Fear creeps up no matter how hard I try to squash it

I think all writers can agree....we feel terror no matter where we are in the process of publication. I know many multi-published authors who get nervous about submissions....so they're no different from newbies. And they still see their fair share of rejection too. I'm definitely not a newbie, but I definitely don't feel like a pro either. Somewhere in the vast middle.

Queries went out this week for my new book, Pretty in Plastic, and I'm scared. I've been over this manuscript tons of times. It's been in front of many sets of eyes, from friends to writers group members to critique group members, but I still wonder if it's complete crap! One day I think it's awesome and then next, no so much.

Well, this is my last regular post for a month. Monday starts the A-Z Blogging challenge. Hopefully when it's over I'll have some encouraging news to share!

The process has officially begun!

I've started the querying process for an agent.

Many people have already asked me, "You already have a publisher, why are you looking for an agent?" Well...it's pretty simple. I ADORE Lyrical Press, but I'd like to expand my horizons and keep moving forward. Especially now, with Lyrical discontinuing print. Digital sales are soaring for them, but unfortunately, not print sales. I completely understand their decision and I love digital books and my Kindle, but as an author, I can't help wanting to see my books in print. Just yesterday I received in the mail the last print copy ever of A Bitch Named Karma. Pretty sad for me.

So, I've finished and polished my newest book, titled Pretty in Plastic. It's a book with a similar style and voice to my others- it's funny, dramatic, sexy, steamy, romantic. It's about a woman who's looking for a perfect fairy tail happily-ever-after...and she thinks she's found it. But the guy has a different view of their future. They both come from pasts they'd much rather forget. Here's the query:

Bobi Jordin adores her new job as receptionist for a plastic surgeon, and her perky new boobs—awesome employee perk. For the first time in a decade, she feels pretty and womanly and it’s landed her the attention of her super sexy boss. If only her mom and sister would get off her back and stop scrutinizing her every move. Yeah, she made some really bad mistakes a long time ago, but she’s not a stupid love-sick teen anymore.

Dr. Michael Gellerman prides himself on sculpting women’s bodies, with Bobi as his latest masterpiece. Shouldn’t every breast, ass, and thigh be perfect? It’s a rewarding job with no pressure to save lives, and he’s thankful for that. He has ghosts in his past too, and vowed to keep his love life fun and string-free. 

Bobi thinks she has finally found her sappy childhood daydream with Michael, but their visions of the future clash. She wants happily-ever-after and he’s terrified of going there…again. 


What do ya think??? So far it's gone out to 33 agents. I've gotten one form rejection...which came the same day I submitted, which I find to be odd. And one request for a partial. Fingers are triple crossed!!

Query Hell or Cupcake Heaven????

Which would you prefer?

This:

Or this:

Yeah...I know what I would pick!! Today I have the AWESOME Jen Daiker from Unedited here to guest blog!! If you don't follow her, definitely go do it now! Thanks Jen for being here!!

Querying.

Your friends may call it Query Hell but I prefer Cupcake Heaven.

That’s right, you’re about to embark on a journey that includes cupcakes and honestly, who doesn’t love cupcakes?

Since Stephanie invited me here I’ll share both positive and negative aspects of querying – after all it’s only fair.

Steps to query

1. Master your query letter. If you’re looking for help Elana Johnson’s Query to the Call will seriously knock your socks off. From there to send to a couple of friends. Don’t go crazy because you don’t want the negativity bug to bite you.

2. Compile a list. Not every agent is going to like you. It will be subjective – very subjective. So be sure to get a few TOP agents you want to query paired with a few that you just want to ‘test’ the waters with. QueryTracker is a great guide to not only keep track of your queries and agents but also to see the turn-around time. When you first start out just send a few (3-5) and see how they take. I watched who responded quickly so I could get my first rejections out of the way.

Side note: This is where the cupcakes come in. To keep from getting the negative attitude that comes when querying we remove the word rejection and replace it with cupcake. When an agent gives you a cupcake rather than a rejection you can’t be that mad can you?

3. Cry. This one you will not get away from. They start to sting after a while and I’d be lying to you if I said they don’t continue to hurt. It’s best to cry it out… eat a cupcake (but not for every cupcake you receive – trust me you’d end up a cow).

4. Know when to stop. Walk away from the email, quit checking the said agents twitter account, and for junk sake step away from Querytracker. As much as they can be your friends the wait will tear you down. Watching all the requests you receive can give you major doubt syndrome. When you see all the positives and you start feeling the negatives take a day off from the computer. You’ll thank me.

5. Never give up. Requests will come and go along with the cupcakes. The point is to never second guess and never give up. You believed your work was good enough now let it do the talking. Meg Cabot was rejected over a hundred plus times and never gave up, now she’s on top. You worked hard now let the hard work do the talking.

So enjoy Cupcake Heaven. One day after you’ve eaten one too many you’ll laugh remembering how long it was, how hard it was, and how much it paid off.

Tuesday Tips: Queries- Part 2!

Hello! And welcome to Queries, Part 2! If you missed it, be sure to go back and read last week's post first!

#6: Hook them as simply and fast as possible. We're talking main character, main plot here. No need for subplots and details on the character's second cousin's wife's sister. But leave them hanging and wanting more. Do not give the whole thing away. That's what a synopsis is for.

#7: Bio is a must. But keep it to pertinent info only. No one cares what writers group you belong to. No one cares if this is your first and eightieth novel you've written. List your publishing credits including anthologies and online contests, but if there are many, choose only the most recent. And list only contests you have placed well in. Do not include blog posts or letters to the editor for your local newspaper. If you have nothing for a bio...well...maybe you should try and get something before you query. There are tons of fiction contests online, magazines, etc... My favorite listing is Duotrope. They list all kinds of magazines that publish works of all lengths, including flash fiction, which can be a great way to get a few pub creds under your belt. My first ever published work was a flash fiction contest through WOW! Women on Writing. I didn't win, but I placed top 10. My story was published on their website and it was a great start. I placed in a couple more of their contests after that. There was a fee, but it was minimal and well worth being able to type it into my bio!

#8: End it with a simple "Thank you for your time." Sad but true, you'll be lucky if they even make it that far.

#9: If you're sending snail mail queries, first of all, make sure the agent is open to them. Many agencies are going green and prefer email queries. But if you find an agent who does want a paper submission, make sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you'd like a response.

#10: Don't stalk/email them for status updates. Agents get hundreds of submissions. I read lot of agent blogs and often they will comment on how full their inboxes are and how hard it is to get to them. Their priorities, first and foremost, are with their current clients. I wouldn't expect anything less. That's how I would want to be treated if I were their client. Again, it's an issue of respecting them. If you're constantly bugging them for an answer...guess where their respect for you goes?? Some agents will list a response time frame on their websites and will ask that you contact them if you have not heard back after that time frame. Then it is okay to send a quick email.

#11: Sit back and brace yourself for the rejections. They WILL come. It is a part of this business. Most times it's nothing personal. You're just not a right fit. They may already have a client with a similar story. They may just want something different. Will they tell you this?? Most likely not. Usually it's a plain form rejection. Under no circumstance email them after the rejection. They don't have time to explain. Even a "thank you" email just clogs up their inbox.

#12: Do not requery unless A- a significant time period has passed (I say at least a year) and B- you have made significant changes to the story.

Hope these tips help!!

Tuesday Tip: Queries- Part 1

I know how often authors struggle with the dreaded query and I am no exception. Not even in the tiniest bit. I wish I was. I wish I knew how to craft the perfect letter. But I don't.

I do know some dos and don't though. And as I wrote this, I realized how long the post was and decided to break it up into two! Be sure to stop by next Tuesday for part 2!

#1: Don't query too early. I have definitely done this. I was so green back then. I thought my first book was awesome and I felt so accomplished just having written it. I had no writer friends back then, only the opinions of my five closest girlfriends (who, of course, loved it!) I hadn't taken a grammar class in many many years. Looking back now, I can see how horrid that story was. But I didn't know it at the time. I sent the query out and luckily one agent gave me some honest feedback, telling me I was not ready to query at all. I was a little taken back at the time, but so grateful later on when I realized she was so so right. Don't query until you've gotten lots of honest critique on the book...not just friends who've adored it. Join a writer's group, online or in real life, put in your time by critiquing other's work and learning from it. Be very well read in your genre so you're aware of the cliches and can avoid them. You have to know what's already been done. I truly feel no story is completely original, but you need to make sure your book has a different take.

#2: When you're finally ready, do your research. Visit every agent's blog. Never rely on info on Publisher's Marketplace, Agent Query, or any other place ACCEPT the actual agent's website. The info can be outdated or just plain wrong. And check their background too. My favorite site is Predators and Editors. They're all listed alphabetically. Just because an agent looks professional online does not mean a thing. There are plenty of bad agents out there.

#3: Follow their guidelines to the tee! There's nothing more aggravating than having instructions written out in plain English and receiving everything else under the sun. Why turn them off before they've even read your blurb?

#4: Don't be gimicky. Just tell them what your story is about. Hook them. Don't try to be funny or witty or play games. Show your voice, yes, but don't be weird.

#5: Be professional. It's a business letter and should be treated as such. These agents are not your friend or even an acquaintance. A simple "Dear Ms. Smith" is appropriate. They are professionals and deserve respect. Get their name correct, get their gender correct.

Okay, that's it for now! Stop back next week for the rest!!

New queries, new rejection

Sent some new quesries today. These were for my children's book/series idea. It was something that's been floating in my head for a few years and finally I wrote it out and wrote up a query/proposal. It sat in my computer for a few months and today I decided to send it out. 17 letters I emailed today I think. 3 rejections so far. I'm not heart broken about it and I'm not expecting anything at all. Children's writing is a whole new thing for me.

I also sent the submission for my novelette. That one I am anxious to hear back about. But that could take a while. I think they say it could take 3 months for a response.

I'm in query hell

And just when I think I might be coming out....nope....back into the fiery dungeon.

I've reworked my query over and over again an when I post new versions on a writers critique board I visit, it seams they tear it apart for some different reason.

I read samples on websites, some on an agent's blog that I read. They are great queries...and as much as I try, I just can't get mine to shine like that.