Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Busy-ness -- Jennie


There are three things I learned from my first writers’ conference: 1) it is infinitesimally possible to get published, 2) if you happen to be the lucky one in a ba-zillion who gets the chance, the actual process takes forever, and 3) if the book is printed during your lifetime, you won’t make much money.

All that aside, I’m still hoping, still trying, to get my story in print.

But the publishing world is busy. Really busy.

Agencies which promise a query response in 5-10 days are replying in four weeks, and others that promise 3 weeks are taking six. But they are replying.

Even on a Saturday—the morning after the Fourth of July—agencies were working; an incredibly polite assistant emailed an inquisition to whether her office could have a bit more time with my manuscript before Deciding.

Sure, I replied, renewed in hope after weeks of … nothing.

I pictured the assistant, blurry-eyed, coffee in hand as she sorted through a flooded Inbox. I felt for her.

This reminded me: I was humane once. It was, let’s see, the time before May 29, the time before I sent out the manuscript all over the nation.

I’ve been abominable.

Is it true that good things come to those who wait?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The path to publication seems designed to drive a writer insane! Arg.

Anonymous said...

Despite what appears to be an incredible tedious process, at least you're getting contact from someone, somewhere, somehow and that alone is an accomplishment..