I participated in an online conference over the weekend and really enjoyed the panel I was part of. The other agents were so knowledgeable and the questions asked were excellent.
One question we were asked was what advice do we have for a writer who’s had three agents request their manuscript, but is too scared to send the manuscript in for review.
This question stood out because it isn’t one we usually get, but it’s totally relatable. We have all faced fears and have had fear hold us back. The answers from the other agents were wonderful. One agent reminded the author that we agents are all people too, so it’s good to remember that and to not be scared of us. Another other agent was able to relate to this writer’s question because she also is a writer and had faced fear of rejection in the past.
I suggested that the writer continue to build confidence by having critique parters and friends read their book first and that the critique partners could offer feedback to the writer before it is sent in for the agent reviews. I also suggested continuing to attend writers’ conferences to build confidence. By learning at conferences, you take yourself out of the “newbie” level and move up in experience. Knowledge should help writers feel more confident in their submissions. It always feels better to understand the process and to have some experience under your belt. It eliminates that “first day of school” feeling that can lead to crippling fear.
It’s also important to remember that rejections happen to everyone. If we don’t take the step to submit, we will never be published. It takes facing our fears to reach our goals–not just in the publishing process, but in all aspects of life. And yes, rejection happens, but that can be a learning experience and a step along the journey to publication. The road doesn’t end with a rejection if you keep pressing on to reach your goals. So keep trying! Keep praying! God is with you through this all. He will give you the strength and confidence to face the fears that stand in your way as you do the works He has laid on your heart.
What advice would you give to this writer?
Why You Must Prioritize Transformation Over Tragedy
There’s so much pressure when a writer makes a book her first publication goal. Why not write devotions for devotional publications? Or articles or blogs for magazines and online publications? I wrote those kinds of shorter works for several years before I started writing books, and doing so gave me the opportunity to work with dozens of different editors. I also learned that each kind of writing has its own form, so eventually that made transitioning my writing to books a smoother process than it would have been had I simply dove into book writing. And . . . LOL . . . you learn that rejection is part of the process and part of your own personal growth.
What helped me was considering submission as a part of my yearly writer’s journey. I would attend at least one conference a year. I would always pitch at that converence. It’s good practice at the very least and you can pitch a magazine article, it doesn’t have to always be a book. If requested, I submit. It’s just a yearly event and the more I do it, the better I will become!
Rejection is a sort of death
of a dream that we hold dear,
and we may find we’re short of breath,
strangled by the fear
that this will mark how it will be
if we have another go
and the world is gonna see
that we don’t really know
what we’re doing in this place,
our clothes so out of date,
mascara smeared on weary face
and holding too much weight.
It’s then God’s love will see us through
if we will just allow it to.
No, I don’t wear mascara.
Well, usually not.