I’ve been querying a true story since 2018. Finally turned into a series of poems - and it worked! Honeymoon Sneakers coming out this spring from Cactus Press!!
I queried a manuscript for YEARS, dozens and dozen of queries written down on yellow legal pads (oh, the hours spent getting each one just "right" for the specific agent) and year after year, dozens of rejections. I finally wrote a different book and queried that for a few more years until a critique partner suggested I rewrite it as a middle grade story. As soon as I did that, I immediately had two interested agents. Only one offered. After a round of submissions to about fifteen publishers, a new editor at Simon and Schuster said MAYBE and eventually - YES. It was one of the very best days of my life. I don't regret all of those years querying and don't believe they were wasted. I was honing my craft, getting better - and found my middle grade voice (which is where I've stayed and LOVE it!) Keep going, everyone :)
Thanks for sharing your experiences here. I’ve had my share of rejections that led to the publication of my YA novel, but now I’m back in the querying trenches to find a new agent for my adult debut. It’s humbling and tough, but I’ve been here before, and I know I’m able to continue even on the days when I question everything. Keep shining your light! It matters!
I am currently sitting at 50 queries, 33 rejections/ no reply. 5 full requests, 1 partial. 11 queries still unanswered. 1 full still out. I know I need to rewrite... but do I do that in the midst of querying?
Love your newsletter, it does make me feel less alone.
I would! Do you have good beta readers? Did you get any feedback from the fulls? See if you can get an objective read to figure out what (if anything) is up with the ms. The thing is, if you keep going without stopping/editing, you run the risk of burning through the agents in your genre.
Yes I have fab beta readers, yes I got some feedback (although mostly your writing is fantastic not you need to change X). I KNOW what I need to change. As soon as I am done with draft one of current WIP I am going in...
You know! Then yes, definitely pause the queries, work on it and send it out again. I bet, if you haven't heard back from the full you currently have out, if you tell them you did big edits and ask if they would like to see a new draft, they will say yes. Good luck! please let us know about your progress!
After 90 rejections (and several revisions) I had a Yes and a contract for my first book (debuted 6-23) My 2nd book I had a Yes at query #9 ( publishes 5-24). I just received an offer on a third ms today. I’ve been writing for 15 years. Don’t give up, get better and persist.
CeCe mentioned your Substack in today’s TSNOTYAB Deep Dive call. I’m so glad she did. Thank you for being transparent about your journey and straight up sharing your query stats. Very helpful and encouraging. 💛
Oh my, I literally love your posts, I’ve been querying 2 years, after working on my historical fiction for 12 years, I revise continuously. Right before Christmas, three days before losing my daddy, I received another rejection, but with words a very engaging distinctive voice, it has given me hope❤️
I feel like I’m finally getting to the point where rejection doesn’t make me wanna quit. I quit being a singer after making 5 albums & felt like I just wasn’t good enough. Then stated blogging on Medium in 2016 and just yesterday had an essay published in a publication which felt good! What has hurt the most has been when I feel rejected by people in my community/ peers because our opinions/ world views are different. That sting of being cancelled hurts. If you can get through that you can get through anything!
Thank you for this thoughtful, candid & encouraging post Laura! My former writing group used to meet for rejection beers, every one a sign of our courage we were putting our work out there time & time again. We got into the arena--because nothing happens on the sidelines. I am about to start querying a novel i have worked hard on for 2+ years. Deep breath. And reminding myself each rejection is an opportunity to learn something, even if it’s just tenderly guarding my hope that one day it won’t be a rejection.
🤞🏽thank you!! And thanks for asking this question!! An R&R is a Revise & Resubmit. Agents usually tell you what they think is missing in your full manuscript and say if you want to revise it accordingly, they will read the full manuscript again. I wrote about how it landed me my agent it in last week’s newsletter (the one called Cut It Out).
I’ve been querying a true story since 2018. Finally turned into a series of poems - and it worked! Honeymoon Sneakers coming out this spring from Cactus Press!!
Amazing! Congratulations! switching from non-fiction to poetry is a brilliant pivot. I love that so much.
Congratulations, Amy!
I queried a manuscript for YEARS, dozens and dozen of queries written down on yellow legal pads (oh, the hours spent getting each one just "right" for the specific agent) and year after year, dozens of rejections. I finally wrote a different book and queried that for a few more years until a critique partner suggested I rewrite it as a middle grade story. As soon as I did that, I immediately had two interested agents. Only one offered. After a round of submissions to about fifteen publishers, a new editor at Simon and Schuster said MAYBE and eventually - YES. It was one of the very best days of my life. I don't regret all of those years querying and don't believe they were wasted. I was honing my craft, getting better - and found my middle grade voice (which is where I've stayed and LOVE it!) Keep going, everyone :)
THIS!!!
amazing how just one good comment can click and change everything!
Amazing, Amy! This is so inspiring
Thanks for sharing your experiences here. I’ve had my share of rejections that led to the publication of my YA novel, but now I’m back in the querying trenches to find a new agent for my adult debut. It’s humbling and tough, but I’ve been here before, and I know I’m able to continue even on the days when I question everything. Keep shining your light! It matters!
Thank you! Querying is definitely humbling.... Good luck!
I am currently sitting at 50 queries, 33 rejections/ no reply. 5 full requests, 1 partial. 11 queries still unanswered. 1 full still out. I know I need to rewrite... but do I do that in the midst of querying?
Love your newsletter, it does make me feel less alone.
I would! Do you have good beta readers? Did you get any feedback from the fulls? See if you can get an objective read to figure out what (if anything) is up with the ms. The thing is, if you keep going without stopping/editing, you run the risk of burning through the agents in your genre.
Yes I have fab beta readers, yes I got some feedback (although mostly your writing is fantastic not you need to change X). I KNOW what I need to change. As soon as I am done with draft one of current WIP I am going in...
You know! Then yes, definitely pause the queries, work on it and send it out again. I bet, if you haven't heard back from the full you currently have out, if you tell them you did big edits and ask if they would like to see a new draft, they will say yes. Good luck! please let us know about your progress!
It's always such a hard decision to know what to focus on when you are querying...wishing you the best of luck!
Thanks for the inspiration!
After 90 rejections (and several revisions) I had a Yes and a contract for my first book (debuted 6-23) My 2nd book I had a Yes at query #9 ( publishes 5-24). I just received an offer on a third ms today. I’ve been writing for 15 years. Don’t give up, get better and persist.
Three books!! Wow, congrats. I love this so much. Thank you for sharing.
CeCe mentioned your Substack in today’s TSNOTYAB Deep Dive call. I’m so glad she did. Thank you for being transparent about your journey and straight up sharing your query stats. Very helpful and encouraging. 💛
Oh thank you so much! I will thank CeCe too 🥰
Oh my, I literally love your posts, I’ve been querying 2 years, after working on my historical fiction for 12 years, I revise continuously. Right before Christmas, three days before losing my daddy, I received another rejection, but with words a very engaging distinctive voice, it has given me hope❤️
I'm so sorry about your father! keep the hope!
‘Writers endure’ love that!
I feel like I’m finally getting to the point where rejection doesn’t make me wanna quit. I quit being a singer after making 5 albums & felt like I just wasn’t good enough. Then stated blogging on Medium in 2016 and just yesterday had an essay published in a publication which felt good! What has hurt the most has been when I feel rejected by people in my community/ peers because our opinions/ world views are different. That sting of being cancelled hurts. If you can get through that you can get through anything!
Thank you for this thoughtful, candid & encouraging post Laura! My former writing group used to meet for rejection beers, every one a sign of our courage we were putting our work out there time & time again. We got into the arena--because nothing happens on the sidelines. I am about to start querying a novel i have worked hard on for 2+ years. Deep breath. And reminding myself each rejection is an opportunity to learn something, even if it’s just tenderly guarding my hope that one day it won’t be a rejection.
Good luck!!!!! Rejection beers sound like a brilliant idea! I hope you keep in touch with your writing group!
I love your newsletter and am hoping you get that blurb!! Tell me: what is an R & R? Thank you!
🤞🏽thank you!! And thanks for asking this question!! An R&R is a Revise & Resubmit. Agents usually tell you what they think is missing in your full manuscript and say if you want to revise it accordingly, they will read the full manuscript again. I wrote about how it landed me my agent it in last week’s newsletter (the one called Cut It Out).
Thank you! I'll go read last week's newsletter. Now....anyting about that blurb? Fingers crossed here in VA!
My fingers are crossed for you getting that blurb -- another level of the mountain writers have to climb, but it's a great ledge to get to!
🤞🏽thank you 🤞🏽