Comments on: Can’t Hit Send?

By: Matthew C. Kriner

Matthew C. Kriner — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:12:00 +0000

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By: Michelle DeRusha@Graceful

Michelle DeRusha@Graceful — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:12:23 +0000

>Oh my gosh I can relate. I literally sat at my desk with my finger hovering on the mouse, terrified to click. My husband stood next to me: "What in the world are you waiting for?" he asked. And then we laughed. It was sort of silly. But sort of not. It was a big moment..although it turned out it wasn't the first time I had to click send! I got carpal tunnel it took me so many clicks (just kidding).

By: tahlianewland.com

tahlianewland.com — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:16:57 +0000

>I discovered that if you don't submit it to all possibilities at once, then when/if they all reject you, you can look at your ms again before sending it out to the next lot of potential agents or publishers. You will have had a few months break by then and be able to look at it fresh.

By: KH

KH — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:22:59 +0000

>I can so identify with this topic! It took me six months to "hit send" to send the initial synopsis to the small publisher who eventually published my novel. "Eventually" isn't even the right word. They asked for the complete manuscript almost immediately, and offered me a contract a couple of weeks later.
Hit send! They might say "yes!"

By: A.A. Rosenberg

A.A. Rosenberg — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:13:42 +0000

>"The best is yet to come." They said, before hitting the 'send' button. 🙂

By: Bonnie Lacy

Bonnie Lacy — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:54:26 +0000

>Thanks so much for this post.

It gets discouraging. We do our best to write, to get it done, (mine is a book now - a real novel - not just a dream) and try to learn the ropes of the industry. And just as you said, learning to "do this, don't do that." When I read a novel, though, I find many of the "don't do thats" and wonder who to listen to. Then I question my own work. And don't hit send.

I think by not giving up, we arrive to the top of the slush pile.

I'm not giving up. I still have a lot to learn, but today, I'm hitting send!

By: Emily Gray Clawson

Emily Gray Clawson — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:35:39 +0000

>Oh, thank you for this. I definitely needed it today. It seems that as soon as people learn that you are an aspiring writer they feel it's their job to tell you why you'll never make it. There was even a class scheduled at a local conference with a title along the lines of "Why you'll never get published." – not necessarily what I need to hear. For me I overcome the fear by learning all I can, working diligently at it and then reminding myself that every successful author out there has done and felt the same things. Just finishing something already sets me apart, taking that next step is just a natural progression. It's scary but invigorating, too.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:13:25 +0000

>thank you for this great post.. I feel like you've given me permission to hit send 🙂

By: Ruth A. Taylor

Ruth A. Taylor — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:19:06 +0000

>It's almost kind of like looking for a job. If you need a job, there is always going to be an interview. After the first one (or more), you recognize your mistakes. The rejection gives you more experience and the ability to perform better for the next interview.

By: SM Johnston

SM Johnston — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:43:27 +0000

>This is a great post. I didn't query agents who who my top preference first, which I think was good as it gave me time to see if my pitch was working. I honed it and got more requests with my new pitch.

On a side note I have you on my wish list to send, but you're not currently open to unsolicited submissions AND aren't currently seeking Christian themed Speculative YA Fiction.

I think it's also important to keep writing while you're querying. A friend of mine got an agent and a huge contract on her latest novel, and she'd had plenty of novels passed on before that.

Thanks for the post.

By: Kelly Combs

Kelly Combs — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:57:00 +0000

>This post reminds me of the movie "Facing The Giants" when the young boy is afraid to go out for football. To paraphrase, the boy asks his dad, "What if I don't make the team?" And his dad says, "How can you be any more off the team than you are right now?"

How much more unpublished can you be? Hit send!

By: June G

June G — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:48:57 +0000

>I sure needed to read this! I'm nearing the end--completed all major revisions and checking for typos. An editor from Disney-Hyperion even told me my summary was good and she totally gets a feel for my characters and what the story is about from my query and yet--I'm nervous to put it all together and press SEND.

I even notice I've slowed down finishing up. I guess it's fear of the ultimate judgment now that's it's crunch time.

Thanks for the encouragement!

By: Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:38:06 +0000

>Lordy, yes! In addition to the fear of the boneheaded mistake I have the fear that this is my one and only shot. If I query and get rejected, then I feel like I can't requery. So many sites say you shouldn't requery the same editor or agent unless at least a year has passed and the work is significantly different. Rules again! Of course, I did requery an editor after taking her advice, but I felt like she'd given my that opening by making some suggestions. She was very open to being asked again and gave me the nicest rejection I've ever had, even suggesting another house she thought would be a good fit. My fear could be unfounded, but that's a big part of the hesitation in hitting send for me . . .

By: Sarah Forgrave

Sarah Forgrave — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:15:38 +0000

>Oh boy, this is a constant struggle. As a trying-to-recover perfectionist, I always see something that I could tweak. I know it's time to hit "send" when I've changed a word, then changed it back to the original word at least 3 times. 🙂 Great post!