Here's a lesson in patience. Back mid-November, when I was feeling pretty much like no agent would be interested in Spectacle, I sent a query out to one publisher. (Because they seem like the type of people I'd like to work with, and like the type of publisher who would be interested in Spectacle.)
Then I got into a more positive frame of mind about my novel, and recently sent out a boatload of agent queries specifically for Spectacle. So far, only one of those agents has sent me a rejection (and a very nice one at that). This morning, while I was screwing off, I got an emailed request for partial from that one lonely little publisher.
Needless to say, I sat there staring at the email thinking to myself: "I haven't the faintest idea what I should do now." Took me about ten minutes of complete bafflement, after which I pulled up my synopsis and began repolishing that sucker. Plus, this publisher wants a logline. (WTF is that?) So I went online and found some excellent information on creating a logline. Then I went back through every bit of research I had done on this publisher, to convince myself they were as legit as I had originally thought, and not a scammer. They still check out fine, and look lovely to my weary old eyes.
The logline, BTW, is nearly complete. It needs time to simmer, and for my most important beta reader to give it the once over.
I'm still freaking out. I know this is just an RFP, but really... It's something positive. And some days I'm happy with someone not just slamming a door in my face.
I expect to email the package out tomorrow. I'll let y'all know how things go.
Oh, yes, and the quandry... I've spent so much time working on tweaking my query I wondered if perhaps I'm not jumping the gun going for this publisher when it's entirely possible an agent would like my work enough to represent me and make me millions. As my husband said earlier "Jumping the gun a bit, aren't you?". So, not really a quandry... More like me being silly ol' me.
I should be so lucky as to have such problems. Oy.
The Long Trek Back
2 weeks ago
3 comments:
Woohoo! My fingers and toes are crossed for you!
Don't stress over the agent/publisher thing. If the publisher makes you an offer you can go to an agent with the offer in hand and ask if they'll rep you. The publisher will not mind if you say, "I'm interested, and my agent will contact you."
Ditto what Alex said. I was in that position with my first-ever novel...had three publishers ask to read and I wrote new queries saying so.
In the end, the pubs passed and the agent did too--but she called me to talk about exactly why, which put me firmly on the path to later representation and publication.
Hang in there, you ARE making progress!
p.s. thanks a bunch for linking me!
Thanks, guys.
I'm not stressing too badly, Alex. I went through my freaking out stage for a while yesterday, and then my hubbie put it into perspective and I'm all better.
And you're welcome, Therese. I'm really enjoying your blog. I hope my link draws traffic your way.
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