I am not sure if I have an appropriate mindset for blogging, truth be told... I have been treating this as an online journal, which works for me. I have told almost no one about this blog. And I get kinda cranky when unknowns stumble across it. Mostly because they comment by leaving SPAM.
SPAM sucks. So, SPAMMERS... this is for you... (she says with an evil smile):
Dear Jay /Mike /Other "casual" name,
Yeah, I kinda noticed that no one reads my blog. Do you really think I ought to use the service you used to increase your hits? 'Cause, wow, wouldn't it be awesome to get a dozen or more hits in a day! Zowee... Where have I been going wrong?
Oh wait. I know.
I don't promote my blog. Anywhere. Not on Faceborg, not to my friends. Hell, most people don't even know I have a blog. And, see, you just MIGHT have noticed that it is kinda hard to comment on my blog. I set it up that way...so not just any jackass can leave comments, or, for example, SPAM on my on-line journal.
Huh. Do you kinda see where this is going? Yeah. I don't give a shit if you think I can increase my traffic.
I haven't exactly laid out the welcome mat, have I?
Thanks ever so!
Yours truly,
Zombie Grrrl
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Rejection is a four letter word
Well, I TOLD myself to be prepared. Rejection is the way, the truth, and the light. Just because I got a 66% acceptance rate on the query letter, that didn't mean I was home free, yet.
So, yeah, I am not home free. Both literary agents didn't feel like my material was a good fit for them. Keep in mind, they liked the sell I did on the project. So, the concept appealed to them. And that is good. I am pleased that I wrote a good query letter.
But, after reading (or skimming) a plot synopsis and the actual manuscript, they both rejected it as "not quite right for us". That could mean so many things, in my mind. And of course, as an actor, I am BRILLIANT at finding all the potential meanings in any simple phrase...
Rejection:
"This isn't quite right for us."
Meanings:
1. This is a great novel, and while I would totally buy it in the bookstore, unfortunately, this project isn't the kind of project my agency represents-- they are out there, however: go get 'em!
2. This is a great novel, and I might buy it in a bookstore, but I am not sure how in the world we would help you sell it. Since we have to pay our employees, we are gonna pass.
3. Your concept is good, the writing is good, but I don't really like your characters-- your heroine is kind of unpleasant.
4. Your concept is good, but your material is too grim for women's literature, too girly for mainstream, and plus you use too many adverbs.
5. Your concept is good, but your writing isn't there-- we only represent literary projects, and should this publish, it would be a paperback on a rack, next to lesbian nurse novels.
6. Your concept is good, but your project still has a lot of work to go-- try using more chapters, for instance, and maybe explain your world better... like before the 4th chapter.
7. Your concept is good, but your writing sucks.
8. Your concept is good, but your writing really, really sucks.
9. Your query letter piqued my interest, but wow, it really didn't describe your book very well. Who wrote the query letter?
10. Abandon hope, ye hopeless stay-at-home mother. I am sending out the word right now on you...
Well, back to square one. I tell you, sending the first query letter out was difficult. Getting the first rejection on the query letter was no big deal, since I got two hits on it. But the first rejection of your material... man, that stings.
So, yeah, I am not home free. Both literary agents didn't feel like my material was a good fit for them. Keep in mind, they liked the sell I did on the project. So, the concept appealed to them. And that is good. I am pleased that I wrote a good query letter.
But, after reading (or skimming) a plot synopsis and the actual manuscript, they both rejected it as "not quite right for us". That could mean so many things, in my mind. And of course, as an actor, I am BRILLIANT at finding all the potential meanings in any simple phrase...
Rejection:
"This isn't quite right for us."
Meanings:
1. This is a great novel, and while I would totally buy it in the bookstore, unfortunately, this project isn't the kind of project my agency represents-- they are out there, however: go get 'em!
2. This is a great novel, and I might buy it in a bookstore, but I am not sure how in the world we would help you sell it. Since we have to pay our employees, we are gonna pass.
3. Your concept is good, the writing is good, but I don't really like your characters-- your heroine is kind of unpleasant.
4. Your concept is good, but your material is too grim for women's literature, too girly for mainstream, and plus you use too many adverbs.
5. Your concept is good, but your writing isn't there-- we only represent literary projects, and should this publish, it would be a paperback on a rack, next to lesbian nurse novels.
6. Your concept is good, but your project still has a lot of work to go-- try using more chapters, for instance, and maybe explain your world better... like before the 4th chapter.
7. Your concept is good, but your writing sucks.
8. Your concept is good, but your writing really, really sucks.
9. Your query letter piqued my interest, but wow, it really didn't describe your book very well. Who wrote the query letter?
10. Abandon hope, ye hopeless stay-at-home mother. I am sending out the word right now on you...
Well, back to square one. I tell you, sending the first query letter out was difficult. Getting the first rejection on the query letter was no big deal, since I got two hits on it. But the first rejection of your material... man, that stings.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Query Letter Out!
Well, it has been forever. But I have been busy. At the beginning of November, I sent out my finished (finished!) manuscript to five lovely friends, only one of whom has read any of it before. They are busily reading, and I have already gotten some feedback! Woohoo!
So, what the hell have I been doing in the meantime? (Besides watching soaps, doing my nails, and eating bonbons when the nails are dry? Ha ha.) I have been working on my query letter. A query letter is a pitch to editors, agents, publishers, basically asking them to request my manuscript or a sample of it. I am targeting literary agents right now. I know from experience that trying to break into a closed world that I don't quite understand is difficult. Hence, an agent. I had a film agent, once upon a time, and she got me auditions I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Yes, assuming I get a literary agent, they will get 15% of whatever I earn, but it will be worth it.
Today, I sent out three query letters. I have been working like a dog.... well, not like my dog, she just mostly lays around and sleeps. But I have been working hard to perfect my query letter, even sending it to my writing coach several times for comments and suggestions. It is my first impression, after all! He gave me the seal of approval on Friday. I am scared like you wouldn't believe, but the hardest one to send was the first one. I am doing it via email (I LOVE when businesses are green!). We will see what happens. I fully expect some rejection, but I knew the first step would be the hardest. I did pick three agencies who seem to represent similar types of works, I think.
I am crossing my fingers and toes and intestines. (The latter is in knots!)
So, what the hell have I been doing in the meantime? (Besides watching soaps, doing my nails, and eating bonbons when the nails are dry? Ha ha.) I have been working on my query letter. A query letter is a pitch to editors, agents, publishers, basically asking them to request my manuscript or a sample of it. I am targeting literary agents right now. I know from experience that trying to break into a closed world that I don't quite understand is difficult. Hence, an agent. I had a film agent, once upon a time, and she got me auditions I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Yes, assuming I get a literary agent, they will get 15% of whatever I earn, but it will be worth it.
Today, I sent out three query letters. I have been working like a dog.... well, not like my dog, she just mostly lays around and sleeps. But I have been working hard to perfect my query letter, even sending it to my writing coach several times for comments and suggestions. It is my first impression, after all! He gave me the seal of approval on Friday. I am scared like you wouldn't believe, but the hardest one to send was the first one. I am doing it via email (I LOVE when businesses are green!). We will see what happens. I fully expect some rejection, but I knew the first step would be the hardest. I did pick three agencies who seem to represent similar types of works, I think.
I am crossing my fingers and toes and intestines. (The latter is in knots!)
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