I'm looking for insight from anyone with experience getting to the "almost" stage with an agent/ms, specifically how you went about about choosing your next steps following a positive rejection.
I've recently finished a "first draft" ms, (I've been overhauling with an editor for nearly a year, & we were both happy enough with this version to send it out). My editor's agent requested a full, read it, and sent it back within 2 weeks with a positive rejection: 2 pages of specific feedback, including proof the agent read through to the end, and an offer to read all future writing. Damn. So close! And thanks for the free writing workshop!
I'd sent a query to one other agent prior to receiving the rejection. The 2nd agent passed my query along to a newer agent at the same firm who requested a full. I sent the ms along after a few small, quick tweaks based on the first agent's feedback (easy fixes which rang true). It's now in this agent's reading queue.
My question is, what have some of you done after a positive rejection? I should mention I'm generally quick to slash, burn, and overhaul, and I'm already planning to dig into the meat of the agent's feedback to see where it leads, but I am a little concerned I might be jumping the gun. One agent's opinion is one agent's opinion, after all, but it was such hefty, specific feedback that I'm tempted to put the brakes on queries and write this book forever. (You only get to write your first book once, you know?)
So, AW, help! What have some of you done? Yay and argh. If you could help me put this problem into a bigger context, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
I've recently finished a "first draft" ms, (I've been overhauling with an editor for nearly a year, & we were both happy enough with this version to send it out). My editor's agent requested a full, read it, and sent it back within 2 weeks with a positive rejection: 2 pages of specific feedback, including proof the agent read through to the end, and an offer to read all future writing. Damn. So close! And thanks for the free writing workshop!
I'd sent a query to one other agent prior to receiving the rejection. The 2nd agent passed my query along to a newer agent at the same firm who requested a full. I sent the ms along after a few small, quick tweaks based on the first agent's feedback (easy fixes which rang true). It's now in this agent's reading queue.
My question is, what have some of you done after a positive rejection? I should mention I'm generally quick to slash, burn, and overhaul, and I'm already planning to dig into the meat of the agent's feedback to see where it leads, but I am a little concerned I might be jumping the gun. One agent's opinion is one agent's opinion, after all, but it was such hefty, specific feedback that I'm tempted to put the brakes on queries and write this book forever. (You only get to write your first book once, you know?)
So, AW, help! What have some of you done? Yay and argh. If you could help me put this problem into a bigger context, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!