Turn the Page Blog
Thoughts, Musings & Advice on All Things Writing
How are you doing? Are you hanging in there? This is one crazy (scary/frustrating/sad) time to be alive, huh? There have definitely been some adjustments here - two parents are working from home now, we have a stir-crazy toddler, and another baby is due just next month. Of course I am thinking about you and your book projects. Have you made any progress? Or have you been focused on other things? The editor in me wants to say, "WHY ARE YOU READING THIS EMAIL? USE THIS EXTRA TIME AT HOME TO WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!" Turn off Netflix and get busy churning out those pages!
Being rejected based on your platform (or lack thereof) does not mean that the literary agent or editor thinks your career path isn’t impressive, you’re not greatly respected in your field, that you’ve accomplished nothing, or that you do not have anything substantive to say. They don’t even think you are lacking in talent, that you should keep your day job, or that there is no hope for you and your book in the wide world of publishing.
Is it worth it for me to go to conferences like these? What would the main benefits be? Do you think I could definitely find an agent at one? This is a great question. I speak at writers conferences all over the country, and I enjoy doing it quite a bit. So let me begin by telling you why I attend conferences.
You have signed with a literary agent. You are one HUGE step closer to achieving your publishing dream. But what happens after everything is signed and made official Hopefully your book proposal is in good shape. If it needs some work, your agent will likely tell you what additional information or rewrites they need before moving forward. Once you both agree the proposal and/or manuscript is in the best condition possible, your agent will then start pitching you to editors at various publishing houses. These are editors who have been carefully selected because they acquire books that are similar to yours.
We all have books that have stayed with us long after we read the last page. Some of the books are heartbreaking, hilarious, or full of twists and turns that kept us on the edges of our seats until the very end. Many, however, have stuck with us because they inspired us, and likely continue to do so even today. When we talk about inspiration, we’re not necessarily talking about a self-help book that inspires you to lose weight or end a relationship or change careers.
Writers are generally sensitive, creative souls. If we weren’t, how could we write with such great insight and passion about our chosen topic(s)? Criticism can hurt. Giving your proposal or manuscript to someone to read and to provide feedback on can be nothing short of terrifying. There are few times in a writer’s life where we feel more vulnerable than receiving someone’s blunt assessment on our work – our work that we have spent weeks, months and years working on and dreaming about.
Literary agents often get a reputation for being cruel and heartless. It is true that not one has escaped the task of sending out many, many rejection letters. I am sure that there are a few slightly sadistic agents out there, but for the most part, authors, please know that we take no pleasure in saying no to you and your project!
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