Crying over rejections that haven't even happened yet

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DLacy

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I really am excited over my new batch of agents to query! ... so then why am I close to tears when I check that little box next to their name on Querytracker? Why do I imagine the rejection before I even type up the query and send it out? Why am I mourning the loss of a fabulous agent I won't ever get to know when I haven't even given her a chance yet?

Am I finally cracking?
 

lorna_w

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Well, I'm not a psychiatrist...lol. But I think you're in the normal range. The new novel is a shiny, beloved thing, and there's a reason many people say it's like a child. You want people to love it as you do. You spent months (maybe years) helping it to be the best it can. You want to be embraced. Maybe it's closer to meeting the new inlaws, come to think of it. You really need for them to like you, and you've dressed up and smile a lot and are hopeful. If you overhear Ma in the kitchen calling you a pudgy tart, that's going to hurt.

The thing with the novel is this: it isn't you. If no one wants it at all, it says nothing about you. You're still an okay person. It may not even say much about your writing. Maybe a popular novel just got published that's too close to it. Maybe the first agent hates people with your first name. Maybe a lot of things that have nothing to do with you or your novel.

Or, maybe, it will be rejected and because it's not good enough. This is painful, but pretty common. You continue writing and get better and keep submitting and one day, an agent will ask for a full and you'll finally get that phone call.

Good for you for getting this far. You've done your job. It's time for the agents to do theirs. Now go work on the new thing: that's your job now.
 

DLacy

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Thanks for the pep talk, Lorna. I've queried before - since last Fall, actually. I've sent cruddy query letters and had to own up to that and revamp them and mark the others off as just botched opportunities that didn't work out. I've polished the thing up to the point that it shines, now, But for some reason this time I'm just a mess about it.

I've sent partials and at least one full so far, but for some reason this round is different. I don't know why. I just wonder if it's a normal thing to have been querying for this long and just get stressed out. At least I'm pretty sure it's not a nervous breakdown!
 

lorna_w

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could you be pregnant? Pregnant people--well, women, actually, as men tend to avoid the condition--can cry over any and everything.
 

DLacy

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No, not pregnant. I'll try to give this time and see if it goes away.
 

Jamesaritchie

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Sounds Like you're a natural born pessimist. I think attitude matters. Stop crying over rejections that haven't happened, and start celebrating acceptances that haven't yet happened, but are on the way, even as we speak.
 

ohthatmomagain

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Thanks for the pep talk, Lorna. I've queried before - since last Fall, actually. I've sent cruddy query letters and had to own up to that and revamp them and mark the others off as just botched opportunities that didn't work out. I've polished the thing up to the point that it shines, now, But for some reason this time I'm just a mess about it.

I've sent partials and at least one full so far, but for some reason this round is different. I don't know why. I just wonder if it's a normal thing to have been querying for this long and just get stressed out. At least I'm pretty sure it's not a nervous breakdown!

I think because when you start, you see all of these agents to query. It gives you hope. When you first start getting rejections, you think, "It's ok, I have X many out and agents to query."

Then, time passes on and your sents is longer than your not sent pile. You begin to realize that it's now or never for this book...

Or I might be projecting. ;)
 

DLacy

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To James. Interestingly enough, I'm not! I'm usually so gung-ho about querying I query as soon as my last decent draft is done. I enjoy the hunt for agents and the research into their likes and dislikes. That's why I'm wondering if anyone else has been through this kind of a slump.

And Ohthatmom, I think that's a bit of it.
 

L. Y.

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I think all writers experienced what you are going through. I am new to AW, but have been writing for a number of years, and have experienced my fair share of rejection letters. You have to realize this is part of our chosen profession.

Don't give up hope, and as Jamesaritchie pointed out, "start celebrating acceptances that haven't yet happened, but are on the way, even as we speak."

Good luck!
 

luxisufeili

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Don't worry. You're not alone.
 

Filigree

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The sad thing is, it doesn't stop with agent representation or publication. The fear just morphs into 'what if the agent doesn't like this one?' and 'what if this release flops?' Or even the old favorite 'OMG I just signed a contract, now I *have* to write this book!'

I'm literally at now or never for a big fantasy novel that couldn't get past two partials with agents, and one full with an e-publisher. 70+ rejections later, I've revised it heavily and sent it off to my agent. The daydream is that I'll end up with a 'very nice deal' notice in PW. The reality is that she'll probably think it's a mess, and I'll end up self-pubbing or trunking it.

So you're not alone. Take heart, and keep querying.
 

Fanatic_Dreamer

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Rule 1: Get out of your head.

Your biggest enemy is yourself. If you keep tripping yourself up, how can you expect to be successful in any endeavor? It's hard, it's not fun. I know, believe me. Some days are really hard and you want to pull your hair out and scream.

I'll sum it up with a quote from one of my favorite movies: Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.
 
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