Last month, I finished editing my first MS and started querying publishers and agents. It was a nerve-wracking next step because it meant that people other than those I know and trust would get to read my book. All of the questions started popping up. Will they like it? Will they think it’s crap? Will they dismiss it because a typo or blooper somehow got through despite many revisions?
There is an immense feeling of vulnerability to put a creative work into the world. As with everything, it’s down to how people perceive it, their likes and dislikes, and even their mood when they saw the query.
But I have a goal. I want to see this book published.
I believe it’s a story that historical fiction fans will enjoy. It sheds light on how Australia treated prisoners of war during WWII and also how the war affected families in regional Western Australia. I believe this story will resonate with people.
Also, when I set a goal, I usually achieve it one way or another. 😉
So, what steps did I take?
- I started a spreadsheet because there is no way I could remember all the details of which publishing house or agent is open for submission, who I’ve submitted to, and who I’ve heard from.
- I spent countless hours researching agents and publishers. The debate online about whether Australians need agents since we can submit directly to almost all of our local publishers caught my attention. I decided to hedge my bets and query both.
- I perfected my query letter and personalised it for each agent I submitted to. I read the submission guidelines multiple times to ensure I wasn’t going to make an error that would see my MS sent to the recycle bin instantly.
- I updated my spreadsheet with all the details as soon as anything changed.
- I kept my fingers crossed. That’s all I can do at this point.
My plan is to give it a red hot crack for 6 months and if I don’t get any bites then I will self-publish this novel. I’m not afraid of going down this path because I’ve done it before. There are many ways to publish and if my goal is to get the book into the world, then I’ll find a way to do it.
Here are the stats so far:
Queries sent: 16
Rejections received: 4
With each submission, I imagine my book being published and readers finding enjoyment and comfort in the words. I get a glimmer of hope, and it stays with me until I receive a rejection email.
The overarching response I feel to a rejection is disappointment. After working so long and so hard on this story, it’s disappointing when someone says it’s not right for them. However, I also understand that there are many factors at play.
So, I soldier on; riding the rollercoaster of emotions evoked by putting the future of my creative pursuit into someone else’s hands.
