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tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lea4h
|
i3mdmsk
| 1,649,225,638 | 1,649,250,630 | 1 | 6 |
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
|
One thing I recommend? Go to query shark and read through 50 queries, or a critique thread and read 50 first pages. Pretend you’re an agent. You get 50 queries every single day. You have time to request one partial manuscript. Pick which 49 you’re going to reject. You’re going to pass on some bad stories. You’re going to pass on some good stories that you’re personally not interested in. You’re going to pass on some good stories you are interested in because some other story resonated with you just a little bit more. Being on the other end of the rejection can help you internalize the ‘it’s not personal’ feeling. Don’t let the straight statistics get you down though, submissions for a good book sent to agents who rep that kind of book have a pretty high odds of success eventually. If it doesn’t work out though… it’s not personal and says nothing about you as a person or as a writer. Embrace the rejection, and know that every single writer you’ve ever admired has gotten them too.
| 0 | 24,992 | 6 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3k37xq
|
i3k8t9x
| 1,649,201,687 | 1,649,204,178 | 3 | 4 |
Just wanted to say, same.
|
Put it aside and write the next one. You might wait u til that next one is done before you look at the one before. It might be the next one that is worth submitting because of all you learned writing the first one.
| 0 | 2,491 | 1.333333 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3k8t9x
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,204,178 | 1,649,203,186 | 4 | 1 |
Put it aside and write the next one. You might wait u til that next one is done before you look at the one before. It might be the next one that is worth submitting because of all you learned writing the first one.
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 992 | 4 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3k37xq
|
i3lhdah
| 1,649,201,687 | 1,649,227,964 | 3 | 4 |
Just wanted to say, same.
|
By saying, “fuck it.” Every step of the way. About to google literary agents, but getting sweaty palms? Mutter, “fuck it.” Find someone who probably works with books similar to yours but probably better than yours and honestly what if she hates it and it ruins her day and —“fuck it,” OP says through gritted teeth. Statistics say you need to submit to a dozen or more agents, but just the one made you feel awful? A hearty “fuck it!” From the chest works wonders.
| 0 | 26,277 | 1.333333 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lfsy5
|
i3lhdah
| 1,649,226,777 | 1,649,227,964 | 2 | 4 |
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
|
By saying, “fuck it.” Every step of the way. About to google literary agents, but getting sweaty palms? Mutter, “fuck it.” Find someone who probably works with books similar to yours but probably better than yours and honestly what if she hates it and it ruins her day and —“fuck it,” OP says through gritted teeth. Statistics say you need to submit to a dozen or more agents, but just the one made you feel awful? A hearty “fuck it!” From the chest works wonders.
| 0 | 1,187 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhdah
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,227,964 | 1,649,203,186 | 4 | 1 |
By saying, “fuck it.” Every step of the way. About to google literary agents, but getting sweaty palms? Mutter, “fuck it.” Find someone who probably works with books similar to yours but probably better than yours and honestly what if she hates it and it ruins her day and —“fuck it,” OP says through gritted teeth. Statistics say you need to submit to a dozen or more agents, but just the one made you feel awful? A hearty “fuck it!” From the chest works wonders.
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 24,778 | 4 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhdah
|
i3l51p1
| 1,649,227,964 | 1,649,219,598 | 4 | 1 |
By saying, “fuck it.” Every step of the way. About to google literary agents, but getting sweaty palms? Mutter, “fuck it.” Find someone who probably works with books similar to yours but probably better than yours and honestly what if she hates it and it ruins her day and —“fuck it,” OP says through gritted teeth. Statistics say you need to submit to a dozen or more agents, but just the one made you feel awful? A hearty “fuck it!” From the chest works wonders.
|
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
| 1 | 8,366 | 4 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhdah
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,227,964 | 1,649,225,638 | 4 | 1 |
By saying, “fuck it.” Every step of the way. About to google literary agents, but getting sweaty palms? Mutter, “fuck it.” Find someone who probably works with books similar to yours but probably better than yours and honestly what if she hates it and it ruins her day and —“fuck it,” OP says through gritted teeth. Statistics say you need to submit to a dozen or more agents, but just the one made you feel awful? A hearty “fuck it!” From the chest works wonders.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 2,326 | 4 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhwrq
|
i3lfsy5
| 1,649,228,393 | 1,649,226,777 | 3 | 2 |
Google queryshark. Read all the archives. It'll give you a much better understanding of how to write a query letter. This is really important.
|
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
| 1 | 1,616 | 1.5 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhwrq
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,228,393 | 1,649,203,186 | 3 | 1 |
Google queryshark. Read all the archives. It'll give you a much better understanding of how to write a query letter. This is really important.
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 25,207 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhwrq
|
i3l51p1
| 1,649,228,393 | 1,649,219,598 | 3 | 1 |
Google queryshark. Read all the archives. It'll give you a much better understanding of how to write a query letter. This is really important.
|
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
| 1 | 8,795 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lhwrq
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,228,393 | 1,649,225,638 | 3 | 1 |
Google queryshark. Read all the archives. It'll give you a much better understanding of how to write a query letter. This is really important.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 2,755 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lfsy5
|
i3lil41
| 1,649,226,777 | 1,649,228,939 | 2 | 3 |
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
|
Your book is 100% going to get rejected by someone. That’s not a judgment on quality, that’s just how publishing works. Armed with that knowledge (and that it applies to everyone else too), accept that the road to publication starts with rejection.
| 0 | 2,162 | 1.5 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3k6lbd
|
i3lil41
| 1,649,203,186 | 1,649,228,939 | 1 | 3 |
You don't have to roll the dice
|
Your book is 100% going to get rejected by someone. That’s not a judgment on quality, that’s just how publishing works. Armed with that knowledge (and that it applies to everyone else too), accept that the road to publication starts with rejection.
| 0 | 25,753 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3l51p1
|
i3lil41
| 1,649,219,598 | 1,649,228,939 | 1 | 3 |
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
|
Your book is 100% going to get rejected by someone. That’s not a judgment on quality, that’s just how publishing works. Armed with that knowledge (and that it applies to everyone else too), accept that the road to publication starts with rejection.
| 0 | 9,341 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lil41
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,228,939 | 1,649,225,638 | 3 | 1 |
Your book is 100% going to get rejected by someone. That’s not a judgment on quality, that’s just how publishing works. Armed with that knowledge (and that it applies to everyone else too), accept that the road to publication starts with rejection.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 3,301 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3m065c
|
i3lfsy5
| 1,649,243,229 | 1,649,226,777 | 3 | 2 |
Ask yourself this question: what will change if I get rejected by agents? You have still written a book, you can still improve on it, you can still write more books, and generally you have no idea why an agent rejects a book so it really isn't about whether you are a good writer or not anyway. It's like the most easiest rejection in the world. Nothing about life changes when it happens.
|
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
| 1 | 16,452 | 1.5 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3m065c
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,243,229 | 1,649,203,186 | 3 | 1 |
Ask yourself this question: what will change if I get rejected by agents? You have still written a book, you can still improve on it, you can still write more books, and generally you have no idea why an agent rejects a book so it really isn't about whether you are a good writer or not anyway. It's like the most easiest rejection in the world. Nothing about life changes when it happens.
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 40,043 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3l51p1
|
i3m065c
| 1,649,219,598 | 1,649,243,229 | 1 | 3 |
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
|
Ask yourself this question: what will change if I get rejected by agents? You have still written a book, you can still improve on it, you can still write more books, and generally you have no idea why an agent rejects a book so it really isn't about whether you are a good writer or not anyway. It's like the most easiest rejection in the world. Nothing about life changes when it happens.
| 0 | 23,631 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3m065c
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,243,229 | 1,649,225,638 | 3 | 1 |
Ask yourself this question: what will change if I get rejected by agents? You have still written a book, you can still improve on it, you can still write more books, and generally you have no idea why an agent rejects a book so it really isn't about whether you are a good writer or not anyway. It's like the most easiest rejection in the world. Nothing about life changes when it happens.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 17,591 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3mihms
|
i3lfsy5
| 1,649,252,776 | 1,649,226,777 | 3 | 2 |
Have you done a few rounds of edits and had beta readers? The worst thing that happens when you send to an agent is no. This industry is riddled with rejection. The first one is the hardest. And sometimes it gets easier (sometimes it doesn’t). Agents reject you, editors reject you, readers reject you. Thick skin and a will to write for more than appeasing others is key. Also, ignore assertions that self publishing is away to avoid rejection. You’ll miss it from the gate keepers, but you’re still bound to get one star reviews and no’s from ARC readers and book bloggers. Art is subjective and you aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
|
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
| 1 | 25,999 | 1.5 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3k6lbd
|
i3mihms
| 1,649,203,186 | 1,649,252,776 | 1 | 3 |
You don't have to roll the dice
|
Have you done a few rounds of edits and had beta readers? The worst thing that happens when you send to an agent is no. This industry is riddled with rejection. The first one is the hardest. And sometimes it gets easier (sometimes it doesn’t). Agents reject you, editors reject you, readers reject you. Thick skin and a will to write for more than appeasing others is key. Also, ignore assertions that self publishing is away to avoid rejection. You’ll miss it from the gate keepers, but you’re still bound to get one star reviews and no’s from ARC readers and book bloggers. Art is subjective and you aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
| 0 | 49,590 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3l51p1
|
i3mihms
| 1,649,219,598 | 1,649,252,776 | 1 | 3 |
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
|
Have you done a few rounds of edits and had beta readers? The worst thing that happens when you send to an agent is no. This industry is riddled with rejection. The first one is the hardest. And sometimes it gets easier (sometimes it doesn’t). Agents reject you, editors reject you, readers reject you. Thick skin and a will to write for more than appeasing others is key. Also, ignore assertions that self publishing is away to avoid rejection. You’ll miss it from the gate keepers, but you’re still bound to get one star reviews and no’s from ARC readers and book bloggers. Art is subjective and you aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
| 0 | 33,178 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3mihms
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,252,776 | 1,649,225,638 | 3 | 1 |
Have you done a few rounds of edits and had beta readers? The worst thing that happens when you send to an agent is no. This industry is riddled with rejection. The first one is the hardest. And sometimes it gets easier (sometimes it doesn’t). Agents reject you, editors reject you, readers reject you. Thick skin and a will to write for more than appeasing others is key. Also, ignore assertions that self publishing is away to avoid rejection. You’ll miss it from the gate keepers, but you’re still bound to get one star reviews and no’s from ARC readers and book bloggers. Art is subjective and you aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 27,138 | 3 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lfsy5
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,226,777 | 1,649,203,186 | 2 | 1 |
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 23,591 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3l51p1
|
i3lfsy5
| 1,649,219,598 | 1,649,226,777 | 1 | 2 |
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
|
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
| 0 | 7,179 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lfsy5
|
i3lea4h
| 1,649,226,777 | 1,649,225,638 | 2 | 1 |
You submit it to beta readers instead! If you haven't already. Your book should be beta read and self-edited as cleanly as possible before being submitted. If you've already done those things then I suggest writing down things you love or like about your book to look at when you get rejections. Also remember, the worst thing that can happen is you never submit. Submitting at all means you're ahead of many people who never shot their shot.
|
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
| 1 | 1,139 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3pfzbi
|
i3k6lbd
| 1,649,294,716 | 1,649,203,186 | 2 | 1 |
I will share two things. One is a quote from my favorite author: “Rejection is the cost of playing.” The second thing is, when I first started querying, I got form-letter rejections. Simple no’s without any context. So I worked on my craft and revised my story. Then I started getting rejections with very nice messages. Which is to say it’s all a game of writing and rewriting and trying and failing and trying again. I’ve since gone the indie route, but I’m still working on my writing and I never give up. Long story short, you’ll never conquer the fear of submitting to agents. But you’ll find a way to survive rejection until that lovely moment when you get a “yes.” And that moment will come as long as you persevere!
|
You don't have to roll the dice
| 1 | 91,530 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3pfzbi
|
i3l51p1
| 1,649,294,716 | 1,649,219,598 | 2 | 1 |
I will share two things. One is a quote from my favorite author: “Rejection is the cost of playing.” The second thing is, when I first started querying, I got form-letter rejections. Simple no’s without any context. So I worked on my craft and revised my story. Then I started getting rejections with very nice messages. Which is to say it’s all a game of writing and rewriting and trying and failing and trying again. I’ve since gone the indie route, but I’m still working on my writing and I never give up. Long story short, you’ll never conquer the fear of submitting to agents. But you’ll find a way to survive rejection until that lovely moment when you get a “yes.” And that moment will come as long as you persevere!
|
1. Join a writers group. 2. Submit your work to literary contests. 3. Find a writing coach or mentor. 4. Get involved in the writing community. 5. Develop a positive attitude.
| 1 | 75,118 | 2 | ||
tx86vi
|
writing_train
| 0.71 |
So I wrote my book. How do I conquer my fear of submitting it to literary agents? Part of this doesn’t make sense. I worked hard to finish my book. But now that I’m done I can’t seem to find the courage to roll the dice. Probably fear of getting rejected. Looking for wisdom and/or tough love. Thanks
|
i3lea4h
|
i3pfzbi
| 1,649,225,638 | 1,649,294,716 | 1 | 2 |
Just suck it up and get ready for rejections. Start working on another project and keep honing those skills. Congrats brother
|
I will share two things. One is a quote from my favorite author: “Rejection is the cost of playing.” The second thing is, when I first started querying, I got form-letter rejections. Simple no’s without any context. So I worked on my craft and revised my story. Then I started getting rejections with very nice messages. Which is to say it’s all a game of writing and rewriting and trying and failing and trying again. I’ve since gone the indie route, but I’m still working on my writing and I never give up. Long story short, you’ll never conquer the fear of submitting to agents. But you’ll find a way to survive rejection until that lovely moment when you get a “yes.” And that moment will come as long as you persevere!
| 0 | 69,078 | 2 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93o9b6
|
h93r69p
| 1,629,076,573 | 1,629,078,020 | 16 | 72 |
Send to twenty more. And twenty more after that. Stephen King had hundreds of rejections. As did many other authors. You'll get there. EDIT: You may consider hiring an editor. Publishing houses care only about whole books to sell, not slipshod stories with promise.
|
The best querying advice I’ve heard is to stop querying once you run out of agents that you’re excited about. You only really get one shot with every agent per manuscript (unless they tell you to revise and resubmit), so once you’ve made your way down the list and can’t find other agents that look like a good fit for you and your book, it’s time to step back. At that point, you can either 1. shelf the book and start a new project with the goal of landing an agent who might be willing to look at your other projects, too, or 2. research alternatives and decide if you’re suited for being your own publisher (even brilliant writers can be terrible businesspeople so this one requires some self-reflection and humility). I have friends who only sent out ten queries before they landed their agent, and I have friends who’ve been on sub for years with multiple books. Querying is equal parts luck, persistence, and how sellable of a book you’ve got (note that I didn’t say “how good”). Also: don’t hire an editor unless you’re committed to self-pub and have done your homework. An agent with edit with you. Then a publisher will run you through the process all over again.
| 0 | 1,447 | 4.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93o9b6
|
h94a8n1
| 1,629,076,573 | 1,629,088,113 | 16 | 29 |
Send to twenty more. And twenty more after that. Stephen King had hundreds of rejections. As did many other authors. You'll get there. EDIT: You may consider hiring an editor. Publishing houses care only about whole books to sell, not slipshod stories with promise.
|
Twenty queries and no requests is a sign that you're either writing in a dead genre (unlikely unless you're trying to go out with, I don't know, a YA distopia), you're targeting the wrong agents (unlikely if you've done your research) or your query and/or first pages need more work. Have you tried workshopping them on r/pubtips? Hiring an editor isn't necessary if you're aiming at traditional publishing. Did you have beta readers? Also, when you say no responses, how long has it been? August is notoriously slow in publishing, and this year due to the pandemic it seems even slower. I wouldn't requery an agent unless it's been a while (6 months +) and you've revised substantially, to the point of it being almost a different manuscript.
| 0 | 11,540 | 1.8125 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h941d27
|
h94a8n1
| 1,629,083,129 | 1,629,088,113 | 9 | 29 |
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
|
Twenty queries and no requests is a sign that you're either writing in a dead genre (unlikely unless you're trying to go out with, I don't know, a YA distopia), you're targeting the wrong agents (unlikely if you've done your research) or your query and/or first pages need more work. Have you tried workshopping them on r/pubtips? Hiring an editor isn't necessary if you're aiming at traditional publishing. Did you have beta readers? Also, when you say no responses, how long has it been? August is notoriously slow in publishing, and this year due to the pandemic it seems even slower. I wouldn't requery an agent unless it's been a while (6 months +) and you've revised substantially, to the point of it being almost a different manuscript.
| 0 | 4,984 | 3.222222 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94a8n1
|
h93uric
| 1,629,088,113 | 1,629,079,799 | 29 | 8 |
Twenty queries and no requests is a sign that you're either writing in a dead genre (unlikely unless you're trying to go out with, I don't know, a YA distopia), you're targeting the wrong agents (unlikely if you've done your research) or your query and/or first pages need more work. Have you tried workshopping them on r/pubtips? Hiring an editor isn't necessary if you're aiming at traditional publishing. Did you have beta readers? Also, when you say no responses, how long has it been? August is notoriously slow in publishing, and this year due to the pandemic it seems even slower. I wouldn't requery an agent unless it's been a while (6 months +) and you've revised substantially, to the point of it being almost a different manuscript.
|
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
| 1 | 8,314 | 3.625 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94a8n1
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,088,113 | 2 | 29 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Twenty queries and no requests is a sign that you're either writing in a dead genre (unlikely unless you're trying to go out with, I don't know, a YA distopia), you're targeting the wrong agents (unlikely if you've done your research) or your query and/or first pages need more work. Have you tried workshopping them on r/pubtips? Hiring an editor isn't necessary if you're aiming at traditional publishing. Did you have beta readers? Also, when you say no responses, how long has it been? August is notoriously slow in publishing, and this year due to the pandemic it seems even slower. I wouldn't requery an agent unless it's been a while (6 months +) and you've revised substantially, to the point of it being almost a different manuscript.
| 0 | 10,061 | 14.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h948jrq
|
h94a8n1
| 1,629,087,105 | 1,629,088,113 | 2 | 29 |
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
|
Twenty queries and no requests is a sign that you're either writing in a dead genre (unlikely unless you're trying to go out with, I don't know, a YA distopia), you're targeting the wrong agents (unlikely if you've done your research) or your query and/or first pages need more work. Have you tried workshopping them on r/pubtips? Hiring an editor isn't necessary if you're aiming at traditional publishing. Did you have beta readers? Also, when you say no responses, how long has it been? August is notoriously slow in publishing, and this year due to the pandemic it seems even slower. I wouldn't requery an agent unless it's been a while (6 months +) and you've revised substantially, to the point of it being almost a different manuscript.
| 0 | 1,008 | 14.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93o9b6
|
h94dj0w
| 1,629,076,573 | 1,629,090,171 | 16 | 20 |
Send to twenty more. And twenty more after that. Stephen King had hundreds of rejections. As did many other authors. You'll get there. EDIT: You may consider hiring an editor. Publishing houses care only about whole books to sell, not slipshod stories with promise.
|
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
| 0 | 13,598 | 1.25 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h941d27
|
h94dj0w
| 1,629,083,129 | 1,629,090,171 | 9 | 20 |
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
|
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
| 0 | 7,042 | 2.222222 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93uric
|
h94dj0w
| 1,629,079,799 | 1,629,090,171 | 8 | 20 |
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
|
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
| 0 | 10,372 | 2.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94dj0w
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,090,171 | 1,629,088,128 | 20 | 6 |
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 1 | 2,043 | 3.333333 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94dj0w
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,090,171 | 2 | 20 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
| 0 | 12,119 | 10 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h948jrq
|
h94dj0w
| 1,629,087,105 | 1,629,090,171 | 2 | 20 |
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
|
twenty isn't enough. query thirty more. if all of them say no, put that book in a drawer and write a different one. Don't hire an editor. don't give a stranger hundreds if not thousands of dollars for no reason. put the book away and write another one.
| 0 | 3,066 | 10 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h93o9b6
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,076,573 | 19 | 16 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
Send to twenty more. And twenty more after that. Stephen King had hundreds of rejections. As did many other authors. You'll get there. EDIT: You may consider hiring an editor. Publishing houses care only about whole books to sell, not slipshod stories with promise.
| 1 | 22,776 | 1.1875 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h94k93i
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,094,915 | 19 | 15 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
Get your query letter critiqued.
| 1 | 4,434 | 1.266667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h94oeeu
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,098,083 | 19 | 13 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
| 1 | 1,266 | 1.461538 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h941d27
|
h94py5n
| 1,629,083,129 | 1,629,099,349 | 9 | 19 |
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
|
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
| 0 | 16,220 | 2.111111 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h93uric
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,079,799 | 19 | 8 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
| 1 | 19,550 | 2.375 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h94ikvb
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,093,693 | 19 | 8 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
| 1 | 5,656 | 2.375 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94nt2h
|
h94py5n
| 1,629,097,607 | 1,629,099,349 | 6 | 19 |
How did you define your agent list? Something I've noticed is the online sample pages of a book include the author's thank-you's to their supporters. Find genres closest to your book. Draw up a list of these agents and editors whom you can learn a little bit about in the blurb. "Alexa Bombast was the perfect agent because..." "Fluffy McShoots was my editor throughout the process, despite being on their honeymoon at the Mall of America." Hit up that book's domestic and international sales, translations and Alexa/ Fluffy's socials. Once you have a few likely titles, creating this crude spreadsheet goes fast. Now your letter pitches to Alexa and/or Fluffy because of the success of earlier-book. "I was drawn to write to you because of what Author Midge said about your..." Generic query-writer, you ain't.
|
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
| 0 | 1,742 | 3.166667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,088,128 | 19 | 6 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 1 | 11,221 | 3.166667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94py5n
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,099,349 | 2 | 19 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
| 0 | 21,297 | 9.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,087,105 | 19 | 2 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 12,244 | 9.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94py5n
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,099,349 | 1,629,090,226 | 19 | 1 |
Go over to r/PubTips and let them check out your query letter (or if you want, DM it to me and I'll tell you if I think it's working or not). 90% of the time, the query letter is the problem. There will also (I assume) be a new thread for query + opening 300 words next month - post there. It's amazing how bad your book can look when you separate out the opening from the rest of it. The query package is the first thing to fix - paying for an editor to work on the whole book is no help if your query and opening page isn't working.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 9,123 | 19 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94k93i
|
h941d27
| 1,629,094,915 | 1,629,083,129 | 15 | 9 |
Get your query letter critiqued.
|
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
| 1 | 11,786 | 1.666667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93uric
|
h94k93i
| 1,629,079,799 | 1,629,094,915 | 8 | 15 |
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
|
Get your query letter critiqued.
| 0 | 15,116 | 1.875 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94k93i
|
h94ikvb
| 1,629,094,915 | 1,629,093,693 | 15 | 8 |
Get your query letter critiqued.
|
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
| 1 | 1,222 | 1.875 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94k93i
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,094,915 | 1,629,088,128 | 15 | 6 |
Get your query letter critiqued.
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 1 | 6,787 | 2.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94k93i
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,094,915 | 2 | 15 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Get your query letter critiqued.
| 0 | 16,863 | 7.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94k93i
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,094,915 | 1,629,087,105 | 15 | 2 |
Get your query letter critiqued.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 7,810 | 7.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94dm37
|
h94k93i
| 1,629,090,226 | 1,629,094,915 | 1 | 15 |
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
|
Get your query letter critiqued.
| 0 | 4,689 | 15 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h941d27
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,083,129 | 13 | 9 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
| 1 | 14,954 | 1.444444 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h93uric
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,079,799 | 13 | 8 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
| 1 | 18,284 | 1.625 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h94ikvb
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,093,693 | 13 | 8 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
| 1 | 4,390 | 1.625 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94nt2h
|
h94oeeu
| 1,629,097,607 | 1,629,098,083 | 6 | 13 |
How did you define your agent list? Something I've noticed is the online sample pages of a book include the author's thank-you's to their supporters. Find genres closest to your book. Draw up a list of these agents and editors whom you can learn a little bit about in the blurb. "Alexa Bombast was the perfect agent because..." "Fluffy McShoots was my editor throughout the process, despite being on their honeymoon at the Mall of America." Hit up that book's domestic and international sales, translations and Alexa/ Fluffy's socials. Once you have a few likely titles, creating this crude spreadsheet goes fast. Now your letter pitches to Alexa and/or Fluffy because of the success of earlier-book. "I was drawn to write to you because of what Author Midge said about your..." Generic query-writer, you ain't.
|
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
| 0 | 476 | 2.166667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,088,128 | 13 | 6 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 1 | 9,955 | 2.166667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h93r8lu
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,078,052 | 13 | 2 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
Have you considered self publishing?
| 1 | 20,031 | 6.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h948jrq
|
h94oeeu
| 1,629,087,105 | 1,629,098,083 | 2 | 13 |
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
|
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
| 0 | 10,978 | 6.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94oeeu
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,098,083 | 1,629,090,226 | 13 | 1 |
In one interview/lecture I saw on YouTube of Stephen King, he said when he first started sending his stuff to magazines etc. he would pin every rejection he got on one nail. After some time, he said, the nail fell of the wall because of the amount of rejections he put on it. In the end he said: "So I just got a bigger nail." I hope that story helps to motivate you. I watched and listen to many interviews of different published authors and almost all of them were in a same situation as you, they got rejected and rejected; after that they again got rejected and probably repeated that cycle many times. There is always a bit of luck and timing in finding an agent and getting a possible deal. Don't get discouraged, keep on trying, maybe write more, something else and by the time you're finished there will be more interest in your primary manuscript (as anywhere, there are "trends" in writing/publishing so your story may "not be profitable atm" [just a hypothesis]), or maybe your second manuscript will blow up. You never know. I hope it all goes well and DON'T STOP!
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 7,857 | 13 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93uric
|
h941d27
| 1,629,079,799 | 1,629,083,129 | 8 | 9 |
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
|
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
| 0 | 3,330 | 1.125 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h941d27
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,083,129 | 2 | 9 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Sometimes the book isn’t the issue, perhaps your query letter needs work?
| 0 | 5,077 | 4.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93uric
|
h93r8lu
| 1,629,079,799 | 1,629,078,052 | 8 | 2 |
You usually don't requery an agent. if they said no it doesn't matter if you edit it or not. They don't want your story. I sent out over a hundred. I had several nibbles and then I eventually had a publisher want the book. I ended up self-publishing. I didn't like the offer they wanted to give me. 4 years later I'm making enough to do this as a full-time living. I wouldn't change anything. Getting rejected is not the end of the world. Yes it stings. But you've barely even begin to scratch the surface of querying. You have to remember an agent is looking for what they think they can sell to a publisher. You don't pay an agent the publisher pays an agent they make about $1,500 for every book they turn over to a publisher. So they're going to be extremely choosy and selective. Cuz they're basing their choice off of what they think the market will bear. That doesn't mean that they know for sure what will sell and what doesn't sell. I had many rejections and now, like I said, I make money off my writing. So if I had stopped because of all those rejections I wouldn't be where I am today.
|
Have you considered self publishing?
| 1 | 1,747 | 4 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94ikvb
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,093,693 | 1,629,088,128 | 8 | 6 |
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 1 | 5,565 | 1.333333 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94ikvb
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,093,693 | 2 | 8 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
| 0 | 15,641 | 4 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94ikvb
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,093,693 | 1,629,087,105 | 8 | 2 |
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 6,588 | 4 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94ikvb
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,093,693 | 1,629,090,226 | 8 | 1 |
Your book might just be bad. Show it to some beta-readers who don't know you and listen to their opinions.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 3,467 | 8 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94nt2h
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,097,607 | 2 | 6 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
How did you define your agent list? Something I've noticed is the online sample pages of a book include the author's thank-you's to their supporters. Find genres closest to your book. Draw up a list of these agents and editors whom you can learn a little bit about in the blurb. "Alexa Bombast was the perfect agent because..." "Fluffy McShoots was my editor throughout the process, despite being on their honeymoon at the Mall of America." Hit up that book's domestic and international sales, translations and Alexa/ Fluffy's socials. Once you have a few likely titles, creating this crude spreadsheet goes fast. Now your letter pitches to Alexa and/or Fluffy because of the success of earlier-book. "I was drawn to write to you because of what Author Midge said about your..." Generic query-writer, you ain't.
| 0 | 19,555 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94nt2h
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,097,607 | 1,629,087,105 | 6 | 2 |
How did you define your agent list? Something I've noticed is the online sample pages of a book include the author's thank-you's to their supporters. Find genres closest to your book. Draw up a list of these agents and editors whom you can learn a little bit about in the blurb. "Alexa Bombast was the perfect agent because..." "Fluffy McShoots was my editor throughout the process, despite being on their honeymoon at the Mall of America." Hit up that book's domestic and international sales, translations and Alexa/ Fluffy's socials. Once you have a few likely titles, creating this crude spreadsheet goes fast. Now your letter pitches to Alexa and/or Fluffy because of the success of earlier-book. "I was drawn to write to you because of what Author Midge said about your..." Generic query-writer, you ain't.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 10,502 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94nt2h
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,097,607 | 1,629,090,226 | 6 | 1 |
How did you define your agent list? Something I've noticed is the online sample pages of a book include the author's thank-you's to their supporters. Find genres closest to your book. Draw up a list of these agents and editors whom you can learn a little bit about in the blurb. "Alexa Bombast was the perfect agent because..." "Fluffy McShoots was my editor throughout the process, despite being on their honeymoon at the Mall of America." Hit up that book's domestic and international sales, translations and Alexa/ Fluffy's socials. Once you have a few likely titles, creating this crude spreadsheet goes fast. Now your letter pitches to Alexa and/or Fluffy because of the success of earlier-book. "I was drawn to write to you because of what Author Midge said about your..." Generic query-writer, you ain't.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 7,381 | 6 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,088,128 | 2 | 6 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 0 | 10,076 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h948jrq
|
h94a9lm
| 1,629,087,105 | 1,629,088,128 | 2 | 6 |
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
|
Twenty is a drop in the bucket, sorry. Keep plugging away with other agents. Meanwhile, revise what you've got, or at least revise your pitch/cover letter to make it better. If no luck, start over after about twelve months, letting them know they've seen it before but you've further polished it. And don't hesitate to get that professional edit.
| 0 | 1,023 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h958x81
|
h9510qz
| 1,629,114,264 | 1,629,108,635 | 5 | 3 |
Did you get any full requests? If no, you should first try to get query / first page critique assessment, there are multiple places that offer it for free or for cheap or contests you can participate in to win a critique of opening pages / chapters. Agents will NOT read your whole thing unless you captivated them from page one - they simply don't have time, they get 100s of applications, so they will only cherry pick the ms which are the most promising. Your opening page / paragraph is pivotal to capturing attention.
|
It only needs to work once. Keep trying.
| 1 | 5,629 | 1.666667 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h9510qz
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,108,635 | 2 | 3 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
It only needs to work once. Keep trying.
| 0 | 30,583 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h9510qz
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,108,635 | 1,629,087,105 | 3 | 2 |
It only needs to work once. Keep trying.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 21,530 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h9510qz
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,108,635 | 1,629,090,226 | 3 | 1 |
It only needs to work once. Keep trying.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 18,409 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h958x81
|
h93r8lu
| 1,629,114,264 | 1,629,078,052 | 5 | 2 |
Did you get any full requests? If no, you should first try to get query / first page critique assessment, there are multiple places that offer it for free or for cheap or contests you can participate in to win a critique of opening pages / chapters. Agents will NOT read your whole thing unless you captivated them from page one - they simply don't have time, they get 100s of applications, so they will only cherry pick the ms which are the most promising. Your opening page / paragraph is pivotal to capturing attention.
|
Have you considered self publishing?
| 1 | 36,212 | 2.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h948jrq
|
h958x81
| 1,629,087,105 | 1,629,114,264 | 2 | 5 |
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
|
Did you get any full requests? If no, you should first try to get query / first page critique assessment, there are multiple places that offer it for free or for cheap or contests you can participate in to win a critique of opening pages / chapters. Agents will NOT read your whole thing unless you captivated them from page one - they simply don't have time, they get 100s of applications, so they will only cherry pick the ms which are the most promising. Your opening page / paragraph is pivotal to capturing attention.
| 0 | 27,159 | 2.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h954z0u
|
h958x81
| 1,629,111,647 | 1,629,114,264 | 2 | 5 |
I’m in the querying trenches at the moment, and it is really slow going - just be patient. Twenty agents isn’t that many, you need to broaden your search. You just need that one agent to connect with the work, so keep looking until you run out of agents you want to work with.
|
Did you get any full requests? If no, you should first try to get query / first page critique assessment, there are multiple places that offer it for free or for cheap or contests you can participate in to win a critique of opening pages / chapters. Agents will NOT read your whole thing unless you captivated them from page one - they simply don't have time, they get 100s of applications, so they will only cherry pick the ms which are the most promising. Your opening page / paragraph is pivotal to capturing attention.
| 0 | 2,617 | 2.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h958x81
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,114,264 | 1,629,090,226 | 5 | 1 |
Did you get any full requests? If no, you should first try to get query / first page critique assessment, there are multiple places that offer it for free or for cheap or contests you can participate in to win a critique of opening pages / chapters. Agents will NOT read your whole thing unless you captivated them from page one - they simply don't have time, they get 100s of applications, so they will only cherry pick the ms which are the most promising. Your opening page / paragraph is pivotal to capturing attention.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 24,038 | 5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h93r8lu
|
h95o63r
| 1,629,078,052 | 1,629,122,222 | 2 | 3 |
Have you considered self publishing?
|
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
| 0 | 44,170 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95o63r
|
h948jrq
| 1,629,122,222 | 1,629,087,105 | 3 | 2 |
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
|
What did you learn in-between, Mace?
| 1 | 35,117 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h954z0u
|
h95o63r
| 1,629,111,647 | 1,629,122,222 | 2 | 3 |
I’m in the querying trenches at the moment, and it is really slow going - just be patient. Twenty agents isn’t that many, you need to broaden your search. You just need that one agent to connect with the work, so keep looking until you run out of agents you want to work with.
|
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
| 0 | 10,575 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95o63r
|
h95eetv
| 1,629,122,222 | 1,629,117,469 | 3 | 2 |
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
|
Read Stephen King’s memoir. His insight it inspiring.
| 1 | 4,753 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95eqqw
|
h95o63r
| 1,629,117,646 | 1,629,122,222 | 2 | 3 |
I work with plenty of publishing houses, as a ghostwriter and book coach. Most authors that get signed do have several volumes under their desk that need polish. The second work is almost always better than the first. So what you should do is put your manuscript away for a year, and write something else. Then come back to it, don't make ANY changes, until you've done a read-through, then put it away and rewrite it. Then compare the two versions.
|
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
| 0 | 4,576 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95htw5
|
h95o63r
| 1,629,119,225 | 1,629,122,222 | 2 | 3 |
Practice, and improve your writing.
|
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
| 0 | 2,997 | 1.5 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95o63r
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,122,222 | 1,629,090,226 | 3 | 1 |
Write MORE. It's your first book. Maybe it's good or even great or it's not. Get better by doing it more. Writers who get it right the first time are outliers. There are many more whose first book they got published is not the first one they wrote. A number here mention Stephen King to be inspired in dealing with rejections. Carrie, his first novel published, was also the fourth he had written. Take that detail into consideration too.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 31,996 | 3 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h954z0u
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,111,647 | 1,629,090,226 | 2 | 1 |
I’m in the querying trenches at the moment, and it is really slow going - just be patient. Twenty agents isn’t that many, you need to broaden your search. You just need that one agent to connect with the work, so keep looking until you run out of agents you want to work with.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 21,421 | 2 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94dm37
|
h95eetv
| 1,629,090,226 | 1,629,117,469 | 1 | 2 |
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
|
Read Stephen King’s memoir. His insight it inspiring.
| 0 | 27,243 | 2 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95eqqw
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,117,646 | 1,629,090,226 | 2 | 1 |
I work with plenty of publishing houses, as a ghostwriter and book coach. Most authors that get signed do have several volumes under their desk that need polish. The second work is almost always better than the first. So what you should do is put your manuscript away for a year, and write something else. Then come back to it, don't make ANY changes, until you've done a read-through, then put it away and rewrite it. Then compare the two versions.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 27,420 | 2 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h95htw5
|
h94dm37
| 1,629,119,225 | 1,629,090,226 | 2 | 1 |
Practice, and improve your writing.
|
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
| 1 | 28,999 | 2 | ||
p55xm2
|
writing_train
| 0.96 |
What to do after sending to twenty literary agents and being rejected/ignored? I'm a bit discouraged though that isn't the point if the question. I mean practically. Do you go back and do another edit and resend it? Just keep searching endlessly for new agents to query? Let it rest and move on to other projects until a later date and retry? How long would you wait in that scenario? How long should you wait before re-querying an agent? Any guidance would be great. I honestly think the book is as close to being as good as I can make it without hiring an editor. Thanks.
|
h94dm37
|
h97h4ps
| 1,629,090,226 | 1,629,148,055 | 1 | 2 |
Push trough. Reassessment. Keep pushing through
|
As close as you can make it probably isn't good enough. Have you gotten any outside eyes on it? Critique group, beta readers who aren't your friends and family? Honestly, after twenty tries at an agent, if you've gotten nothing encouraging, I'd shelve it and write the next book. Trying to improve skills, of course. Then write the next, and the next. Always get feedback, keep learning, keep writing. None of this is easy, or involves some sort of miracle that makes your first book the next best thing since sliced bread. It can take years and many books before you write something someone thinks they can sell. And self publishing? Sure. You can try that. If you're willing to learn how to publish, and how to market, and will spend some money. It can be done pretty cheaply, if you have skills, or can get them. But it's no easier and certainly no less heartbreaking to try to sell a book and get no interest, which is the vast majority of stuff thrown up on Amazon daily.
| 0 | 57,829 | 2 |
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