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Wow, it happened to *me*!
Apr. 10th, 2012 11:17 pmSo, it's been a sort of intense week. Easter, my sister and her kids up for spring break (and our efforts to find a place to hike that didn't involve snow!), my son breaking his foot, and also a response to a full that did NOT have the phrase "I like it BUT..." but instead, a request for a phone call. Which turned into an offer of representation. I still had material out and needed to notify various people, but um, offering agent was my first choice, and it was hard to be calm while tying up ends elsewhere. After scaring my kids with yells and air punches, we all went to the library and I went around, checking out all my favorite books that I don't already own, and just sort of hugging them as I walked around the library. And tonight I was finally able to accept the offer, and now I'm a client of Tricia Lawrence of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Yay!
While being of course very excited myself, I realize also that it can be hard to feel happy at someone's good news when you are experiencing frustration in the same area, so I'm a little sensitive about posting my good news, too. But if this is you, and if it helps, I've been writing professionally for nine years. This was for my third book. I had some near misses, both with this agency, and another one. And I think I probably have enough rejection letters to toilet paper the town. So...it's not an overnight sort of thing. If that gives anyone hope.
Some things I've learned so far:
1. The book world is a community. Keep throwing good out into it, and some of it comes back. Not because the world owes you anything. More like, the better a community you create around yourself, the more pleasant a place it will be to inhabit.
2. There is a certain amount of luck, and you can't beat yourself up over things you can't control.
3. You have to know how to revise deeply enough. To know when to listen to critiques. To know when to tune out others' voices and listen to the true voice inside yourself. I've seen a lot of people with rough but valuable stuff, and yet, they often give up too soon.
4. You also have to know when to close out a project and start something new. Twenty-five years on the same novel of elves and dwarves? Um...
5. This is not the finish line, but the beginning. As is every step.
Tonight, the happy dance. Tomorrow, it's time to polish that ms until it squeaks!
While being of course very excited myself, I realize also that it can be hard to feel happy at someone's good news when you are experiencing frustration in the same area, so I'm a little sensitive about posting my good news, too. But if this is you, and if it helps, I've been writing professionally for nine years. This was for my third book. I had some near misses, both with this agency, and another one. And I think I probably have enough rejection letters to toilet paper the town. So...it's not an overnight sort of thing. If that gives anyone hope.
Some things I've learned so far:
1. The book world is a community. Keep throwing good out into it, and some of it comes back. Not because the world owes you anything. More like, the better a community you create around yourself, the more pleasant a place it will be to inhabit.
2. There is a certain amount of luck, and you can't beat yourself up over things you can't control.
3. You have to know how to revise deeply enough. To know when to listen to critiques. To know when to tune out others' voices and listen to the true voice inside yourself. I've seen a lot of people with rough but valuable stuff, and yet, they often give up too soon.
4. You also have to know when to close out a project and start something new. Twenty-five years on the same novel of elves and dwarves? Um...
5. This is not the finish line, but the beginning. As is every step.
Tonight, the happy dance. Tomorrow, it's time to polish that ms until it squeaks!
