Querying an Agent is Not Easy
By patgalca
@patgalca (18180)
Orangeville, Ontario
July 13, 2020 7:16am CST
I don't know what to do. There was a tweet the other day by an author asking "If there was one thing you wish you'd been told before querying, what would it be?"
So many responses. All negative including: "You need to be mentally prepared for querying. The lows of querying is equivalent to emotional trauma and if you already suffer with depression and other mental health issues, it'll be an uphill battle." This one received 30 likes.
Another, "that it can be gut wrenching! and to find other things to focus on, I guess, because it can absorb all of your emotional and mental free space."
Another: "It can be physically exhausting..."
Chocolate and tequila were other recommendations on getting through it. And there are many more responses.
I responded "After reading all these responses I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't bother. Not sure I'm cut out for this."
The original poster responded, "Oh no!! Don't let it discourage you! There's so much to learn and so many ways to grow while querying and it only makes your writing better."
Really, I already have health issues including MENTAL health issues, plus I'm freaking 57 years old! I really don't know if I have what it takes to start this journey into querying.
I know I am so close to the querying process and my brain is already thinking about my next novel. But... I don't know. So many negative comments.
Any thoughts?
2 people like this
2 responses
@paigea (35678)
• Canada
13 Jul 20
Take Nike's motto? Just Do It.
A perspective- How many losses do sports teams have vs. wins? They just show up for the next competition.
I can't really imagine the process, but my guess is only listen to thought provoking comments, not attacking comments.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18180)
• Orangeville, Ontario
13 Jul 20
I didn't consider any of the comments on the Twitter discussion attacking. They were being honest as a result of their own experience. I will keep going and hopefully pick up the pace. I just have to keep the comments in mind as "Don't let that stop you but don't be surprised if such-and-such happens."
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jul 20
I don't remember exactly where I read it, or even the exact wording. However, I read somewhere that a new author should not read the reviews of their novel. I think in this way, we have to take any kind of negativity from querying, or any other aspect of the publishing process, with a grain of salt. It could happen to us, but then again, our experience could be so much different than those others.
My advice is to take it day by day and remember the experiences of the best selling authors. So many of them got rejected or had some other setback, and yet they made it.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18180)
• Orangeville, Ontario
13 Jul 20
Thanks for that. I know when getting feedback from beta readers we should take criticism with a grain of salt unless the same comments are made by multiple people. I guess I won't know until I start querying. I do have a list of agents prepared, just have to double check their submission guidelines... and get through one more read through of the novel. I found one typo in those first 3 chapters I read last week.
Thanks for the boost.
