Getting discouraged

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

I've had two rejections today on what I believe is a great young adult book. I just feel so let down. I feel like no one is going to give me a chance. It's just so depressing. I don't know how much more rejection I can muster before I just throw in the towel and give up on my dreams.

scarletpeaches · Oct 5, 2007

A lot more. You can stand a helluva lot more.

Don't gimme that whining, Pamster. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

Are you a quitter, you sorry sack of sh- well, are you?

ARE YOU??? ARE YOU???

MidnightMuse · Oct 5, 2007

No no no, no giving up here ! We have chocolate, wine if you're old enough, and you can have the weekend off to relax and play.

But we have no giving up here. I'm sorry.

You'll just have to stick it out.

It's the law

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

I feel like a sack of sh*t at the moment, it just aches because I have piled up ten rejections on this book's query and I don't know what's wrong with it. I just posted it in SYW in the query forum so maybe some folks here can help me.

jenngreenleaf · Oct 5, 2007

This is what I say to all those who have rejected your work!!

:Hug2:

We're here for you - vent about this and then think positive!!

Deirdre · Oct 5, 2007

It's the persistent people who win. Eventually, everyone else gives up and there's just us.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

I've been querying different books for over a year now, and no one has bitten on anything, except one agent who passed on one novel after 50 pages. I know I can get through this, it is just right now it's hurting. Because I really believe in my work and think it has merit or I wouldn't try so hard. Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement.

scarletpeaches · Oct 5, 2007

Well, not to come over all "You think you've got it bad?" but I've been querying for a hell of a lot longer than a year...

aadams73 · Oct 5, 2007

Don't you DARE give up, Pam.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

Yeah well it's really closer to two years now...but I am trying not to think about it.

scarletpeaches · Oct 5, 2007

Pah! Try ten.

JoNightshade · Oct 5, 2007

I keep PMing various people with my stats so I'm just gonna suck it up and post them publicly.

On my last WIP, I sent out... I think 47 queries. Actually, no, I did two rounds so it was more like 60. Anyway, out of all that--

I got 4 requests for partials.

From those, three requests for the full.

From those, two were rejected.

One is still out there.

Of course my fingers are crossed, but before I got all of those do you realize what I had to get? 56 rejections.

JoNightshade · Oct 5, 2007

PS All of these were sent out before I joined AW, BTW. I'm hoping to have better stats with my current WIP.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

I have about fifty altogether between the different novels I've been querying for. probably more like seventy or so, but seriously it's really hard to think I have to move onto snail queries now because I am done with all who take equeries. BUt that is where I am heading...

JoNightshade · Oct 5, 2007

Whoa, you haven't even mailed anything? I do all snail mail.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

Nope I have done all email queries...

No Printer yet to personalize letters. :tongue

My son killed it...

Calla Lily · Oct 5, 2007

You are NOT ALLOWED to give up! It took me just over 2 years until my work was polished enough to land an agent!

Now go eat an ice-cream cone of Ben & Jerry's and submit again!

Marian Perera · Oct 5, 2007

Pamster said:
Yeah well it's really closer to two years now...but I am trying not to think about it.

I wrote a novel in 2002 and got about thirty rejections, one of a full where the agent seemed to be really close to accepting it. I revamped the query letter this year and started sending it out again. Now I have just over fifty rejections... plus two requests for partials... plus a request for a full.

Some things take time.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better because of your posts.

KTC · Oct 5, 2007

Even a sack of shit has its purpose, Pamalama. Don't give up. Get back on the bike. The shit...you can feed your garden so you will have beautiful flowers in the spring. The feeling these rejections brought...bury it with the fertilizer. Good luck on the next one! Don't give up. Never give up.

Azraelsbane · Oct 5, 2007

Don't give up, Pam!

You can do it. I've just started in on my own queries and I feel ya, really. I got my first rejection less than a minute after sending my first query. *breaks out the booze* Let's get drunk and sing bad country songs together! Tomorrow will be a better day.

Just remember, even JKR had years of rejects for Harry Potter. Sooner or later, you'll hit the right agent. These guys/gals just weren't for you.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

You're right, thanks for posting KTC. I don't want to give up, I won't. Just because I've gotten a handful or rejections this week shouldn't mean I toss in the towel, I should just redouble my efforts and maybe act on the feedback I got in my query thread about the book, maybe I can work on it some more and make it better before sending out the next batch of queries.

THanks Azraelsbane! Let's get some beer and kick back a couple!

Azraelsbane · Oct 5, 2007

JoNightshade said:
Whoa, you haven't even mailed anything? I do all snail mail.

I gotta agree with Jo on the snail mail thing. It's nice to get responses quick, but be really careful with e-queries unless the agents specifically say they only accept them. The agent I REALLY want (hahaha) specifically says on her personal website that she prefers snail mail queries, and yet on her agency's website it says nothing about that. I'm sure you've researched your agents to death, but I thought I'd give you a warning that sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to find stuff like that. And I'm over here rubbing my lucky monkey statue and hoping that sending a snail mail query gave me a leg up, even if it's only a hairy midget leg.

Also, I'm biased because of that one e-query I mentioned.

I don't even think a speed-reader could have gotten through my query letter that fast. I think if they're gonna reject us, we might as well force them to open an envelope...or at least force their assistant to do so.

Saundra Julian · Oct 5, 2007

You got feedback?

"OK, check manuscript. Use/lose suggestions. Start sending more queries. DO IT NOW!" Saundra said in her best mama voice.

Pamster · Oct 5, 2007

LOL!! I meant from AW'ers on the book.

I posted the query in the SYW forum tonight.

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