Agent Update

Just a quick update.

I have now sent out to seventeen agents. And I've actually gotten some bites! A few of the agents have requested fulls! I have to admit I did the whole girly squeal thing where I jumped up and down.

Of course, I've also gotten some flat out no's. It's to be expected. I don't think anyone's gotten an agent right off the bat.

Did I mention the requests for fulls? *does happy dance*

So, I think I'm at least heading in the right direction. I'm aware that it's not unusual for an agent to still reject after requesting a full. But still, it is exciting to get that request. ;)

Nothing Common About Courtesy Or Sense

Have you ever heard of "Common Courtesy"? How about "Common Sense"?

In the middle of doing errands today, I realized just how rare it is to find someone with common courtesy or sense.

If you see someone struggling to get in a door, common courtesy dictates that you hold the door for them. Today I noticed a mother struggling with a double stroller and a door, trying to get through but getting hung up. Now, I would like to point out that two men walked right by her. It made me so mad that I ran across the parking lot to get the door for her. And as I passed those two men I asked them where chivalry went? These were grown men, folks. Common courtesy aside, what happened to just being nice?

When you walk out of a store, it is common sense to look both ways before you step into the parking lot. Come on people! We learned the rules of crossing the street when we were in preschool. I witnessed a twenty-something woman walk out of a store right into the parking lot, completely ignorant of the car zooming at her. When the car honked for her to move it along, the woman gave them the stink-eye.

What is wrong with us? Are we really becoming so self-involved, so self-absorbed that we no longer notice or care about other people?

It might be a small thing to hold the door for someone, but that one small thing will grow and spread.

How many seeds of common courtesy/sense can you plant?

Quick Update

I did it.

I took the big plunge and sent out queries to 13 agents.

Yeah, 13. If I'd realized the number, I would have sent out to one more. You know, since 13 is considered unlucky. But, hey, I'm throwing caution to the wind and going for it...remember?

I'll keep ya'll updated on what happens!

Off to cross fingers, toes, eyes and legs. And to throw salt over my shoulder for luck! ;)

Decision Made

I took the weekend to really think about my conundrum. Start sending out or not?

I could go into some long story about how I searched deep within my soul and made a gut-wrenching decision after having a big epiphany. It would be a good story. Really.

But, I didn't.

I read my book. Printed the whole thing out, sat on my couch and read it.

And you know what I found? A story I genuinely like.

Somewhere along the way I lost sight of my initial goal. This book is really for me. It's a story that just won't leave me alone. I "wrote" it down because I was having such a good time with the characters and the story they were telling me.

I went back and read my story and I'm taking the advice of one of my characters.(I do know the characters aren't real)

Sometimes in life you just have to go for it.

So, I'm going for it.

I've had the best time writing this story and I'll write the next one even if no one ever sees this one.

Don't get me wrong, I would love, love, love to see my book published. But, I'm not going to get so stressed out about who likes my story and who doesn't.

I'm going to go with the flow. ;)

What To Do?

It's been awhile since I've posted about my endeavors to become an actual published author.

I haven't stopped working on it. I've just been...taking my time with it.

Actually, I was in a big fire hurry until I had someone read my mss and not really like it. I've had quite a few people read and love it. I have it on good authority that these readers have gushed about it to other people. Now, the people that told me about the gushing didn't have to. I didn't bring it up. I didn't ask them. But they did and they let me know just how much the readers loved my mss.

So, now there's this person that's read a little of it and doesn't really like it.

What do I do? Do I continue with my publishing endeavors or do I hold off and try to rework my mss until the one person likes it?

I do know you can't please everyone and that there's not a single book out there that everyone who's ever read it likes. It's impossible to please everyone.

Now, that said, I don't want to rush this and ruin my chances if my mss still needs tons of work.

What to do, what to do?

What would you do?