THE WAITING GAME
For those of you who have read previous posts you would know that I am waiting on two prospects: One is a literary agency who requested my manuscript in January. Two is an open submission call I responded to from Harper Voyager (science fiction imprint of Harper Collins) in October.
Waiting game sucks, let's play Hungry, Hungry Hippos - Homer Simpson
It's a strange kind of limbo you're caught in, especially at this end when you know the answer must be coming soon. Or at least soon-ish. Because although I want to hear back from them, the answer could be 'no'. Then the fantasising about publishers and real, solid books made of cardboard and inky smelling paper disappears in one of those genie 'poofs!'.
I started staring at my inbox around three days before the three month mark, post submission. A week after that had passed I went back to my original emails and read what the agent wrote. It was something like 'please be advised, it will take us at least three months to read your submission...' AT LEAST?
You know I should have been devastated, disappointed or something but I was ok. I am one of the most impatient people on the planet. I bounce up and down and say now, is it now? I want it now!! So this has been a major education in patience and reigning myself in. I'm sure so many authors' fingers are itching to slam the keyboard with messages or nudges to agents. You have to wait. But that's not all you have to do. I'm suspending my pin, poised to pop my fantasies. And I am going to keep writing.
Waiting game sucks, let's play Hungry, Hungry Hippos - Homer Simpson
It's a strange kind of limbo you're caught in, especially at this end when you know the answer must be coming soon. Or at least soon-ish. Because although I want to hear back from them, the answer could be 'no'. Then the fantasising about publishers and real, solid books made of cardboard and inky smelling paper disappears in one of those genie 'poofs!'.
I started staring at my inbox around three days before the three month mark, post submission. A week after that had passed I went back to my original emails and read what the agent wrote. It was something like 'please be advised, it will take us at least three months to read your submission...' AT LEAST?
You know I should have been devastated, disappointed or something but I was ok. I am one of the most impatient people on the planet. I bounce up and down and say now, is it now? I want it now!! So this has been a major education in patience and reigning myself in. I'm sure so many authors' fingers are itching to slam the keyboard with messages or nudges to agents. You have to wait. But that's not all you have to do. I'm suspending my pin, poised to pop my fantasies. And I am going to keep writing.
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