The waiting game...

Nothing beats that thrill of finishing the last chapter of edits from your critique partners and beta readers, then shouting out to the world, here it is! I have finished a whole manuscript! Awwooooga!

But what do I do with it now?

The next step in this whole crazy process is to submit your precious baby to the whim of the publishers. For me, this was most probably even scarier than writing the darned thing.  How do you write a query letter that stands out, calls to publishers, drives them to want to read your novel and then, god forbid, publish it??

For me, it was a case of reading other successful author's letters, and putting something together that shows who you are and what your novel is about. It wasn't easy.

The first time I hit the submit button to a publisher, I thought I would pass out, vomit or possibly even both. But after that first click, it became like a drug, I needed to submit! I had to! So submissions were sent to another three publishers without a second thought.

Now! Come publishers, bow down before me and beg and plead to publish it.

Isn't that how it should be....?

Unfortunately not, as I sat in front of my email window hitting F5 every three seconds.

****

Fast forward two weeks, I've finally gotten over my refresh addiction. The keyboard is quiet, except for the occassional clattering of keys as I play around on Google.

Then one not so interesting evening, where nothing much really happened. My email pinged. There was no bells or whistles or chanting. It was just there.

The answer was, sorry, but no.

I strangely thought that I'd fall in a heap wailing and moaning, screaming why me and sobbing into a tear stained hanky.

But I was unusually calm about it. Was it perhaps because it wasn't one of my main publisher targets? Was it because I had pretty much built myself up for rejection anyway so it wasn't really a surprise?

I can't quite put my finger on it.  It could also have something to do with the fact that my second work in progress is starting off nicely and I feel it is so much better written so the first attempt is more of an embarrassment really. One of those things you chalk up to inexperience.

But I think, in the end, each rejection is a step closer to the ultimate publishing goal.

Never give up. Never surrender.  I will see my name in print one day. I just know it.