I cannot convey the sense of relief I felt while reading through this post from That Rebel with a Blog. I released it on April 12, 2017, while in query hell with my debut novel. It would be another year before I made my final decision, but it is one I have never regretted.
And maybe, just maybe, this little missive might save you from the query demons.
Holy Moley. It’s been nearly three weeks since I last posted. As of then, I’d not written on my manuscript in fourteen days. I am still not writing. Damn. One week became two. Now two has become five. And no new manuscript words.
I have spent several hours, here and there, editing the second book of BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS. [Placeholder name before Awen Storm] Working my way through the written two-thirds of that heretofore-unedited manuscript. But my heart's not in it.
Rejection sucks. No matter the form.
Having someone meet your literary child is tough. You’ve labored, after carrying it in your creative womb, sometimes for years. You’ve introduced it to readers, and fellow writers, most of whom liked, or loved, your baby, and were happy to help you bring it into the world.
Finally, you begin searching for the perfect agent, one who will find your baby a good home with a reputable publisher. You send queries, and participate in Twitter pitch-parties, knowing your baby’s essence can’t be captured in 140 characters. Or a paragraph. Or a full-page synopsis—that dastardly document meant to convey major plot points, including spoilers.
Watch out. Next come the "pass" letters. Those life-sucking, crushing, depression-invoking rejections.
There's the "sorry-it's-not-right-for-me rejection, the "it's-too-long" (though at the short end of the fantasy spectrum), the "I-love-your-characters-but-the-plot's-not-right-for-me", the "I-didn't-bother-to-read-any-pages-but-no-thank-you-anyway", and the "I-didn't-connect-with-your-main-character" rejection.
What now? Enter fetal position and eat comfort food. Gain five pounds. And write zero new words. Because who can write when your baby, your masterpiece, your life's work, is dissed, slammed, and otherwise rejected?
Last week the answer to my fourth query arrived. As you've guessed, it too, was a pass. I had suspected as much from the get-go, and only submitted out of obligation (because I “know” the agent and she represents my genre), but I must admit—it tweaked me, still.
Such a delicate, sensitive being, am I.
Really. How do other writers do it?
I have one last query pending, a tiny publisher, from Twitter’s #PitMad. I didn’t submit to the two others that liked my pitch. One had made the Preditors and Editors list a few years back, the other was a self-publishing firm.
Speaking of self-publishing, I haven't ruled that out. It's a lot of work, but it would bypass the agent rejections. And the resultant paralysis. I honestly don't know if I can take twenty more no's.
Plus, it would get PEACE MAKERS [Awen Rising] to readers a year sooner. Maybe more. [It’s actually a LOT more.]
So it’s self-publish, or suck it up, and continue querying. Either way, it is time to write again. And what if there is that one agent, or one publisher, willing take a risk on my baby?
What to do, what to do? Any thoughts? What would you do?
UPDATE: I did it. I emailed another query. And have two more going out soon. Guess I'm not done yet. I must've needed to write about it. To reason it out. Thank you, dear rebels, for listening!
Well, there you have it. I’m glad those days of heartbreak and indecision are over. As hard, long, and torturous as the indie/self-publishing road can be, I now have a world of experience that I lacked before and a published fantasy trilogy (94K, 114K, and 150K words, respectively), a novella (24K), and a novelette (13K) out in the world. Additionally, I am writing a spin-off novel, the first in a series, which I will begin serializing on Substack this month.*
Has all rejection come to a halt? Of course not. But at least I’m no longer begging to be rejected by an agent or publisher with preconceived notions.
And, yes, I’ve dreamed of that ultimate last word—having my trilogy picked up by a major publisher and/or production company when it goes viral.
A girl can dream, right?!
From my heart to yours, Olivia/O.J.
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If you enjoy upbeat urban fantasies with a psychological and romantic edge, check out my completed Awen Trilogy. It’s different. Like me. Think of a secret society of magical druids protecting Earth from a race of evil reptilians circa 2042. Then imagine a down-on-her-luck disaster specialist compelled to lead said druids.
Mix in a sexy druid priest, his teenaged nephew, and a plethora of quirky humans and animal and dragon elders in a grand romp that takes you from Druid Hills, GA, to the Bahamas, Normandy, Wales, Glastonbury, and even the poles. Come along for the ride.
You know you wanna.
Read samples and purchase at Amazon: The Awen Trilogy
Hear hear Olivia! 'But at least I’m no longer begging to be rejected by an agent or publisher with preconceived notions.' Thank you for sharing and incredible what you've done so far!
Ultimately, having worked in the music industry as long as I have and being super disillusioned with record labels, this bled into my writing as well. I realized that I didn't want outside people dipping their fingers into my work, the way editors and label reps do. I didn't want to spend months sending queries to people who gatekeep success. And I was pretty sure that traditional publishers don't do half the work they once did for their authors. So I chose to self-publish. I'm awful at it... my first short story sold maybe 20-25 copies, my second probably less, and I recall my opus novella's debut netting me a whopping 7 sales. Yet... I still feel like that's just because I don't know what I'm doing. I don't fit in anywhere, so I think my journey is to figure out where I fit and work with that. Best wishes and best of luck!