The Daily Rejection

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

Okay, the appointment is set: Friday the 13th (!!) at 9:00 pst. I hope this is luckier than that Friday the 13th when I accidentally spilled a kettle of boiling water on my lap at school, limped half a mile out to my car (I had arrived late that day and had to park in a remote lot), found that I'd left my lights on and the battery was dead, limped back to campus and called AAA who said there was an unexpected log of calls and it could take over an hour to rescue me, limped over to the campus garage and persuaded someone to give me a jump, and had to drive home with thighs blistering up agonizingly into second- and third-degree burns and my skirt draped over my steering wheel to the great delight of oncoming truckers.

EagerReader · Aug 12, 2010

Thanks guys! I'm not holding my breath, but I'm certainly crossing my fingers!

Miss Plum, you can't leave. Your stories are much too entertaining! I laughed and cringed at that. Ouch! May your journey to publication be less painful! (if it hasn't surpassed that already!)

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

Miss Plum said:
Okay, the appointment is set: Friday the 13th (!!) at 9:00 pst. I hope this is luckier than that Friday the 13th when I accidentally spilled a kettle of boiling water on my lap at school, limped half a mile out to my car (I had arrived late that day and had to park in a remote lot), found that I'd left my lights on and the battery was dead, limped back to campus and called AAA who said there was an unexpected log of calls and it could take over an hour to rescue me, limped over to the campus garage and persuaded someone to give me a jump, and had to drive home with thighs blistering up agonizingly into second- and third-degree burns and my skirt draped over my steering wheel to the great delight of oncoming truckers.

OMG, Miss Plum. That's the kind of thing that happens to me. But thankfully, it hasn't. Can it put it in my book? I wanted to add a new chapter.

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

Carleree, be my guest! It'd be nice if SOMETHING good came out of that day.

Eager, I have an idea that more entertaining stories are yet to come. Getting an agent (if I do) will probably be my entrance to another circle of Hell because of my difficult, weird project.

PGaritas · Aug 12, 2010

Received a form rejection on a full about a year after the request. First reader loved it six months ago. Been down this "close-but" road several times. Darn. Re-querying in about a month. What a gig.

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

Miss Plum, I'll start writing today. And if I ever manage to get this thing in print, I'll be sure to mention you.

PG, hang in there, honey. Someone is going to flip for your book. Something tells me getting close means you have something. The trick is finding the right agent for you.

I, of course, have heard nothing in almost two weeks. I did find someone who is willing to help write my new QL in private, so maybe that will help. But clearly what I have isn't working. I'd feel a whole lot better if the agent that loved my MC would be willing to look at a resub, but she's taking her sweet time getting back to me.

My husband says I should just resubmit anyway. But I don't think that's how it's done.

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

Guys, have you seen the incredibly sad news? ILSinTexas, that little sweetheart whose success cheered us all so much, has passed away of a stroke.

Here is the post:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188575

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

I'm stunned. I cannot type, tears are clouding my vision. You don't expect to get so attached to people you never meet, but I am so sad to have lost this friend.

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

Carleree, I also am crying as I type. I'm just so glad that she had her moment to shine and to see her long-time dream coming true.

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

It's a small consolation. If she had just seen it in print I would feel better. Maybe. I posted on that thread that I hope her heaven is what I believe it to be. I'm hoping like hell she really can feel the love in heaven all the way from here. I'm suprised I'm so emotional.

Now, Miss Plum. Your phone call better go perfectly, or I'll slip off that edge of sanity I'm precariously clinging to. That's an order.

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

Carleree, did you know your writing can hit a person's heart like an arrow?

I'll certainly do my best tomorrow! I'll have so much to tell if all goes well.

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

Hahaha. At the very least you made me smile, hon. Not an easy task since I so like to delve into a good depression.

Good luck tomorrow, I'll be waiting with baited breath.

rosiecotton · Aug 12, 2010

God, I just heard about Irene. I'm in total shock. Carleree, you're so right. It's like losing someone you really know. She was the best--always there when you were down, always ready for a laugh, supporting everyone no matter what. I'm so happy she got that agent before this happened and hope she knew how deserved it was.

A toast to ILs!

dolores haze · Aug 12, 2010

*raises glass*

rosiecotton · Aug 12, 2010

Now go get 'em tomorrow, Miss Plum!!

(Will be mentally holding hands with Carleree until you post)

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

*grasping rosie's hand* *raising the glass in the other*

To Irene. With love and laughter.

Miss Plum · Aug 12, 2010

I got drunk yesterday when that other agent offered me rep. And I plan to get drunk tomorrow after I talk to Mirage.

What the hell.

*raises glass*

Carleree · Aug 12, 2010

What the hell, indeed. *opens another bottle*

I should say, though, the last time I had two glasses I was hungover for two days.

Erin · Aug 12, 2010

I'm incredibly shocked and saddened...I just heard about ILSinTexas. I was so excited for her getting an agent and moving onward in her quest.

RIP, Irene. **raises glass** in a toast.

MGBooks · Aug 12, 2010

Oh NO! I am so sorry to hear about ILS! What a loss!

EagerReader · Aug 12, 2010

Ok, so I'm drowning my sorrows with lots of chocolate. I actually thought it was a bad joke about her leaving us for fame and fortune, when I read the title at first (I'm one for denial, I guess). I certainly wish it were so.

On a happier note, if I can crawl up and out of this hole, Miss Plum, we await the verdict. Don't we all need some great news, right now. No pressure or anything. But, let's have it. Good luck.

Erin · Aug 13, 2010

Miss Plum, good luck with your meeting today with Mirage! We all need to hear good news.

Carleree · Aug 13, 2010

Miss Plum,

Please keep my sanity in mind when you take the call. And, um, no pressure. But GO GET 'EM GIRLFRIEND!!!!

Phaeal · Aug 13, 2010

Erin said:
I'm incredibly shocked and saddened...I just heard about ILSinTexas. I was so excited for her getting an agent and moving onward in her quest.

RIP, Irene. **raises glass** in a toast.

The irony is crushing. If I believed in God, I'd be shaking my fist at him or her now.

She will be sorely missed.

Miss Plum · Aug 13, 2010

Okay, guys. A while ago I got off the phone with Gatekeeper and Boy Genius. They offered me rep. I accepted on the spot. Only formal inking remains. The conversation was incredibly friendly and enthusiastic and everyone was bubbling over with passion and enthusiasm and gratitude -- thank you for coming to us, thank you for considering me, thankyouthankyouthankyou. They have big ideas for it and tons of passion.

363 Sent
36 Still Out
16 Partial Requests
11 Full Requests
153 Rejections
147 Closed / No Response

And I still have another 74 on my list that I haven't sent to yet.

It took me this many queries to get the offer of rep that allowed me to nudge Mirage Projects into calling me. That's a lot of queries and I don't necessarily say that's a number to emulate; my project was tough to sell, plus I had put together a rather idiosyncratic query and proposal. But (lecture) I had worked too damn hard on this thing to give up on it without an epic fight, I LOVED it to death, and I firmly believed I just needed to find the right agent. Ahem, well, come the end of the year I probably would have trunked it and started something equally unsaleable, but I would have come back to this baby.

It's funny, it all feels as though it's happening to someone else, not me! Due to family obligations, Tuesday is probably the soonest I can pop a cork. But I do seem to be grinning as I sit on the couch and type.

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