One More Strike.

So I got to wake up this lovely morning to my usual handful of email and text messages. Mostly advertisements and spam. Then as I was deleting the junk mail I noticed a response from another query that I sent: REJECTION # 6.

Now I'm debating on my post yesterday about sending more queries out on Friday. This one was nice like the others I have received, but it got me thinking about my book and what it is that these people want. The query basically stated that while the agent was "intrigued" with my query, it was not something that they were "Enthusiastic enough to pursue."

Of course the wheels started squealing and popping in my head as I tried to decipher what exactly that meant. Did they like the query and this was not the genre they were looking to pick up? Or, does "intrigued" really mean this sucks and I should pitch it in the fire and start over?

I know the publishing world right now is on the same track as the real estate market and many other businesses. In a crapper waiting to get flushed out, but is it seriously worth pursuing at this time?

Yes, this is the self pity portion of the post. That query rejection was strike one for the day. Batting stats: 0-1

Then later in the day as I started my shift at work (we're talking 6pm, my shift ends around 1am) the second strike hit.

Okay, it really wasn't that bad, but it made me feel a little defeated none the less. I submitted part of my novel to a contest. I thought I was doing good with getting in all the submission material on time and with all the proper guidelines. Low and behold I had my name on the synopsis and was emailed back that it is an anonymous submission and I needed to not have my name on the synopsis.

The contest coordinator was very nice and said I could just send in more copies of the synopsis and meet the deadline. This was very sweet of her because she had every right to just throw the whole submission in the trash because they are very strict about the guidelines.

I felt like an idiot for not getting this right and it just fueled my feelings from the morning rejection. I started to stress about what else I may have missed or what else is wrong with my material. Self Doubt...Worry...Insecurity... Panic.

Now I was 0-2. If I can make it to midnight without one more strike I'll be fine.

I think I will start going to my spinning classes again because it helps me to sweat it all out and gives me one hour of clarity. I think that's what I've lost lately. I think I will also turn to my new favorite reference book, Stephen Kings, ON WRITING. He really has a lot of great advice interspersed with life lessons he experienced along the way. Plus he's funny and I think we could all use a little humor in this industry.

Pages to date: 108

Rejections:6

Queries still out:10

Request for more:1