Feeling slightly crushed

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

After one year, three rounds of revisions (including an hour on the phone brainstorming), the agent I've been working with on my YA contemporary novel gave me the bad news yesterday: She's passing -- it's still not working. She's read it four times now, even sent it to an associate who read it and put together an in-depth four-page report on why it's not ready for publication and its strengths and weaknesses.

The agent still loves the MC, loves the voice and sees great potential. In my husband's view, she loves the character and locale; she'd prefer a different book. Sigh.

On the plus side, I can honestly say my book is better after going through the process. The revisions were tricky because the agent was sometimes vague with her suggestions; some suggestions didn't work, and I'd put things back in that I'd previously taken out, etc.

I can't see myself putting in any further work on this book unless I get an actual offer of representation. But I've become so invested in it, it just feels like a loss to me right now.

I have two fulls out with other agents, but my hopes are not high at this point.

This was my first book. I don't know what I was thinking with the idea of getting my first attempt published.

Just needed to vent.

D.M.Drake · Sep 28, 2011

Wow... I am so sorry. I wish you the best of luck and it will happen for you!

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Thanks, D.M.

Hey, good luck with yours!

Red-Green · Sep 28, 2011

That's a hard road to go down, but it's a good learning experience. (Which I know is no comfort.) It may just be time to rest that book and work on another. There may come a time when you'll be ready to revisit the first book.

RobJ · Sep 28, 2011

Chin up. Take the positives, and keep going.

kenpochick · Sep 28, 2011

I'm sorry, that sucks. Maybe you can work your characters into a new story.

silver76 · Sep 28, 2011

wow, i'm so sorry...a whole year...well try to take what you can and put it towards writing your next novel- also remember that is ONLY HER OPINION.. i would continue to query it, if you think it's ready...

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Hey, thanks you guys. It helps to hear your words of encouragement.

RedScylla: The book's definitely going to get a rest for a while.

RobJ: Thanks!

KenpoChick: That's what my husband said. (Oy.)

Silver76: Thank you. If I do decide to keep querying, I'll probably make a few little changes that were suggested. Later.

Drachen Jager · Sep 28, 2011

Very few people do get published with their first book. In fact very few people make it as far as you did.

On the bright side, you have an agent who will certainly give your next manuscript serious consideration and you've learned a ton about writing. Back to the drawing board, and this time get it all right (easy right?).

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Drachen Jager said:
Very few people do get published with their first book. In fact very few people make it as far as you did.

On the bright side, you have an agent who will certainly give your next manuscript serious consideration and you've learned a ton about writing. Back to the drawing board, and this time get it all right (easy right?).

Haha. Thanks for making me laugh. (The "easy" part got me.) That is true. I can always send my next ms her way.

Onward and upward.

Thanks for talking me down off the ledge, people!

Snappy · Sep 28, 2011

(((Mclesh))) It's rough, no doubt. But, you've spent a lot of time revising and I'm sure it's already better. I'd put it aside, write the next book, then go back when you feel ready.

stormie · Sep 28, 2011

You have two fulls of this book out there--maybe one or both will offer representation. Are there other agents you haven't approached w/ your query for this book? Send it on out. Meanwhile, get to work on another book.

Miss Plum · Sep 28, 2011

Mclesh, I don't know how many total agents you've queried, but are you sure it's time to give up? Three agents saying No is nothing.

Of course, keep writing your next book, but I wouldn't necessarily give up on this one.

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Miss Plum said:
Mclesh, I don't know how many total agents you've queried, but are you sure it's time to give up? Three agents saying No is nothing.

Of course, keep writing your next book, but I wouldn't necessarily give up on this one.

I think I'm up to or hovering near 30 that I've queried so far. From that pool, I've had four full requests and one partial (with the two fulls pending).

What really makes me think twice about pursuing this further is the comments from the reader which lead me to think that the book needs more fixing than I want to do. Basically, the suggestion is to turn the book into something it isn't. And I really like the book I wrote. I mean, I tried changing things and letting go of things during the revision process. The finished product was my attempt to ultimately just write the book I wanted to write.

But I'm kicking around ideas for the next one.

Writing = a cruel mistress.

Lady MacBeth · Sep 28, 2011

That's rough, but keep your chin up. If you got that far with an agent on your first book, at least you know you can write. Your next book is going to be better for the experience.

Ah heck, it'll be awesome.

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Lady MacBeth said:
That's rough, but keep your chin up. If you got that far with an agent on your first book, at least you know you can write. Your next book is going to be better for the experience. Ah heck, it'll be awesome.

BrianJamesFreeman · Sep 28, 2011

I once ended up querying 120 agents about a novel over the course of a year. (A few a time, of course -- not all at once!)

60 asked to read it, which I thought was a phenomenal rate of return. Only three loved it enough to offer representation, but they were great agents that I was happy to be talking to... But if those three hadn't, it would have been a VERY heart breaking year. (It was a long year anyway with that many rejections and all of the "this is great, but I can't sell it" notes...)

This was the third full-length novel that I had written. The first one generated some interest, the second one almost got me an agent, but not quite.

Not all first novels are meant to be published -- most really are not, in my experience -- but they're all great learning experiences if you take what you've learned and pour it into the next book!

You may return to this book in a few years and realize you actually have a great story that just needs some tweaks. Or maybe it was just a "practice run." At the very least, you'll be less emotionally attached down the road and will be able to see it more clearly. Even 6 months away could do the trick.

And, of course, you could keep on querying... there are a lot more agents to try and one of them may love the book exactly as you wrote it!

Brian

stormie · Sep 28, 2011

^ (re: perks posting in wrong thread)-- And to think I'm the one here swigging my shot of peppermint schnapps on ice^

Anyway, 30 agents isn't many, mclesh. I say send more queries out on this one. Meanwhile, start on the next that you have the idea for.

BrianJamesFreeman · Sep 28, 2011

stormie said:
^ (re: perks posting in wrong thread)-- And to think I'm the one here swigging my shot of peppermint schnapps on ice^

Anyway, 30 agents isn't many, mclesh. I say send more queries out on this one. Meanwhile, start on the next that you have the idea for.

This is really important advice, in my opinion -- always try to get rolling on the next book as soon as you feel you know enough about it to get started. The longer you wait, the harder it could be, especially when you're dealing with rejection. (I think it's easier later on, when you're dealing with a publisher who says, "This one's awesome, when is the next one coming?!"

)

Brian

shelleyo · Sep 28, 2011

My next book probably wouldn't go to that agent first, unless it's an absolute dream agent. Then I might send it there as well as plenty of other places. A year and three revisions, without signing you? That's a little extreme, in my opinion. Three revisions--that's a lot to do for someone who can't actually buy the work.

You might consider querying this book more extensively, if you haven't already. If it kept one agent going back and forth with you that long, there may be something there. I wouldn't give up on it yet.

Shelley

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

Brian: 120? Damn. Well, you win. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm glad you kept at it.

Stormie: Pass the peppermint schnapps!

Shellyo: Yeah, I know. She meant well. She was trying to turn it into something she knew she could sell but wasn't precisely sure what that something was. (If that makes sense.)

taylormillgirl · Sep 28, 2011

Big hugs. I can only imagine how it feels to spend a year working on agent revisions to have it end this way. I'm sorry. My advice: take a few days to wallow, then dust off that ms and reread it. It's undoubtedly stronger now, so give it a polish, tweak your query letter until it gleams, and get back on the query coaster. 30 agents is barely scraping the surface, besides, someone liked your writing enough to spend a year guiding through edits, and that says A LOT.

Good luck to you! Hope you feel better soon.

Mclesh · Sep 28, 2011

taylormillgirl said:
Big hugs. I can only imagine how it feels to spend a year working on agent revisions to have it end this way. I'm sorry. My advice: take a few days to wallow, then dust off that ms and reread it. It's undoubtedly stronger now, so give it a polish, tweak your query letter until it gleams, and get back on the query coaster. 30 agents is barely scraping the surface, besides, someone liked your writing enough to spend a year guiding through edits, and that says A LOT.

Good luck to you! Hope you feel better soon.

I feel a little better than I did this morning.

Miss Plum · Sep 28, 2011

Mclesh said:
I think I'm up to or hovering near 30 that I've queried so far. From that pool, I've had four full requests and one partial (with the two fulls pending).

What really makes me think twice about pursuing this further is the comments from the reader which lead me to think that the book needs more fixing than I want to do. Basically, the suggestion is to turn the book into something it isn't. And I really like the book I wrote. I mean, I tried changing things and letting go of things during the revision process. The finished product was my attempt to ultimately just write the book I wanted to write.

But I'm kicking around ideas for the next one.

Writing = a cruel mistress.

Writing and reading are soooo subjective, I'd send that book to at least another 30 agents. You've done all you could for one particular reader, but the next one might say yes.

My motto is, you lose nothing by querying.

flygal716 · Sep 29, 2011

Brian, excellent posts.

Feeling slightly crushed

It's too hot

Working hard, loving every second!

It's too hot

KoalaKoalaKoala!

I should be writing, not on AW.:-)

Living the Dream (Nightmare)

It's too hot

Professor of applied misanthropy

It's too hot

A new year, a new avatar

storm central

It's too hot

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

It's too hot

storm central

Just another face in a red jumpsuit

It's too hot

Hopeless Romantic

It's too hot

Jump in the way of good luck