How to (not) get published…

So, my first novel attempt– my pride and joy, which I’d spent months writing, editing, polishing, and pitching (to agents) fell flatter than a pancake. No go. So what do you do? You scoop yourself up and try again.

The story idea for my second novel came to me first, before the characters. They developed from the story. As with the first novel, I wrote, revised, enlisted the help of test readers, and began sending query letters to agents. This time, more of them asked for the complete manuscript rather than just sample chapters. I thought, “wow, I must be a great writer.” I printed off the copies and stuffed them into huge envelopes. The agents took their time to describe the degree to which they were not entertained. Nevertheless, as with the first, I received feedback prompting me to improve, change, revise, and enhance what I’d written. Somewhere in this process, I found my voice. My true writerly self was beginning to emerge.

With all these agents rejecting me, I decided I needed a spreadsheet to keep it all straight. I sent a query letter on X date, and received a rejection on X date. The full manuscript was mailed on X date, and the agent asked for revisions on X date, and so on.

Soon, it was clear this second novel was to be enjoyed by family and friends only, but no worries– I had an idea for yet another novel! This one was based on a childhood memory– I dropped something out of our car window when I was six years old, and watched it tumble end over end into the traffic behind us.

Next up, more rejection, but a bit of local notoriety.

How I got published agents, novel writing, novels, querying, rejection letters, writing