Or at least that's what it feels like. I have finally taken the plunge and sent out my first agent queries for Web of the Dark Weaver. I toyed with the idea of sending the manuscript off to one of the few well-known publishers of fantasy in the US who still accept unsolicited submissions (Pyr, DAW and Baen), but I think I'll wait and see how it goes with the agents first. Baen are definitely an 'if all else fails' kind of thing: they publish some great fiction but they also take up to 18 months to respond.
So now I'm hovering between the excitement of realising I've finally done it, and the terror of wondering if they'll all hate it. My subconscious is like Carrie's mother, whispering "They're all gonna laugh at you!" part of the time. I'm keeping busy by planning and outlining the next novel, and critiquing for my writers' group friends and my critique partners, but there are times when panic sets in and I wonder why I chose to torture myself by becoming a writer.
How do you handle the waiting period after submissions?
6 comments:
I applaud your courage. I'm not there yet. There always seems to be one more thing I need to fix before D Day.
You are my heroine! I applaud you and wait anxiously to hear what the agents say.
How exciting!
Cheryl,
Congratulations! :) You're going to do well!
I handle the waiting period the way I handle any other time, honestly. I let it roll out of my mind and just truck on with life. Rejections are rejections, but never an indication of your writing talent or your worth. In a way, I actually really appreciate rejections -- they show us we tried, after all!
Don't ever get too discouraged, and if you do, believe me, there's plenty of people around who can help pick you up!
Best of luck, Cheryl!
Thanks Rosie. You'll get there :)
@Tameri - thank you!
@Rance - that's a good way to handle it. Don't let it interfere with the rest of your life. I try, and most of the time it works.
And I just got my first rejection! A milestone has been passed. :)
LOL. I get some cheese and go hiking, or finally catch up on my reading list, or bury myself in my latest love--and by that I mean project. Fingers crossed for you--er, toes. I'm not sure how to type with less than 5...
As for waiting: Write something else. ;)
and congrats!
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