Saturday, October 9, 2010

I'm Official!

I Finally Did It!!

I sent my first five queries off yesterday afternoon. Yes, I know it was Friday, and I did forget that Monday is a bank holiday. But, whatever.

Friday morning, one of my seminary students asked me how it was going with my book. A couple of them ask regularly. It hit me yesterday. They've noticed that I've stalled in actively working toward my goal of publication. How am I going to convince them they can do anything they want with their lives, reach any goal they set, if I let fear keep me from reaching mine?

So, I came home and put together the queries for 5 agents. I picked agents I like, ones I follow on twitter and their blogs. I don't have a TOP Agents list. They all seem great and I just want to find one that likes my book that I can work well with.

I expected to feel terrified or anxious or something else equally nerve wracking when I hit send on that first query. I didn't really feel anything. So while I was still in shock, I sent the next four and waited.

How do I feel? Relieved. No matter what happens next, I took that step into the unknown. I put enough faith in myself to take a chance. There's nothing to lose, right? Only dreams to reach. I don't really expect much, but this was a mental battle won on my part. I did it.

Now I can move on, work on a new project, and clear my mind for a while of the "what ifs". Is my novel perfect? No. Do I know how to make it better? Yes. Am I working on it? No, my brain is fried and I'd like a professional opinion (on my book and my brain). Do I expect to get that during the query process? No, I'm naive but not stupid.

Mostly, I'm looking forward to getting book two down on paper during Nano. I know I'll learn things about Talia and Landry that I don't currently know and that will help when I start a new round of revisions in December. You see, I'm not giving up on Sendek. I love the story, I love the characters, and I'm going to keep making it better until someone else falls in love with it too. It just may take a while.

And I'm good with that.

I've added a list to the sidebar under the pledge button to keep you updated with my progress. My goal is to send out another five queries by the end of next week.

17 comments:

  1. Congrats on sending off your first queries!! You are so right: taking that first step is all-important. I have a friend who was terrified to submit her short fiction to an anthology. I told her she'd never -- EVER -- get published if she didn't submit! Her story was accepted, and your MS will find a home too. Way to go!

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  2. My best advice? Create a spreadsheet with who, what agency, date sent. Some take weeks to respond and it helps from accidentally querying twice or two agents at the same agency at the same time.

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  3. Congratulations!! That's so exciting, hope you make some good progress with your other projects!

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  4. Good luck and welcome to the compulsive email checker's club!

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  5. *tosses confetti* Yay for making the official step! That is so great and I wish you good luck.

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  6. Good for you for taking the plunge! I hope you hear something positive soon :)

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  7. Congratulations!!
    And I intend to finish my next book during NaNo as well.

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  8. Yay! I am so proud of you! It's a big milestone to send off a query letter. I am glad you did it.

    I too plan to write my next book during NaNo, so maybe we could be NaNo buddies!

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  9. Congratulations and good luck! Ooh, I so hope you receive good news!

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  10. Thank you all! I'll keep everyone updated on the good, the bad, and the oh so ugly. :D

    Elizabeth, please add me to your nano list--and anyone else who wants to--my user name is solstice1974.

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  11. With two wip underway I keep fighting the need to sign up and NaNo. I love the pace and the drive though. This time last year, without NaNo I'd still have been wallowing in maybe-writing-something-else. ;)

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  12. Yay for you and your courage! Keep plugging along and don't be afraid to dream. You never know what will come of it, but at least you've done something. Have fun with NaNoWriMo!

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  13. Congrats and good luck! Also, I have something for you!
    http://mistydawnwaters.blogspot.com/2010/10/awarded-and-awarding-tale-of-new.html

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  14. This is fabulous news! Best wishes. I hope the queries bring some good news.

    Jai

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  15. Hooray for you! Now you just have to try to avoid wearing out the Refresh button on your inbox.

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  16. Congratulations!! (Actually I find that I get the majority of my responses around weekends, from agents.)

    I will keep my fingers crossed for you that your risk is returned with requests!

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