Everyone knows the old cliche about the woman waiting by the phone, eagerly anticipating a call from that hottie she met the day before. As the days wear on, she's constantly checking when she feels even the smallest vibration.
I'll be honest, I haven't had a lot of experience with this unpleasant sensation. At the moment, however I'm acting out a literary version of this same old song and dance. Over the last couple of months I have been frantically researching literary agents, and how to craft the perfect query letter. I sent out one letter before I had time to really think it through, and almost immediately got a form rejection. I shook it off as my own poor planning and forged ahead. A month ago, I sent out five query letters to agencies of varying stages of growth. Thus far I have received two more form rejections. But where are my other three?
You may think it's a little pessimistic to be expecting three more rejections instead of at least one letter of interest...but I figure if JK Rowling received 12 rejections from publishers (the Interwebs give no number of agent rejections), then I can suck up six. But it's that not knowing that makes it difficult. Just like a woman waiting for a guy to call, I'm carefully scrutinizing my inbox for a sign of reply. I even slogged through my spam folder...just in case.
When it comes to the two rejections I have gotten so far, I feel safe in telling myself that it can't be all my fault, because these are two well-established agencies that can choose to be really picky about new clients because they've already got a good base client list already. I am a little saddened because one of these rejections came from my top choice. However, I'll take a British approach to it and keep my upper lip stiff and will "Keep calm and carry on" as the poster suggests.
In that spirit, I have borrowed Chuck Sambuchino's 2014 Guide to Literary Agents from my local library. (Sorry, Chuck...I promise to buy one of your awesome books once I've sold one of my own...I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment.) I've read his 2013 guide before, and these things are veritable gold mines of great information. Not only does it give me an extensive list of agents with their preferences clearly laid out, it also tells me which agencies are relatively new and really wanting to build their client list. It's like eHarmony for literary agents, but these have been vetted by an outside source so I don't have to worry as much about sketchy situations. That and all the tips and tricks of the trade in the front have helped me get a clearer idea of how this industry works.
In case any of you were suffering under the impression that I will be raking in huge amounts of cash with this career -- I swear, I had no such illusions........promise -- I am assured that I will indeed have to (tragically) keep my day job. But, that's OK. That just means I need to be more than a one-book-wonder. I've gotten started on the follow-up book and have made plans for the third and final installment. My brain is also percolating with ideas for a completely new character and universe. There are even ideas running around in here for extended story lines within my Kingdoms universe. So, if I can just pin down an agent (and they then pin down a publishing deal), that day job just might become a part-time affair.
But, for now I'll keep obsessively checking my email, checking out informational books from the library, and writing book two...Jamarian Days. (You know, in case you were wondering) ;)
