To write a book, and thus, perchance to dream,
Spend hours to make the tale what it must be.
But the next step doth impassable seem -
Send queries out, whilst screaming, "PLEASE LOVE ME!"
Rejection's, truth, what every writer knows.
It comes in letters - simple, blunt, or kind,
With the same message, as it ever goes:
"Your book is just not what I had in mind."
I may grow old with books that no one reads,
Or kindle fires in some agent's eye.
I'll flip that coin, send queries to all leads,
Since I will never know unless I try.
I may not be there yet, but soon, I'll say,
"I'm closer now than I was yesterday."
I swear, I didn't sit down intending to write a sonnet about starting the query process. I sat down intending to whine about the query process, again, since I'm planning to start soon and there's nothing quite like looking down that dark road to make me question every single part of this whole writing thing.
What changed my mind? This. Okay, not that exact image, but one on my screensaver with the same message.
Querying sucks. I'm not going to sugarcoat that. But I'm at the point with STARWIND where I have to put up or shut up - either start trying to make this happen or set it aside and work on something else. And I damn well do not want to set this book aside. Which means it's time to take the next step, to try yet again to get closer to what I want out of my writing.
And while querying rarely feels like it's actually bringing me any closer, I know that it is. It has to be. Anything that gets my book closer to the hands of theoretical readers is another step in the right direction.
It's possible that the same thing will happen with this book that happened with every other book I've queried, I can't deny that. But even if, months from now, I'm writing yet another downer of a blog entry about how I've set yet another book aside, at least I'll be able to say I tried. And no matter how big or small that step is, at least I'll know I'm another step closer.
...please do me a favor and remind me of this entry when I'm crushed under the weight of rejections. Thank you. >_<
Next week: IWSG.
Wishing you the best with the querying. I honestly think contests are the way to go, but querying works for the few and the lucky.
ReplyDeleteI have entered one contest, and I'm keeping my eyes open for others. But I can reach (or at least attempt to reach) more agents via querying. I've even found a few I want to query because what they've said has me thinking they're good matches for this book. ^_^
Delete"I sat down intending to whine about the query process." Ha! I certainly wish you luck and hope you land your dream agent soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you. ^_^ Believe me, if I do, I'll say something here. Loudly and repeatedly.
DeleteGood luck! But I agree with Crystal in so far that querying isn't the only path. Keep your eyes open for contests, twitter pitch things, and anything else that even slightly glimmers at an agent or publisher because this is an odd business. .the possibilities strange and endless. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
ReplyDeleteI have been keeping my eyes open, and like I said above, I've entered one contest so far. I'm not going to dismiss any reasonable way in. ^_^
DeleteIf your query is half as good at that poem, you'll rock it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck. Make a big list and keep your options open.
D'aww, thanks... I just kind of threw that together, but I think it worked out all right.
DeleteI'm usually not a big fan of poetry, but this is an awesome poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I learned iambic pentameter back in college, and it's always come pretty easily for me. Though I'm sure my professor would have found at least one mistake in my measures.
DeleteFirst, have you heard of Son of a Pitch? I bring it up because the first round is all about getting query feedback! Also, I'm one of the hosts, so there's that. details here: http://kjhstories.blogspot.com/2017/01/say-what-son-of-pitch-is-back.html
ReplyDeleteI'll take a look at that one, thanks!
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