Maybe it's the process of contemporary querying, but these numbers seem to me more comically low than intimidatingly *high*. I've queried more agents, both in in-person meetings and in correspondence, than most of these apparent over-a-lifetime sbumissions add up to. And I am good - with a great story - no question. I am acquainted with plenty of authors, too - and, these days, as far as I can tell, querying 100 or 200 agents is in no way overdoing it. The guy who only managed 160 in his lifetime, and is considered the most-rejected author by this list, must have measured the term "rejection" by a different standard than I understand. Were these rejections from agents, or the post-agenting-process rejections by PUBLISHING houses?
That simply has to be it. Because the rejections from agents list, as far as I can tell, should never - ever - stop at TWENTY. Holy smokes, if I'd been agented twenty queries in ... ? I'd consider myself a veritable wirting goddess of some sort.
***
Also ... not for nothing, but who actually has the luxury to gnash their teeth like this at every rejection? No, I mean seriously. Nobody loves it - but is it actually the case that there are people with time for histrionics such as those described here?
I don't know, maybe I am simply not human enough, that I don't consider my work to be inviolable by other people's opinions. It's bewilderng to consider a mindset that affords rejection such a high allowance for reaction. Sure - there are those who would think my attitude that every R is "one step closer to success" to be insufferably Pollyanna, or unrealistic, or maybe requiring too much sanguinity - but anyone who knows me is aware I am hardly a cockeyed, grinning fool when it comes to my writing (or anything else). I refuse to let the bastards get me DOWN. But that doesn't make me a delusional, unable to see the real lack of value in my talents. I just can't understand expending much energy on non-starters. There are so many options available to me (*and* to agents) I don't think I can approach this Highlander-style, and decide "there can be only one" ... and cry and wail, when that "one" doesn't like me back ...
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2 comments:
You are wise to curb your Highlander enthusiasm. Were you raised by a stoic?
Agents!
Any among them reading this ought to request your book just based on your obvious ability to WORK! If I were an agent, the worst part of the job might be dealing with whiny self-proclaimed artists who don't know how lucky they are to be represented.
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