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Waiting on agents

777 replies

IceRoadDucker · 12/02/2016 13:24

I'm a regular but frequent name changer, if that matters to anyone.

My first novel went out for query at the end of last month. So far I have a great success rate - 11 rejections, 3 partials and 1 full. The first partial only went out on 5 Feb but the wait is already killing me! I've been taking the rejections really, really well but I know a rejection on a partial or full will sting.

I'm trying to put my energy into writing my third novel - 48k words in - but I can't write continually and whenever I have a spare moment I'm impatiently drumming my fingers on any hard surface I can find.

No reason for posting this thread except that I need to keep my hands from refreshing Gmail every 10 seconds even though it's way too early to expect replies, I have desktop notifications AND it updates itself automatically.

OP posts:
Dontrocktheboat · 15/01/2017 10:45

Thanks Cel Smile

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 15/01/2017 17:01

Congratulations Dontrock ! And thank you for the reassurance.

I'm currently hitting a stage of conviction the ms is awful and my query letters worse, so far no requests for full ms even. Sigh.

Has anyone tried paying out the scary amount for a professional review and editing suggestions? If so what did you think?

Dontrocktheboat · 16/01/2017 21:24

Thanks, rumbling.

I don't have any personal experience of paying for a professional review - seems a lot of money though, which would make me wary given it is just one person's opinion, but I have heard of other people finding it valuable. Have you had anyone else look at it - friends/ family/ members of a writing group if you are in one?

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 16/01/2017 22:12

It went to several friends in a writing circle, which was very helpful. Just wonder if I need a commercial eye as I'm so new and naive to this!

Madhairday · 17/01/2017 17:59

I haven't sent mine out to a professional editor simply due to cost, but have found friends and people on here really helpful, some have done a comprehensive edit for me which I'm so grateful for. I think it would be valuable but also be careful where you send it as some are charlatans. I wouldn't know where to go tbh but do know there are some good editors out there. If you want to pay less you can pay for an editing gig on Fiverr but I'm not sure about the credentials of people there - you could say anything! You can see by their reviews though if they've done good jobs in the past.

Good luck - hope you hear something positive soon.

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 17/01/2017 18:02

Thank you that's really helpful Smile

MissBattleaxe · 18/01/2017 17:00

Wonderful news Dontrock! I'm so pleased for you. Star

wordassociationfootball · 18/01/2017 18:39

Star and Wine Don't Rock! That's fantastic, congratulations.

Don't be afraid to contact her to ask for clarification of her notes as you go through, if you need to.

Dontrocktheboat · 19/01/2017 21:05

Thanks - still feels bit surreal and don't want to count on anything as need to be able to do the redrafting, get a publisher etc.....

Thanks for the advice, word association. She seems very approachable re any notes, clarifications, which is good. Set a (slightly alarming ) deadline, though this is mainly my fault, but will have to see how it goes!

NinahH · 21/01/2017 10:17

Great job, Don'trock.
I really need some advice.
I finished a book which I drafted and redrafted for ages. The idea is fine but the execution, well, I've really struggled. I've just been asked to send the full.
I am now a third of a way through a new book, and the writing flows. It just seems so much better. I spent so long on the last book I can't tinker any more, should I just send off the full anyway? I am probably not placed to judge as I practically know it off by heart but it seems flat, lifeless and overworked, and I don't know how to lift it.

Dontrocktheboat · 21/01/2017 14:46

Hi Ninah, if you've been asked to send the full definitely send it! Even if they decide not to take it further at least you will get some feedback, hopefully be in a dialogue and they may be interested to hear you are working on something else.

I also drafted and redrafted my novel to point where lost perspective. But now I have some clear notes from agent I have regained enthusiasm and feel more positive about it.

Good luck!

NinahH · 21/01/2017 16:53

Thanks for that. I had the full turned down not too long ago with useful if brief feedback - but short of murdering it and starting again ...it was a project I was passionate about for years, too. The current book seems just so much easier to write. And read. Yet it's not nearly far enough along to think about submitting and won't be for a year or so, I'd say. Oh dear. Appreciate the encouragement. I suppose I don't have anything to lose.

birdybirdywoofwoof · 22/01/2017 08:35

Aw dontrock that's exciting! You must be thrilled. What was the meeting like?

After two months twiddling my thumbs (i.e. on mums net) and quiet resignation agent got back to me and said she liked this book muchly and we're going to try and submit when I've done a few changes. I'm thrilled but at the same time petrified (2nd round of rejections in one year will be quite harsh!) still, we'll see...

Nina, get that full over to her- I think there often is a sense when we've just moved on from a project of 'meh, really?' But that feeling doesn't represent its worth or interest to others.

Hope everyone is doing well.

NinahH · 22/01/2017 14:10

Wow birdy, must be so exciting! and don't rock - really good to have such positive news on this thread and see it really CAN happen.
I'm really glad to hear the meh thing is quite usual and doesn't in itself mean the book must be dire. I've had a(nother) thorough edit and feeling a bit perkier! Am finding it quite hard to leave new book though. Could edit old one to death but better just whoosh it off now I think. Wish me luck.

birdybirdywoofwoof · 22/01/2017 14:37

Go for it, Nina! I bet someone with fresh eyes and not your old jaded ones would really enjoy it!

There have been some truly fab mumsnetter successs stories from this and other threads unfortunately the bastards all go underground during the publishing process! Wink

Dontrocktheboat · 22/01/2017 15:10

Thanks birdy. Meeting with agent was pretty relaxed, just met her for coffee and had a chat about what might make it work better, think she was sussing out if I was agreeable to changes (which I was though apparently some people aren't!) and then she agreed to send me a letter of engagement. She did ask if I wanted time to think about it - er, no!

Glad you are feeling more positive, Nina.

Birdy, did you get much idea of why it was hard to find a publisher for your first book (this is my fear now!) I know you may have said up thread but it's a bit hard to keep track. Glad you eventually got some positive news re new book!

birdybirdywoofwoof · 22/01/2017 15:20

Ah good. re. meeting. It sounds like you had a nice rapport which is so important going on.

Yes, the agent sent me the publishers responses which was helpful.

Several of them had published in the past or were publishing something similar - they did name check those books - which I rushed to look up - and they were pretty similar too. Annoying. (I guess my book was kind of niche...I dunno)

A few just said the old "liked it but not passionately enough."

I don't think I'll be busting the American market any time soon though! Their responses were that my lovely heroine was immature, sarcastic and generally unlikeable. Shock Rather like the writer I suspect. Grin

NinahH · 22/01/2017 15:29

immature sarcastic and unlikeable
I'd buy it
what a breath of fresh air

Dontrocktheboat · 22/01/2017 16:17

What genre was it, Birdy ? (I have a vague memory it might have been YA...?) That is a bit harsh about the narrator - pretty sure some of these things could be applied to my narrator too....Did you just get on and write the next book quickly or were you already pretty much done (I've barely started thinking about my next project!)

birdybirdywoofwoof · 23/01/2017 11:38

It was YA. Meh, what can you do!

I had written some drafts of this new one previously, so it was kind of all there already, I just had to fill it out and make it much better.(?!)
This heroine is also immature and sarcastic but hopefully she is more likeable, I dunno!

NinahH · 23/01/2017 12:54

Bland heroines do nothing for me - or for my dc

Dontrocktheboat · 24/01/2017 10:03

I can think of lots of books with unlikeable central characters! Good luck with the next one anyway,birdy!

birdybirdywoofwoof · 24/01/2017 13:33

The problem was she wasn't meant to be dislikeable. Indeed, I thought she was v. nice!

Thank you for the encouragement though!

Did you send off the mss, Nina?

NinahH · 24/01/2017 17:36

yes I did! nothing yet. Trying to be nonchalant

NinahH · 28/01/2017 12:21

So it was a no.
I sent 9 subs in November. 5 never heard back. Of the 4 who rejected me, one was outright no thank, one was have you got something else, two were rejections of full. The first chapters seem to work the rest not so much. Not sure how to proceed, really. I am in early stages of another book, should I put all my energies into this or is it worth another round of subs on the old one? I tightened up the ms quite a bit after first full rejected and I can see another thing I can do to it as well in light of second but I think the setting's proving a bit offputting (don't want to out myself) and that I won't change.