Launch Day

[jack_babalon]

After 16 months and four drafts I sent out the first round of Query Letters to prospective literary agents today. Ten letters (almost all of which were addressed in New York, NY I noticed) along with seven emails to those few that accepted such submissions. I even got my first rejection a few minutes ago, which read -

Thanks for taking the time to query me and/or send your writing sample.
While your project sounds interesting, it’s not what I'm looking for at this
time. For specific details on what I'm presently seeking, please visit our
blog at
http://blog.wylie-merrick.com/2009/01/roberts-needs-list-as-of-109.html.
Good luck and thank you for your query!

Regards,

Robert Brown, Author Representative
Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency
Member AAR

Taking it in stride. I know there'll be plenty more where that came from. Still it feels good taking this first step towards my dream (knowing first steps are no guarantee naturally). Tomorrow the goal is to double that (or until I run out of stamps). For now my tongue is coated in envelope glue, nicotine and coffee while my printer is in desperate need of a break. Outside it's a cold, dreary winter day... one that is completely indifferent to the fact that we're almost a full month into Spring.

Scared and optimistic at the same time.

Nervous, uncertain as well.

Nothing else to do now but keep at it.

Cross your fingers, cast your spells and include me in your heathen prayers please.

Thanks,
Jack

Comments

[entropic-om.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congrats on taking that scary step!!

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[novadrome.livejournal.com]

Wow. I assumed you were already a published author. Good luck to you!

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Not yet. Here's hoping. Thanks, I might need it:)

[ammutbite.livejournal.com]

i have unwavering faith that someday soon one of the submissions will bring an acceptance letter.
damn the torpedoes.

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Glad you think so, it's nice to hear.
Full speed ahead!

[clevortrevor]

Yeesh. I used to write those rejection letters for a living. It's a big debate whether or not to include constructive comments about why it's being rejected, but I always did. I hate those form letters.

Just remember, it really is very often about what specifically they're looking for, rather than them not liking it or not thinking you're talented.

Good luck!!

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a little criticism would have been nice and probably could've helped me some in the future, but it is what it is.

Thanks for the well wishes and the kind words.

[catwalk.livejournal.com]

i am excited and hopeful for you :-)

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Appreciate that, M. I'm excited and hopeful as well... just with the addition of a hundred other emotions at once:)

[gaeasdaughter.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your first rejection slip! Hang it on the wall. Some day people will shake their heads at it in disbelief. It will be a collector's prize.

You are always in all of my heathen prayers. Stay optimistic. You ARE that good!

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

You're much too kind, thank you.

[vomikronnoxis.livejournal.com]

Best of luck, man! Build that golem!

~rl

(Realms of Fantasy once sent me not one standardized rejection notice, but TWO -- as if to say, "a single rejection letter cannot possibly express how little we're interested in printing this."

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sir. My golem just needs some legs to stand on... then I can send her off to battle superstitious villagers, torch-wielding mobs and book critics!

(Damn that is harsh, probably an oversight on their part... incidentally I'm still waiting to hear from 'Polluto' to be properly rejected).

[daucus-carota.livejournal.com]

Don't be too surprised when this shows up on your doorstep in a few days to a week... figured you could use the good company!

Congrats on this, not first but, next step towards your dream!

Fingers are crossed.

xxx

[jackbabalon23.livejournal.com]

Thanks Jean, that really made my day.

Damn, though, that was a harsh critique for the Diary of Anne Frank.

[daucus-carota.livejournal.com]

Sylvia Plath is the one that got me!
xxx