Home - is where I want to be / But I guess I'm already there /I come home -
she lifted up her wings /
Guess that this must be the place...
- Talking Heads, "Naive Melody"

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Writing Update - Ups, Downs, and Alongs

"Ups and downs" meaning that I have started the uniquely masochistic process known as querying agents. I have sent out five queries, gotten one form rejection and one request for the first five pages. I have heard that this agent requests many partials which are later rejected, but it gives me hope that my basic query letter and synopsis are acceptably written.

For the record, it feels exactly like getting a call-back on a resume:  elation, followed by anxiety that I'll screw it up through an elementary error, followed by a reminder to myself that often these things don't work out, and it's no one's fault. I've done a fair amount of job-hunting in my life, been to many an interview that didn't pan out. I can handle this. The threat of rejection brings out my inner teenager, but of course one can't let that old version of oneself call the shots.

For the "alongs," I am working more earnestly on Fury's Flight. I am not sure whether I will try the entire snowflake process. Filling in spreadsheets is not my idea of a good time. I had a few ideas last night, and I think I've got a way to fill in the plot hole the book plunged into as I was finishing NaNoWriMo that year. I'm anxious to get with the words.

4 comments:

nerinedorman said...

The best part is getting rejections on stuff you queried almost a year ago, and you FORGOT the book still existed.

Rebecca said...

Wow! I'll try to brace myself for long droughts....

Adrienne Martini said...

Know going in that publishing is not a swift process. And, yeah, this part is hard, what with the rejection but it does help thicken your skin for all of the rejections to come from editors and, ultimately, readers.

Which I don't intend to sound completely bleak. It's just part of the game.

Rebecca said...

Good timing, as my "up" has turned into a "down" this evening. Ah, well. It's not even costing me stamps, so may as well keep at it.