Saturday, November 21, 2009

A Shout Out to the Pre-Pubbed

There have been a lot of shout outs lately. Shout outs to the newly agented (Elana, Katie, SF, etc.) Shout outs to the newly contracted (Lisa, Laura, yada yada...).

Well, this is a shout out to everyone else! It can be hard to hear everyone's good news.

I know... I was 35 when I met my husband. Of course, I was happy for all my friends who were getting married, but it was incredibly hard not to envy their good fortune. I wanted it for me too!!! Where was my knight in shining armor? (Incidentally, I now know. He was on JDate looking for someone ten years younger than me!)

So, for all of you who don't have your first book deal yet, here's to good news in the near future. It can all change in a day! It only takes one call. One person to read your work and fall in love with it. One person to share your vision. That person is out there!

Scott Hoffman, from Folio Literary, recently said:
If you're a writer who has received personal attention or an 'encouraging' rejection from even one reputable agent, this is a good indication that publishing has become a numbers game for you. It's now just a matter of finding the right agent or editor at the right time. I'd strongly encourage you not to get even a little bit discouraged until you've received 50 - maybe even 100 - rejections on the project in question.

Hope all your dream come true in 2010!

34 comments:

Unknown said...

You've no idea how much I needed to read this post at this VERY moment. Thanks!

Corey Schwartz said...

Oh, Suzy, I have no doubt that you, of all people, will be published! Your words are a gift to us all :)

Katie Salidas said...

That was an awesome post. Thanks for sharing the love and encouraging us pre-published people.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Oh...thank you! I agree with Suzy - I really needed this post today! Thank you, thank you, thank you...
www.shannonkodonnell.blogspot.com

Yat-Yee said...

I'm not at 50 or 100, but getting my share of rejections. And I am holding on to every encouraging one I've received.

Have to say the trudging feels all uphill. But thanks for your reminder.

Little Ms J said...

Great timing Corey! I needed to read this!!!

Anissa said...

Great post. Something we all need to hear sometimes. And thanks for the quote from Scott Hoffman. It's encouraging to read. :)

Jill Wheeler said...

I really appreciate this. Hoffman's quote is very encouraging.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

What a beautiful, thoughtful, generous, extraordinary thing for you to post. Thanks!

lisa and laura said...

This is a fantastic quote. I happen to know quite a few authors that are going to make some lucky agent very happy this year. It really is a numbers game, isn't it?

Bethany Wiggins said...

So true! I queried multiple books for years. And then one day, I got that call. I still can't believe it happened.

Shel said...

Thanks for the encouragement!

It can be difficult waiting for That One Call though, especially since I tend to forget my cell phone when I move from room to room. What if I don't hear That One Call?! Will an answering machine message be as awesome?

Heidi Willis said...

What an awesome post!! You're right - it's so easy to read everyone else's good news and wonder, "why not me?"

The quote from Scott was especially meaningful. I definitely could have used that a year ago!

Tamika: said...

Corey this means so much, you may never know! I'm using all the wonderful news spreading like a wild fire that is blazing my way!

Rebecca Gomez said...

Thanks, Corey. You are awesome!

Robin Mellom said...

Thanks, Corey. That was a great quote...I definitely needed to hear that. :-)

Here's to 2010!!!

Katie Anderson said...

Corey, you ROCK!!!!!!

Corey Schwartz said...

You're welcome everyone! Since the Universe didn't hand me a Kindle to giveaway, I had to find another way to spread the love!

And thanks to Amy Allgeyer Cook who originally shared the Scott Hoffman quote. It is SO encouraging!

kah said...

Way to keep the rest of us hopeful. I'm not sure if I mean us as in me and the rest of the single 30-something gals, or the us as in the unagented. Both I guess! :)

Tiffany Strelitz Haber said...

what a kickass post!

Hardygirl said...

GREAT post!!

sf

Casey Something said...

Thank you, Corey! What a great post. I'm not out there subbing to agents yet, but this is still inspiring and happy-making. : )

Kim said...

Love that quote! Thanks for sharing the love! :)

Diana Paz said...

That is such an encouraging quote. Thanks for the shout out :)

Kelly H-Y said...

Corey ... how in the world did you know that I needed this very post. Thank you ... and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

i second that! :)

Yaya' s Home said...

Thank you, Corey. I once heard that if you want to be guaranteed a publishing contract, you have to be willing to collect 10,000 rejections. Not that you'll necessarily get that many before you are, in fact, published. You do need to be WILLING to collect that many, though.

By the time you have 10,000 rejections, its almost a CERTAINTY that you will be published.

Let's see, now. I have HOW MANY???

~ Yaya

Yaya's Changing World

BookChook said...

How do I get those rejections? Oh, wait, I need to submit first, right?

Unknown said...

Thanks. I really needed that.

Crystal said...

Thanks SO MUCH for this inspiring post, Corey! It's very encouraging, as I build up my confidence to soon start querying agents by the end of this year or, more than likely, the beginning of 2010.

Dawn Simon said...

What a fabulous quote to share, Corey! I'm sending you a virtual hug.

Unknown said...

How did I miss this post when you first put it up? Thank you so much for the encouraging words. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Perfect! Thank you :)

King of my Throne said...

Thanks again, from another person with prepublished projects.