Can't concentrate!

zarch · Sep 1, 2005

Today I sent copies of my entire manuscript to two agents...this is the first time I've sent the entire thing to an agent, let alone two agents. The requests came within 24 hours of each other. This is good, I know...very good.

The problem? I can't concentrate!!! I mailed the packages and then tried to focus on my current WIP...uh...nope, can't think of anything but the packages I just sent to New York. Does this happen to all newbies? Is this just the jitters? Will it go away, for crying out loud???

Should I just set aside the current project for a week or two? Or three? Or ten?

Can't stop thinking about those packages...please tell me the anxiety will go away after some time. I am not a nervous or anxious person, generally speaking, but my Lord I never knew sending my work to an agent would make me so crazy!

Okay, I need to find some Tylenol PM or I won't be able to sleep tonight...

MarkPettus · Sep 1, 2005

Perks · Sep 1, 2005

It'll wear off or you'll jitter into six or more pieces. You'll be fine. Probably take a couple of days off and then try again. In about two weeks you'll be checking your mail, email, voicemail many times a day - god bless those time zones; you'll be able to talk yourself into more peeks - and then you'll get a response or you'll settle into a waiting groove and want to write again. Try to have fun with it. What else can you do?

maestrowork · Sep 1, 2005

Yes, it happens to all of us. Just sleep it off, and really try to focus on your WIP tomorrow. And if you still obsess over the mss. that you sent out, take a cold shower, go to the gym, watch a movie, or do anything to distract yourself from feeling like you're waiting for something.

The sooner you get back completely to your WIPs the better.

zarch · Sep 1, 2005

Y'all are right in that I should have fun with it...after all, the predominant emotion here is excitement. It's fun. And yes, I'll give it a day or two...then it's back to the WIP.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who gets jittery after sending out the first round of complete manuscripts!

Thanks!!!

hmm...I left the post office at 4:15, which means the packages are probably loaded and ready to zip on up to the East Coast...hmm...maybe even en route as we speak...somewhere in, say, Oklahoma or Arkansas...then, tomorrow...STOP IT, ZARCH!

Vomaxx · Sep 1, 2005

You are fortunate that two agents requested fulls, and at the same time. Be happy about that. Some writers never get that far. You're doing well.

KimJo · Sep 2, 2005

Zarch, congratulations on getting two requests for full manuscripts! You're definitely allowed to be excited for a few days.

It's a holiday weekend. Concentration is optional

.

zornhau · Sep 2, 2005

zarch said:
Today I sent copies of my entire manuscript to two agents...this is the first time I've sent the entire thing to an agent, let alone two agents. The requests came within 24 hours of each other. This is good, I know...very good.

The problem? I can't concentrate!!! I mailed the packages and then tried to f

Step away from the computer! Go get drunk/wasted/play paintball/water fight/wild fling/long walk/cross country run.

zarch · Sep 3, 2005

Okay...I'll step away from the computer...just five more minutes.

emeriis · Sep 5, 2005

Give in to it!

You had two requests.....why not give it to the excitement, stop fighting it and write about it! As someone who have never submitted an entire manuscript, I'd love to know what it's like to finally get to that point. I've seen several websites/magazines in fact that are begging for articles/stories about writing related topics. You have a writing related progress story! Write about your jitters, excitement, etc. and share it with others who may be lucky enough to experience the same thing soon. I know from experience that sometimes fighting it only prolongs the problem. I had one night where I lay in bed with all these ideas/thoughts in my head.....I couldn't sleep until I got up and wrote like crazy for about 20 minutes. Once it was all out, I went to sleep and slept like the dead.

Good luck. Be sure to tell us when you get those responses too!

Can't concentrate!

zarch

GOML.

MarkPettus

Writer and Editor

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

zarch

GOML.

Vomaxx

KimJo

Outside the box, with the werewolves

zornhau

Swordsman

zarch

GOML.

emeriis