Putting Myself 'Out THERE'
So, I did it. I reworked the first three chapters of my novel for an agent. Third person to first person shift. Added various personality quirks and all the sassiness I could muster for my main character. I don't know if I could re-read/re-work/re-write any more of the 42 pages I submitted. It *is* the best that I can do with the material. I am confident of that.
For today.
Really.
Now, I grit my teeth and anxiously await her response. It should be by tomorrow morning at the latest. My first query got a response in 12 minutes after I sent the e-mail. The sample chapters (e-mailed) got a response in two hours (and they were after normal business hours!). And my plead to reconsider if I reworked the first three chapters got a response by the next morning. So, I can confidently say I will either be crushed by a rejection in less than 24 hours. Or horrified I have to rework the remaining 22 chapters of my novel--and excited I have an interested agent.
Wish me luck. I'll need it as I am puking in anxiety all evening.
Why the sickness? I let it all out on paper people! I put myself out there!
I took a risk, I resubmitted, I rewrote like a banshee--all for this woman to possibly reject me. As a writer, this is the worst of all scenarios. If they reject you once, you think, "Well, it wasn't their style." If she rejects me this time, I know it is something in my writing she doesn't like and I can't delivery (even with a second chance).
I'll let you know. As soon as I know. And then we can commiserate with my failure. Or cheer me on to a 260 page rewrite.
UPDATE (04/14/2005): This rework and novel was ultimately rejected by the agent.
For today.
Really.
Now, I grit my teeth and anxiously await her response. It should be by tomorrow morning at the latest. My first query got a response in 12 minutes after I sent the e-mail. The sample chapters (e-mailed) got a response in two hours (and they were after normal business hours!). And my plead to reconsider if I reworked the first three chapters got a response by the next morning. So, I can confidently say I will either be crushed by a rejection in less than 24 hours. Or horrified I have to rework the remaining 22 chapters of my novel--and excited I have an interested agent.
Wish me luck. I'll need it as I am puking in anxiety all evening.
Why the sickness? I let it all out on paper people! I put myself out there!
I took a risk, I resubmitted, I rewrote like a banshee--all for this woman to possibly reject me. As a writer, this is the worst of all scenarios. If they reject you once, you think, "Well, it wasn't their style." If she rejects me this time, I know it is something in my writing she doesn't like and I can't delivery (even with a second chance).
I'll let you know. As soon as I know. And then we can commiserate with my failure. Or cheer me on to a 260 page rewrite.
UPDATE (04/14/2005): This rework and novel was ultimately rejected by the agent.
