It’s query time again for my novel. I have rewritten, edited and re-edited my work, searched for agents who represent my genre at Query Tracker and Agent Query, completed due diligence via Preditors and Editors and Writers Beware, and honed my query letter and synopsis. Now, I am hopeful that an agent may become excited about the story I have written.
After sending queries out two weeks, ago, I have received one standard rejection out of ten. In my book, that’s nine more chances to land one of many fabulous agents. The glass is always half full, never half empty.
If you are a writer and submit to magazines, agents, and/or publishers, you will get rejected. I doubt any writer has had a one hundred percent acceptance rate. If you have never gotten rejected, please share how you did it.
At the writing forums I frequent, many writers want to know while they have their work on submission. The best advice I have seen, which I also follow, is to work on something else.
My something else is my second novel. I started this one about six or seven years ago, but never got past the first chapter until last year. I now have written twelve chapters and between 20 and 30 thousand words. I keep a running synopsis so I don’t forget an important plot point or a thread that needs follow through.
I am also writing some short stories and editing the newsletter for the Redwood Writers Club. This year, I would like to submit some of my short stories as well as look into other areas of writing.
I could be stressing over the what ifs while waiting for agent responses, or beating myself when I receive a rejection, but I am choosing to stay neutral and to work on those other projects. Besides writing, my job is to put my best work out there without expectation of the outcome.
STROKING THE PEN 
Keep working hard, Susan. Someone will see the merit of your work. Write on.
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Don't be discouraged, Susan. Someone, just the right one, will see the merit of your work. With your positive attitude, it'll happen. Write on.
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Thank you, Sandy! And thanks for visiting my blog.
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Dear Susan,
I got this usolicited e-mail today [see date] and my question was exactly the same as yours viz. “Where did they get my e-mail from?”
You ended your post by asking people to visit our site, so I did. Nice site, easy on the eye.
I have one book due out in June/July and 3 others on the 'begging bowl' circuit – also 4-5 WiPs close to an end, so I've enough to keep me on my toes while waiting for the next round of rejection slips … LOL.
Sounds very Vanity Press to me, too! You mention “P & E” – for me in the UK the 'Bible' is the “Writers' & Artists' Yearbook” … if they don't appear in W&A I won't even look at them.
Regards
Paul
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Hi Paul,
It's always nice when someone from either the Absollute Write come to my site. I love that place, it is so filled with great information.
It sounds like your career is going strong. I use Agent Query, and f an agent is not listed in eithr AAR or P&E, I just move on. I have yet to come across an agent on Agent Query that turns out to have a bad reputation. I'm glad.
Keep writing, keep querying, and hanging out at AW. It's a great place to be. 🙂
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Best of Luck with the submission!
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Thank you, E.L. Getting ready to send out another round.
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Good morning Susan, i see you on Absolute Write, and always enjoy, and gain good information from your comments. Thanks!
I submitted my very first short story on April 8, this year. They liked my query, the synopsis and emailed for the full manuscript. I got another email telling me they had received my MS, and that I would hear back in 45 to 60 days.
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Hi Mary!
It's always nice to see people from AW here. Welcome!
Congratulations on getting a request for your story. Sometimes wiating is the hardest part.
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