THE HELP was rejected 65 times before finally getting picked up. And that book was on the NYT Bestsellers List for how long?! Exactly! Hang in there :)Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14315988741446180628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71808641272874537692010-07-02T12:29:33.023-04:002010-07-02T12:29:33.023-04:00Congratulations. You are in the writers' club....Congratulations. You are in the writers' club. You've survived -- okay, are surviving -- the rite of initiation, sort of like the Klingon pain ritual. The shock will fade.<br /><br />You've received lots of truly helpful comments, and I agree with all of them. Nevertheless, let's have just a moment of tough love.<br /><br />You're in, and you've earned your place by finishing a book and submitting it. What you, you alone, have to do now is decide whether you really want to *stay* in this game. Because there will be more times like this -- when your full gets rejected by agents, when your dream editor says no, when you get an awful review on Amazon, when your next book gets rejected. So ask yourself:<br /><br />If you knew, absolutely, that it would take 20 years to get published (it's happened to lots of people), would you still want to try? <br /><br />If you knew you would never make much money (it's said that more than 80% of published books never earn out their advance), would you still want to write?<br /><br />If you knew your work would *never* be published, even though it's wonderful, just because all the stars would never align (which, sadly, does happen to people), would you still write? Would it be worth the sacrifice, not only of time with your family and friends but of whatever else you might do with your life?<br /><br />Can you stand the thought of going through all this again with your next book?<br /><br />Do you feel confident that the satisfaction and fulfillment of being a professional published writer will outweigh the undeniable sometime misery of the process?<br /><br />If you find yourself secretly whispering "no" to any of these questions, then go ahead and re-examine your goals. If you find that you *can* stop, or want to stop, then do it. It's okay. It would not mean that you were a failure, or that this project was a waste of time, only that you explored an avenue that turned out not to be the right road for you. It may be that you're meant to take a different place in the book world, maybe working in a bookstore, or as a reviewer, an editor on whatever scale, or an agent. <br /><br />BUT: If your answer is "I can't help it, I can't stop!", if you try to walk away but can't stop looking over your shoulder, if your characters won't leave you alone, if the thought of never writing seriously again brings not a wash of relief but a surge of grief, then you don't have a choice. You are a writer. It's not what you do, it's who you are. If you're never published, you will still be a writer (just a frustrated, undiscovered one). It doesn't matter how you feel; you *will* drag yourself back up and send your stuff out there again and write something new and send that out and on and on until something clicks. You'll do it because you have to. And on the day that you don't have to, you'll know it's time to let go.<br /><br />This post is not meant to be discouraging--quite the opposite. It's meant to say that whatever you do will be the right thing for you. So if you answered "yes" to those questions, then reread all the fabulous advice in the other comments, and have at it.<br /><br />Welcome, and good luck!Cassandranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64918785068279277652010-07-02T08:01:57.284-04:002010-07-02T08:01:57.284-04:00Ms. Trite says,
104 comments, rejection gets a lot...Ms. Trite says,<br />104 comments, rejection gets a lot of ink, or key strokes.<br /><br />In love, jobs, writing...rejection is a four-letter word.<br /><br />Here's an assignment.<br /><br />Go watch fireworks this weekend.<br />Write about it.<br />Put it in your childs baby book.<br />You will love writing again.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10812069237013685322010-07-02T01:54:36.836-04:002010-07-02T01:54:36.836-04:00Sorry for the removed post, but my blogger was mes...Sorry for the removed post, but my blogger was messing up.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67689494200159440122010-07-02T01:48:48.791-04:002010-07-02T01:48:48.791-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-90160633249670710492010-07-02T01:48:48.792-04:002010-07-02T01:48:48.792-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-42324955433274422322010-07-02T01:46:01.711-04:002010-07-02T01:46:01.711-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16259437669552858622010-07-02T01:45:31.819-04:002010-07-02T01:45:31.819-04:00This happens to be my original e-mail. I’m very s...This happens to be my original e-mail. I’m very surprised to see how many people took time from their busy day to help a fellow writer (Yes, I said writer) in trouble. I want you to know, I read each of your submissions, and they were great. I laughed at many of them (like crying on the cat, breaking the plate, and the Rocky Balboa quote, LOL-too funny!), and I was relieved to see that everyone goes through this. <br /><br />So here is an update-<br /><br />I sent out 15 queries. I got one request for the first five pages, and one request for a proposal. The rest were rejections, or no replies (which are rejections). Unfortunately, those two requests were “no’s” as well, but I learned something from them: I wasn’t ready to submit. My writing was all over the place, and took finding an awesome critique group to point that out to me (which is what many of you just suggested). So you clearly have great advice. <br /><br />Someone also mentioned-feeling depressed after finishing the novel, because you lose these great friends (characters) you’ve been spending so much time with. I think this comment was dead on. While I was in this slump, I decided to work on finishing my outlines for the two remaining books in the trilogy. Once I returned to my characters, things felt right again. So, I finished the outline, but I’m not going to start on those books, because there’s no point while I’m back to editing the first one. <br /><br />However, I did start this hilarious mommy book, and I’ve been cracking myself up. I literally have to stop, and pull out my blackberry during the day when I remember funny things for the book, and it clicked with me-‘This is why you started writing in the first place’. It was about making me happy, not Agents (sorry Jessica, lol). <br /><br />And to the person who mentioned a vacation-I have a two week vacation planned this month. Yea! Although, I’m not going anywhere and I already know I’ll be writing away most of the time (well at least as much as my daughter will allow me, lol). So thank you all again for your kind words and I hope to take all your advice to heart and keep doing what we all love: Writing. Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365970636991748401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17388358988245004552010-07-01T22:57:52.918-04:002010-07-01T22:57:52.918-04:00I started thinking of my rejections as little toke...I started thinking of my rejections as little tokens. I just collected them, holding them close, waiting for the day I succeeded, so I could basically claim "Aha! I WAS worth it. So nyeh!"<br /><br />That, and having a very supportive fiance made a big difference.Raven Corinn Carlukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06014248975870886289noreply@blogger.com