Yes Thank You, I Think I WILL Skip Query Letter Hell

June 16, 2009 in acceptance, agents, awesomeness, books, champagne, my book, short fiction, short fiction rejections, short fiction submissions | 10 comments

The Torture Continues Header YES! postable

So, instead of having to go through the horrible process of sending out massive amounts of query letters to agents for my novel (and likely receiving massive amounts of rejections) I got incredibly lucky and had two excellent agents from big agencies competing for my book over the last week.

I’m not going to go into specifics here for a variety of reasons but basically one agent came to me via a query I actually sent last year (long crazy story that worked out beautifully) and one agent came to me through a connection.  It was a brutal decision (one I never imagined I’d have to make) deciding between these two fantastic individuals, but I finally did make a decision this week and I’m proud to say that I’m officially working exclusively with one of the agents on my book.

We’ll be doing revisions for the foreseeable future – I have no idea how long, but I hope I can get it done quickly so we can continue moving forward – but I thought you’d all like to know about this great moment of happiness and success in the deluge that is usually REJECTION!

Please pause of a moment of pure happiness:

:)

Now if only I can get some of these damn short fiction pieces published.  In fact, just to keep my ego in check…let’s do a status update on those.  It’s not looking pretty folks…

Phase III Updated Stats:  6 of 10 Rejected.  4 still out there.

Sidenote:  this is tagged ‘champagne’ because I will be drinking an entire bottle of it on my own tonight.  Whee!

10 comments

  1. k’s avatar

    k on June 17, 2009 at 3:27 am

    I’m sooo happy for you! Congrats!

  2. 1979semifinalist’s avatar

    1979semifinalist on June 17, 2009 at 3:55 am

    Thanks k. It feels SO badass. I’m trying to hold onto the feeling though, because when the revision suggestions come in I’m sure I’m going to want to cry my eyes out – hopefully only at the work and not at the suggestions :)

  3. TK42ONE’s avatar

    TK42ONE on June 17, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    So, this is a non-rejection? I gave a sigh when I saw the top of your head in the comic because I just knew it was a rejection. I swear I had to read the “yes” five times before I realized it wasn’t a rejection.

    With that said, CONGRATULATIONS! Which agent did you go with? The one from last year or the new one?

    And can I ask for my signed copy now? Please? I promise I’ll review it for you.

  4. Shannon’s avatar

    Shannon on June 18, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Oh hey! That is AMAZING news! You have really busted your ass to get to this moment and I’m glad that you didn’t give up :)

    I can’t wait to hear more about this book too…

    So, since you have an agent for this book, how does it work for all of your other writing? Maybe you should write a post entitled “literary agents 101” for those of us (moi) who don’t know about the whole writing shabang.

    YAY for you! If I were closer, I’d take to to Sunday Brunch and get you totally wasted :)

    Ohh.. I miss Bloody Mary’s

  5. kfugrip’s avatar

    kfugrip on June 18, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Y’know, I’m so proud of you. You have been wallowing in the sty that is query letters and cold submissions for so long, almost operating in a vacuum filled with occasional shots to the ego. For this to happen like it did, with multiple people on the inside telling you that you are talented and that they believe in that talent and want to take the ride to publication with you, is amazing and makes me beam with pride. That is MY girlfriend up there, on precipice of realizing her dreams.

  6. thejamminjabber’s avatar

    thejamminjabber on June 18, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Congratulations. Dust off them coattails!

    PS. The chick who posted above me is digging you hard.

  7. 1979semifinalist’s avatar

    1979semifinalist on June 19, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    TK42ONE: It is most decidedly NOT a rejection. Yay! I ended up going with the agent that I got through the contact. I will definitely try to get you an advance copy when we get to that point – I mean you do write book reviews. :)

    Shannon: Thanks! It’s so amazing. I’m still feeling pretty good…let’s hope the feeling lasts forever (unlikely). I’m sure once we get to the phase where I can talk more about it you’ll all be SUPER sick of hearing about the book because I won’t be able to shut up about it. We’ll get bloody mary’s some morning when you’re visiting NYC :) Also, why don’t they have bloody marys over there?

    Adam: Thanks baby.

    thejamminjabber: Thanks. I heard about your success as well – and congratulations on that. Seems like we both might have some coattails…wanna race? Shannon and I have become new BFF’s…through the internet…which are most of the relationships I have these days.

  8. thejamminjabber’s avatar

    thejamminjabber on June 19, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    Haha, actually I was referring to Adam. I was trying to undermine his masculinity, unsuccessfully, it seems. Seriously, congrats, though.

  9. 1979semifinalist’s avatar

    1979semifinalist on June 19, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    jamminjabber: Ah, yeah, that went right over my head…perhaps because I am immune to people trying to undermine Adam’s masculinity…? That kind of makes me super devoted or something.

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