When Jacob Wonderbar went out to editors I really thought I was going to be completely cool about the submission process. I’m an agent! I’ve seen this before! I’ve sold projects that were out on submission for six months and even a year! How hard could it be?
So. Being a Big Bad Experienced Agent, how long did it take me to crack?
A week and a half.
A WEEK AND A HALF.
That’s how long it took before I woke up in the middle of the night to check my e-mail and whisper, “It’s not going to sell! It’s not going to sell. I can’t believe it, it’s not going to sell.”
Now, bear in mind that I know that even when books sell they almost never sell in a week and a half. I know that!! A book selling in a week and a half is almost unheard of. But for some reason everything I knew went out the window. It’s like I turned into a doctor who’s afraid of needles.
Luckily I was able to keep my panic within the walls of my apartment, but all the same. The experience gave me a huge new respect for just how hard it is to be waiting to hear about your manuscript.
Writing is hard. It’s hard, it’s time-consuming, it’s solitary… it’s hard. But at least it’s within your control. You can change things, you can work harder and revise more, and it’s all within your reach. Writing is the fun part.
The frustrating thing about submitting to agents and editors is that there’s nothing. you. can. do. about. it. Once you hit send you’re at their mercy. The stress of always wondering if today is the day you’re going to receive good or bad news, of always sneaking peeks at your e-mail, and trying to be cool and composed in front of the people who are invested in your work, and hearing all those nos before you get your yeses…. it’s a steady stress that wears you down.
Everyone has their breaking point. Turns out mine is embarrassingly short.
Now that I’ve gone through this myself, I really really try as much as I can to avoid keeping people waiting. I try so hard to keep waiting to a minimum. At the same time, a certain amount of time is just built into the process simply because it takes a long time to read a lot of different projects.
How do you cope with the waiting?
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Art: George Goodwin Kilburne – Awaiting the Return of the Fleet
J. R. McLemore says
Yes, waiting is the hardest part. I submitted a short story to a magazine and waited nearly six months for a rejection. In that time, I sent four different stories to different magazines and received news back from them before I ever heard from the first magazine. I've sent another story off to them, but this time, I'm not going to sit anxiously by the computer for a response. I'm working on a novel instead. Also, I received word from one magazine that my story made the short list. This news came exactly one month since I submitted it. Unfortunately, that was four months ago. I almost think they forgot about me or lost the story, but then I remember that I almost gave up on that first submission. Patience is a hard, but necessary thing for a writer to learn.
Other Lisa says
As I recall, I left the country a few times…
Anonymous says
Thanks so much for your blog on waiting! So timely–my agent sent my novel out nine days ago… and I'm scrambling to cope in many of the ways others describe.
Can you say more about what's happening during this period from the agent's perspective?
What are you doing during the time the writer is doing nothing but wait? Are you getting back any response at all from editors? When do you call/email them? When someone shows interest, and the book is out to a number of editors, what do you do? How long is too long?
And, as an agent, how do you feel about client's emails? Can I write my agent after a few weeks and just check in? Or is that annoying and I should just keep quiet?
Burning questions…
Thanks so much for your amazingly informative blog!
Lucinda says
***dumb drum***
Pamala Knight says
LOL! It's nice to know that you can sympathize with the huddled masses, Nathan. Thank you for the hilarious post.
Emily White says
I do a lot of writing and a lot of playing CIV to get my mind off of it. If I didn't do this, I'd check my mail twenty times a day instead of two or three.
Blogging Mama Andrea says
The worst are the agents who say 'if you don't hear from us in x amount of time, we passed'.
I always wonder, Well maybe they just didn't get it??!
I try to just work and not think about it ten thousand times day.
I also listen to a lot of music!
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Agents definitely have to wait too, and while we can follow-up periodically and nag, ultimately there's not a huge amount we can do to speed up the process.
Emily-
I have a seriously weakness for CIV.
Nathan Bransford says
Oops – "serious"
David says
If I could frame a blog post, I would frame this one.
Um, as for coping, well, I don't cope well.
Might as well be honest.
Tori says
I'll be honest: I have never sent anything out to an agent or editor. I plan to change that. I am currently participating in Nano, so I'll be revising soon. That makes me slightly sick to think about it, but excited as well. Maybe when I make this book the best it can be I'll start querying agents.
What will I do to cope? I'll start working on my next project. That's the only thing I can do to keep myself sane. Now I can't say I won't worry, but I do think it will help.
Karen Schwabach says
Well, I nag people, of course.
If that doesn't work I switch to carpentry. It's amazing how calming getting pieces of wood to behave squarely and evenly can be.
CKHB says
I blog.
Jana says
I drive my alpha reader and my best friend insane. They are the only two people I allow myself to vent to. ::laugh:: In return, they get a lot of Starbucks trips — and a willing ear when they need it.
hollywoodclown says
Sending query letters to agents is new to me but going to auditions as an actor is not. After an audition you don't hear back from the casting director unless they want to see you again. I go, do the best audition I can, don't think about it again and concentrate on the next audition. I do the same for submitting to literary agents. I press "send", start researching the next lit agent I want to submit to or work on some other aspect of my book that needs my attention.
Keep moving forward. A rolling stone gathers no moss!
beckylevine.wordpress.com says
I've only found one thing that helps–keep writing on something else. So have you started the next book yet? š
Paul says
I try to keep writing. I was pretty successful with this during the query process. Now I have an agent and my manuscript is on submission. It's been about a week now and I'm doing pretty good with staying focused but definitely am more distracted than during the query process.
Tracy Hahn-Burkett says
Oh my God, Nathan, you know that now EVERYONE will want you to be his or her agent–if that wasn't already true!
I'm still drafting my novel, so I'm still coping with the angst of traveling from "I absolutely CAN write the book I mean to write and it will, after a couple of dozen drafts, be every bit as good as I mean for it to be" to "What in the world makes me think I can write anything more meaningful than my grocery list?" and back again in ten minutes or less. You mean it gets worse than this?
Seriously, it's nice to know that someone who knows the biz as well as you do can get just as anxious on the artistic end of things as the rest of us. Thanks for writing this post.
Oh, and when all else fails: chocolate.
Gordon Jerome says
gordon-
I went back and put a link in the main post that provides the whole story. JACOB WONDERBAR is a middle grade novel about three kids who trade a corndog for a spaceship, blast into space, break the universe, and have to find their way home.
Thanks. And I hope it does well. It sounds like a very interesting story. If it comes out on Kindle or Nook, I'll be sure to get a copy.
SZ says
Agreed. A personal best in posting today me thinks.
Posing / posting ! lol
Marilyn Peake says
I should have mentioned one more thing Iāve done while waiting on book news. I submitted my fantasy short story entitled BRIGHT MOON, set in modern-day China, to a blog mentioned in one of Nathanās earlier blog posts: the GLASS CASES Blog run by a very nice and talented publishing industry assistant. I was delighted when it was accepted for publication there! Hereās a link to the short story. Hope itās OK that I mentioned this here. š
SZ says
Word verification cold be a fin weekend blot too.
Creative A says
Work on other projects. That is the best, and one of the rare, methods that actually dissolve the stress. It's like finding a hobby. You have to take your mind off the submission, or it will kill you. Trying to forget doesn't work so good…you have to find something else that takes up your interest.
I'm really thinking of all those times as a kid when I mailed in cereal box tops for and extra special cool toy, and then had to wait, and wait, and wait for it to come. I used to play all sorts of games to make myself forget about it. The best way was to pretend it had never happened and do something else, so when the toy finally came, it was a huge an awesome surprise.
Still works. š
-Mandy
Michael says
I continue checking my email and hoping. I search for new agents interested in my genre.
And as a P.S., let me say that I'm very appreciative of your quick responses. Even though they haven't been (so far) what I was hoping to hear, they allowed me to move forward. I appreciate that very much.
Michael
Joseph L. Selby says
I'm absurdly connected, so I try to combat the compulsion to check email with logic. The only time I get an email and don't know it is if I'm asleep, in a movie theater, or on the subway. As such, I try to ignore the impulse to check. I generally split that time between working on other projects and resenting everyone who hasn't gotten back to me yet. š
suzie townsend says
This was a great post for all the writers out there š
Kaitlyne says
Okay, I haven't sent out submissions yet so I don't know how relevant my advice will be, but I'm a worrier in general and I tend to stress over anything I have to wait on. I've improved a lot over the past couple of years, however.
Basically, what's worked best for me is finding good, relaxing activities. When I get stressed out, for instance, I love to sit down with a good book and just read for a little while. It gives me a chance to get away and usually is interesting enough that I find myself thinking more about that in my spare time that whatever I'm worrying about.
I also have taken up martial arts, and that's the best stress reliever I've found yet. It's just the sheer physical activity that does it. Ever since I started I've found it much easier to relax and my stress doesn't build up. So I definitely recommend sports as a good way to deal with stress.
It's nice to hear that even someone who "knows better" would have the same reaction that the rest of us do. Just knowing other people feel the same way helps.
Joshua says
Whiskey and exercise. Never at the same time, but always a lot of both. In truth, I keep my expectations low, just knowing that I'll never get even a rejection response, and when I get even a rejection letter, expectations are surpassed. I think it's the background in theatre that helps with the rejection. I just shrug it off and go on with my day.
-Joshua
JDuncan says
Actually, I found coping with submitting reasonably easy. Yes, I checked my emails regularly the first couple of weeks after sending out to agents. I tempered this potential anxiety with the expectation that the answer would be no. I found this to be, while certainly not the most optimistic view, far more realistic since I knew full well the odds were heavily stacked against me. Then, I had the fortune of getting a yes.
While knowing full well that everything in publishing happens at what could kindly be described as glacial, I discovered my excitement and anxiety were far greater waiting for things to happen once the yes had been confirmed. It is far different I discovered to have anticipation over something that might happen, maybe, if you're really fortunate, compared to knowing things will happen and having to wait for them to do so.
However, it's a far better sort of anxiety than the vast unknown of the submission process. So, I ponder my next story and wait, knowing full well that things haven't even approached being slow, yet.
therese says
One time I put a manuscript in the mail and the following week my hubby was in a major car crash.
By the time my manuscript came back, I'd forgotten I sent it. But hubby was improving and when I opened the envelope the editor said: "Has merit, I recommend you submit to…"
If you don't want to taking care of someone else to become distracted, start a new project. You may be an agent but writers WRITE!
Grimmster24 says
Since I am still finishing my novel-to-be before querying agents, I can only speak from experience with freelance writing. What do I do while waiting to be accepted by magazines?
1) Check the mailbox obsessively every day (often preceded by staring out the window waiting for the mailman),
2) check my Gmail every half an hour
3) pour over the list of submissions I've made, trying to figure out which magazines will reject me for a certain month (I'm just being realistic about the above-average possibility of said "NO", haha).
But honestly? I also read lots of blogs, like yours. I guess it helps take the edge off this nerve-wracking business to know that somehow, sometime, something positive WILL happen.
Lisa R says
When I first started querying THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO the waiting was horrible. I used to check my email every ten seconds for responses but now I just pretend that I didn't query at all. That way when I get an email it's a pleasant surprise. I too work on other projects. Actually in the three years I've been querying for my first book, I've written another and am now querying for that one as well. What really calmed me down with the waiting was realizing that even when an agent LOVES your book, they still are not going to sign you so it kind of made me resigned to the waiting. I heard things like, "your book is a home run", "your book is compelling and gripping", "you're a great writer, this is really great stuff" and "I couldn't stop thinking about your book for WEEKS after I read it" and yet none of those agents have signed me. Two of them are still deciding and I pepper them once every 2 months with a reminder email that says hey I'm still here, remember me, you loved my book and you said you'd put together some notes for me? Nothing ever happens. So now the waiting doesn't bother me at all. I've moved on with my life. I keep writing books and keep querying and focus on things besides the fact that I'm waiting. I figure that if most of the agents who read my work like it that much eventually, someday, someone will sign me. There might be a kid out there somewhere right now who is going to grow up to be my future literary agent (LOL) as long as the publishing industry doesn't go in the toilet before that. I used to be really anxious but now when I see I have an email from an agent it's not even the first one I read.
Renee Pinner says
I'm not nearly as far along in this process, but I love you blog. I think the main reason I love it is that you are so very human and down to earth. This post proves it. I sincerely hope that your wait is nearly over!
Lora T. says
Wow, I'm impressed that you made it a week and a half. Every time I send out an e-mail and I'm anxious for a reply (even if it's something way less important than a query) I compulsively check my e-mail every few minutes in between checking Facebook.
Andrea Cremer says
Also cracked within a week and a half, decided I was a failure, consoled myself by reading stories of authors I admired who were rejected…then my book sold. And I realized how crazy I'd gotten while in the waiting room.
Beth Terrell says
1) Tell self that this book is good, and the agent will surely love it.
2) Tell self that this book sucks, and the agent will regale his/her friends and co-workers with stories about the horrible-ness of it.
3) Remind self that Jim Rollins found his agent on his 40th query, another published friend found one on query 60.
4) Add to list of 100 agents who accept novels in my genre.
5) Color code list of agents, based on order of preference.
6) Tell self that the agent I submitted to will probably not be interested, and that's okay because he/she probably wasn't the right agent for me anyway.
7) Tell self that the rejection I'm sure to get doesn't necessarily mean the book is awful. Maybe the agent has a full load/has a stomach ache/has already signed a similar book/doesn't like books with pickup trucks in them.
8) Work on next book.
9) Work on marketing first book(published by tiny press), while assuring self that acceptance by said tiny publisher means I am a good writer, even though the agent I submitted to will almost certainly reject my manuscript.
10) Daydream about the wonderful relationship I will have with the agent when he/she accepts my book–and how much money my book will make for both of us.
11) Check email and mailbox obsessively.
12) Tell everyone that nothing will probably come of the submission, while secretly hoping that it will.
13) Read articles about great authors who were rejected multiple times and went on to become enormously successful.
14) Repeat above coping strategies as needed.
Polenth says
I've not submitted a novel, but with short stories, I just got used to waiting. You have to, as you need to write the next one immediately.
I'm hoping that's good practise for novel waiting.
Josh says
The time machine has been a big help.
Anonymous says
Just do your thang, don't wait for nobody.
Write. Submit. Repeat.
That goes for after you sell, too. Just keep it up: Write, submit, repeat.
Stephen Prosapio says
Nathan,
I've followed your blog for a long time (Pre-Twitter even!). I've enjoyed your blog posts immensely. This may not have been your best blog post, but it's the one that got a real "LOL" out of me. Thanks for opening up and sharing that!
I TRY to follow the advice I heard shared by a successful author at a writer's conference who'd gotten the advice from HER agent…. "Go out and write ANOTHER great book."
Easier said than done. I feel that if, during the wait time, I've neither killed nor maimed anyone nor broken off relations with my entire network of friends and family, I've been successful at waiting!
Annette Lyon says
No advice. I'm just snickering because this post brought me joy for an agent to see the other side of the fence for once. š
Anonymous says
Just curious, did the idea for the name come from looking at Wonderbra? Cuz that'd be funny.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
No, it came from here. Sorry to disappoint!
Anonymous says
I guess I don't cope well. I had a couple of partials asked for (and countless "no's") and actually had positive comments from one place. But…now I'm losing interest in the story and the idea of reworking it at the editing phase makes me feel…bleh.
and I'm on a different idea now. So I feel like dumping it and moving on.
Is this normal??? I hope I'm not blowing it. I really feel like it was never going to be picked up. I'll have to be anonymous because I'm feeling a bit embarassed…
Meghan Ward says
Thanks for sharing this, Nathan!
Leis says
Nathan, you're a star for sharing this very personal side of you. Sure wish I could snag you as my agent š
(Ha, WV is 'bahshen' — think the Goddess of Acceptance is laughing her head off at me?)
Donna Hole says
LOL; welcome to the ranks of the wannabe writer Nathan. Thanks for sharing your experiences as a writer, as well as an Agent.
Maya Panika says
I don't.
Or, I do, for a bit, then it starts to wear me down. 10 weeks after I sent the full ms, it's getting seriously depressing, I'm re-submitting to other agents today, at least that way, I feel I'm doing something.
Solvang Sherrie says
Omigosh I've been going nuts! I've been trying to keep the email off and schedule a lot of time out of the house away from my computer so I don't keep checking for messages. I've lost two pounds because I'm too nauseated to eat. And this is just with several agents reviewing my manuscript! I'm hoping it will be better when it's going to editors, but based on your post I guess that's just wishful thinking …
Claude Forthomme says
Gee, Nathan, your blog was great and got everybody going! You pressed a button and an avalanche of suggestions poured out – I wonder which ones seemed most useful to you? Eat chocolate (yesss,mmm, but sooo fattening…)? Start another writing project?
That's what most people suggested.
It seems to me you're very, very busy as it is! I'm sure if you go back to agenting you forget the writing…I've done that practically all my life (I mean hold a full time job and write at night and week-ends) and it has helped me never to worry about waiting (I actually FORGET there's someone out there I'm supposed to hear from…)
For me,the worst is not the waiting, it's the REJECTION!
So you know what? After I've finished a novel, I stop writing altogether – sometimes for long periods, up to several months – and…PAINT! I paint anything: landscapes, portraits, horses…It's so much better than either writing or reading: A TOTAL CHANGE!Sports is probably also another excellent escape route…