My Query Experiment

Darzian said:

I just found this thread. You've spent over a year querying? Wow. I really admire your consistent courage and determination.

BTW, what would be your projected conclusion on your success so far (based on your original hypothesis in the experiment?-sorry I'm a science student).

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Thanks, Darzian! Sorry I took so long to reply. My projected conclusion is that assuming my story doesn't suck, I queried at a time when the market was too tight, regardless of how much heat level I packed into the story/query.

Since I'm unpublished, period, I don't have any credentials either. During the first six months I queried, I noticed very few debut SFR authors (count 'em: one), but suddenly I'm noticing more sales by both published and debut authors. Not tons, just a handful, but a lot more than when I began querying.

Now even if agents didn't think my query was worth squat, no one has given me any negative feedback at all. In fact, the one agent who normally doesn't even rep SF type stories had positive feedback about my characters. This doesn't mean I have the best book ever, but the response has boiled down to straight rejection, one comment about the tight market, and one pass with praise.

So that's my guess, other than the usual subjectivity factor. Believe me, though, it's hard not to think that okay, my book SUCKS and what the heck was I thinking. But now I've got some new things going on since I started querying (the bog and some good success with it) plus an exciting development which I can't go into right now, so I still have a lot of hope.

IHeartWriting said:

Good luck with whatever this is Clara! Can't wait til you can fill us in on the details!

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Thanks--I should be able to post about it here within a week, two tops.

Eek, has it really been that long? I guess so! I've really only been lurking at AW, but obviously not that extensively!

Thanks to those of you still checking in.

As far as the query experiment, well it's still in progress, albeit at a *much* slower rate. I've stopped querying agents (agent fatigue, mostly) and went on to query a few publishers. And by a few, I mean three.

One rejected the project at the query stage. Another hasn't responded and I don't expect them to, so no real emotional investment there on my part. And the third, well, that publisher has had the full for about six weeks, so let's just say I'm hopeful. (You'd think I'd learned my lesson and squash any hope the second it sprouts, but no...)

Since beginning this experiment, I learned a lot about the subgenre in which my story falls (science fiction romance/futuristic romance). I'm sure my high-ish word count had something to do with many of the rejections, but I also think it has to do with the SFR market having been fairly tight for the past 3-6 years (perhaps longer). The economic downturn hasn't helped, either, putting most aspiring authors of any genre in the same boat.

All that I've learned has prompted me to rethink what it is I want from a career as a published author. Livable wage income was never the goal, however I gained insight into just how much I wanted to entertain with a fun story. I really want to do it, even if it's just a book or two a year.

I also re-examined the *hows* of being published, and in what form. I'm not going to say more since I don't want to jinx anything, but if I get a yes from the publisher currently considering my manuscript, I'll be sure to revisit this point later.

One aspect of this experiment that has gone beyond my wildest dreams is my blog. In less than a year, it's taking on a life of its own and I'm really grateful to all the peope who have supported it--folks from AW, other bloggers, authors, and readers.

My hits have steadily increased from day one, and I believe I've been successful in building a viable community for SFR. Not only that, but another thrilling opportunity came my way *completely* out of the blue, and directly because of the blog. Said opportunity will further advance the work I've already begun at The Galaxy Express.

I'll be making an official announcement in a few weeks on the blog, but I'll come back here to share it as well, of course.

Bottomline is that I will continue to submit, and finish my WIP, but even if nothing comes of my manuscripts, I will continue blogging about SFR, an endeavor that has brought me enormous personal satisfaction.

Bluestone said:

I have to tell you this is the first 8 page thread I've read from start to finish. I really have to commend you on your perseverence.

And especially, especially, looking forward to some amazingly good news.

Fingers, toes and eyes crossed for you!

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Thanks for reading through it all--that means a lot. And thanks also for your kind wishes!

Good news!

Hi again!

I'm back to share some great news, namely an opportunity that came my way as a result of my blog. And, I suppose, of this query experiment.

Several months ago, Editor Kris Alice Hohls of LoveLetter, Germany's monthly romance magazine, invited me to become a columnist! I accepted the no-brainer offer, and I will be penning a monthly column about science fiction romance.

You can read more about this collaboration as well as LoveLetter's history here. This is beyond my wildest expectations and I'm very blessed.

I am super excited about this opportunity. Not only is Kris fabulous and smart and savvy, but she's also a huge advocate for romance in what has been a challenging market for the genre. It also has great potential for authors who want to get their work in front of German editors.

Unfortunately, I can't share any of the columns because they will all be translated into German! Unless you read German, of course, then read away

You all are so sweet! I appreciate the support.