There's Hope Yet

After our Old Colorado City Writers Group meeting on Thursday evening at Agia Sophia (one of the best coffee shops in town!), I met with group founder and leader, Karen Linamen. I had met Karen several years ago at the American Christian Writers Conference and was instantly taken by her humor, so I signed up for all of her workshops and purchased several of her books (no, I'm not a stalker!). A few years later, I saw her again at the same conference, and this time her agent was a speaker as well.

After getting "rejected" by the first agent who asked for my proposal in September, the agent gave me several agents' names and suggested I query them. She also said I could tell them she recommended me, which is a good sign (see my previous entry). Knowing one of the agents is Karen's agent, I asked Karen if she could meet with me for an hour or so to review my proposal to see if there was anything I needed to change before I sent a query to her agent. She agreed to pencil me in, so we're getting together on Tuesday to review it and see what changes I need to make to improve my chances.

I have to say that writers are as interested in seeing other writers succeed as much as they are to see themselves succeed. The network of writers, the writers groups to which I belong, and the friends I've made are critical to me succeeding in the difficult world of publication (it's not what you know, it's who you know). Not only do writers "get" other writers, but they also help each other, willingly and without charge. Now don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for consultations and conferences, but when a published author takes time out of her busy schedule to help another aspiring author, that says a lot about her character, not to mention writers in general. For that, I am very grateful.

So, wish me luck on Tuesday, and send up a prayer or two that I'll be able to successfully query Karen's agent. And I'm hoping that because I've met him in person, sat with him at lunch at the conference, and am "Friends" with him on Facebook, that that will improve my chances of having him sign me on!

And who knows, maybe I will be the one taking time out of my schedule to help another aspiring writer achieve her dreams of becoming published!

Egads, Rejected!

Hi Folks,

This update is way overdue, not because the agent took long, but because I'm just getting around to posting her answer! Here it is:

Stephanie,

I’ve been thinking through whether or not I think I could successfully work with you and place your book with a publisher. I think you have an important story to tell and you write well. What I’m sensing is that I currently have hit my maximum number of projects for right now and I don’t think I would be able to take on your book and work with you in a way that you deserve with a lot of time and attention given to your book.

I understand that you need someone who could dedicate that kind of time to you and I’m just not able to right now.

I hope that you will continue to pursue your book idea and to be able to minister to thousands of people who need to hear your message.

So, even though it's not the answer I was hoping for, it was good on many levels:

1. She didn't send a "form rejection letter" with a rubber-stamped signature.

2. She said the reason she couldn't take me on is because she has the max number of clients, not because I have a lousy topic, my writing is awful, or that was the poorest excuse of a proposal she has ever seen.

3. She said I write well.

4. She encouraged me to pursue my book and later asked me to keep her updated on its progress.

Here's a later comment she wrote:

I do hope you continue to pursue your book and I’d love to hear about it along the way. It is a unique book and that will serve you well as others review it.

So, I am hopeful. She also gave me several agents' names to contact (also a rarity!) and said I could mention that she referred me (good sign!). All is not lost, and I have my fingers crossed, so please pray that I can get these queries written soon and out the door, and that someone will "sign me up!"

How about you? Do you have any advice for me? Feel free to leave it in the comments section.