I just don't know what to do anymore

[MsKD]

I have LOVED writing my entire life. I am driven to write and can remember creating little stories since I was 6 or so. I started my first book at 13, and wrote several others since then. Professors, friends, family, and acquaintances from my writing groups always claim to love my work and many have said they expect me to become a successful novelist. Now, although I am barely 25, I have sent queries around for YEARS in an attempt to get an agent, but I have not been met with success. I am rejected before they even review the manuscript I put so much effort into. I feel like a failure. All the praise and encouragement I have received through the years seems like a big lie. I have lost much of my motivation to write. It almost feels like a waste of time. Sometimes I wonder if creative writing is just a way to play childhood make believe, and now that I am an adult I need to let it go. That I should give up and take a job opportunity that is available to me. The job is well-paying but stressful and will probably not leave me much time to pursue writing. I figure I will give this writing thing one last try before I do give up, but I need advice. How do I get an agent's attention?

[Tom Johnson]

MsKD, you didn't say what genre you wrote, but gosh, dang it, you're only 25. Don't give up yet! Look, you may not hit the big time for a few more years yet. In the mean time, keep plugging away. Why not try publishers that don't require an Agent. Get some novels out there, so the agents will see that you're for real, and maybe they'll take notice of you. Hey, I've had several agents, and most of them turned out to be quacks, so maybe you're lucky so far.

[callalily61]

You can also try posting your query on the Share Your Word board, but be aware that it might require rhino skin.

[Susan Breen]

This may not be encouraging, but I am 51 and just having my first novel published, and I too have been writing for years and years and years and have met with a lot of rejection. It's good to have a job and get out there in the world and meet new people. You'll have less time to write, but if it's important to you, you'll make time. Hopefully it won't take you as long as it took me, but what's the alternative? If you love to write, you'll write. Good luck.

[brainstrains]

Hmm, if you love writing, just TRY and see if that well-paying stressful job stops you from doing it. I wrote my first books as a kid, then was told how difficult it was to break into the market. So then I gave up and worked at well-paying, stressful jobs for 10 years, each time trying to ignore that urge to write. Finally, I couldn't fight it.

Remember: persistence. It takes as long as it takes, but however long is worth it. When you get that book contract, you will laugh at yourself for ever thinking it was a waste of time.

[IceCreamEmpress]

Get a day job that enables you to pay your bills and still gives you time to write.

Keep working on your manuscripts and queries. Keep submitting.

How many queries have you sent out? To how many agents?

[mysterygrl]

I am rejected before they even review the manuscript I put so much effort into.

If you're not getting any requests for material, then it's time to revisit your query letter. It could be that the pitch needs tightening or there's something in your letter that's just not working for agents. Another issue could be with the premise. For example, if you have a vampire novel, you're going to have a tougher time attracting an agent because the market is overwhelmed with that genre.

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the "I've gotta get published" hamster wheel. Sometimes it helps to step back, read some good books, and maybe work on a short story just for fun.

[sheadakota]

Ms KD- please don't give up! Like you I have been writing stories all my life. When I finished my first novel at 17 I was certain I would have no trouble finding an agent and getting it published.

I too was met with rejection after rejection, until years later I realized I was making inherant flaws in both my writing and in my submissions.

I am now 46 and have just recieved a request for my seventh novel-a full read- this is the closest I have come to getting an agent-

My advice is put your work out there and have it reviewed by someone other than friends and family- a critique group, The Share your work board here, another online writng forum- anything to get an unbiased opinion- then take that advice to heart and keep plugging away- Never give up on your dream- never!

(But do get a day job! even if you had an agent today- it could be years until you see your book on the shelf)

[MsKD]

MsKD, you didn't say what genre you wrote, but gosh, dang it, you're only 25. Don't give up yet! Look, you may not hit the big time for a few more years yet. In the mean time, keep plugging away. Why not try publishers that don't require an Agent. Get some novels out there, so the agents will see that you're for real, and maybe they'll take notice of you. Hey, I've had several agents, and most of them turned out to be quacks, so maybe you're lucky so far.

I write mysteries. Which publishers do not require agents? I was under the impression that publishers will not even go near your work if you don't have an agent.

So then I gave up and worked at well-paying, stressful jobs for 10 years, each time trying to ignore that urge to write. Finally, I couldn't fight it.

I don't know. I worry that if I choose that path, I won't be able to break out of it. It seems like the corporate world is teeming with people who gave up their lifelong dreams for money and stability. I do have a job now which does not pay too well, but it allows me a lot of free time to write.

How many queries have you sent out? To how many agents?

Hard to say since I have sent out queries for years.

If you're not getting any requests for material, then it's time to revisit your query letter. It could be that the pitch needs tightening or there's something in your letter that's just not working for agents. Another issue could be with the premise. For example, if you have a vampire novel, you're going to have a tougher time attracting an agent because the market is overwhelmed with that genre.

I have had others look over my queries and offer advice before I sent them out, but they were not from the industry (since I don't know anyone in the literary world). I really don't know what grabs an agent's attention.

[IceCreamEmpress]

I write mysteries. Which publishers do not require agents? I was under the impression that publishers will not even go near your work if you don't have an agent.

I think you should look for an agent, don't get me wrong.

But you can send out short stories to a bunch of markets, from Alfred Hitchcock's and Ellery Queen's to online zines like THUGLIT.com, without an agent.

And there are publishers who don't limit themselves to agent-only submissions: Soho Press and Dorchester Books are two totally legit, widely-distributed publishers who welcome direct submissions.


Hard to say since I have sent out queries for years.

How many projects have you queried about?


I have had others look over my queries and offer advice before I sent them out, but they were not from the industry (since I don't know anyone in the literary world). I really don't know what grabs an agent's attention.

Well, share them here.

And go to conferences.

And take classes.

Rather than giving up, why not try learning more?


On edit: Somehow I forgot to mention some of the great books out there. Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron and Don't Murder Your Mystery by Chris Roerden are two really useful books.

Also, joining Sisters in Crime might be a good way for you to network, especially with other yet-unpublished writers.

[mysterygrl]

If you write mysteries, definitely join Sisters in Crime, then join the Guppies sub chapter of SinC. You won't be sorry. Best support in the world.

Definitely get Chris Roerdan's book.

I wouldn't try submitting directly to publishers until you figure out what the problem is with your query letter. It sounds like you need some feedback from fellow writers. I would also poke around on some of the agent blogs. Kristin Nelson and BookEnds both have lots of query letter examples, as does Miss Snark.

[ExposingCorruption]

If you have completed several novels, then why not take the good job and use your spare time to query agents regarding those novels?

[triceretops]

This may not be encouraging, but I am 51 and just having my first novel published, and I too have been writing for years and years and years and have met with a lot of rejection.

Same deal here. 56, and seeing print from three novels in one year. I quit at 27, picked it up at 35, quit at 38, and here I am again. What a seasaw!

You're a baby. DO NOT DO WHAT I DID. At least keep your toes in the water if you feel like tossing this aside. But if I were you, I'd damn well redouble my efforts and really start pumping up your writing and submission campaign. You're ripe to start a famous career.

Is it Miss? You get your little query letter over to the SYW forum and let us have a stab at it. I assume these are mostly query rejections since you state that nobody has really read it yet.

Dear lord, this is the third catastrophic meltdown I've seen today. We just went through the Monday morning massacre two days ago at the Coffee House of Pain. Is this the fallout? Damn, I hate seeing this.

Tri

[Gary Clarke]

I shall join the chorus of post-forty year olds saying don't give up. I'm forty and I've been querying for years with lots of encouraging notes and things from editors but no bites. Like tri, I'll be seeing three of my novels in print within the next two years.

KEEP PLUGGING AWAY. And don't worry about taking that job, I had a high stress, creatively draining job for years, it didn't stop me writing, it just gave me the life experience necessary to write better characters. If you want to write, you will write.

Sometimes the desire to be published can be crippling, it stops you doing that thing you really want to do, which is write. i know that I was almost at the end of my tether this year and ready to give up, but things just worked out, and they will for you too if you keep going.

Most of all, keeo writing. Write novel after novel after novel. Eventually oneof them will get a bite and when that one hits the shelves and the rest will surely follow :0)

[lostlore]

I was in the same situation at your age. Took an easy brainless day job to support myself. The key is to keep writing what you need to do. I grew impatient after much rejection and found myself walking into journalism and magazine writing. Felt great at first -- with a byline here I was self-employed, a writer making great money! But then something happened: you get burned out, especially if it's not what you love doing, and I was stuck because it was how I supported myself. It took me years to break free, literally years, and I had to do it in stages. I still feel bad about it, and yet I have to constantly remind myself that the career I left was suppsed to've been my day job, just a way to make money.

[DWSTXS]

I'm 52. I wanted to be published at 25. Life got in the way. It has a habit of doing that. Now I'm writing again, and being rejected, but hey, that's what it takes to weed out the riff-raff and posers.

Do NOT give up at the age of 25. Because in 25 years you'll want those wasted years back.

[Toothpaste]

I'm going to echo what everyone here is saying, including the bit about posting your query here. If you are getting rejected from queries only, in an odd way, that's actually good news. It means your query is the problem, not necessarily your novel. And it is way easier to fix a one page query (easier, but probably more frustrating) than a whole book. The people here are excellent (and range from unpublished to published several times over), and their advice is brilliant.

Don't give up hope at 25! No one is allowed to give up hope in their twenties. Or thirties. Or forties . . . . .etc

[Irysangel]

I would also like to chime in and say that the dayjob has nothing to do with the writing. Even stressful, yucky dayjobs that take up scads of time don't take up ALL of your time. I have (and suspect will have for many years to come) a very time-consuming day job. I still write every night (or try to) and plug away at it on the weekends.

You make time. :)

[MsKD]

Hey everyone, I appreciate all the encouragement! I really needed it. I'm not quite ready to post my writing on the forum. I don't want to be ripped to shreds so publicly. >.>

Is there anyone here who might be able to help me via PM or email?

[ClaudiaGray]

For what it's worth, when I took the high-stress corporate job, I finally got serious about creative writing. I think it forced me to focus; also, few things aid the creative impulse as much as having the bills paid. If you really want it, a day job does not have to get in your way.

[IceCreamEmpress]

Hey everyone, I appreciate all the encouragement! I really needed it. I'm not quite ready to post my writing on the forum. I don't want to be ripped to shreds so publicly. >.>

Is there anyone here who might be able to help me via PM or email?

You can post a request for a beta reader in this subforum here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=30) (click link).