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Queries Out!

This week’s queries:

Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich
Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media Group
Uwe Stender of TriadaUS
Scott Miller of Trident Media Group
Eric Myers of The Spieler Agency

And three returns:

Merrilee Heifetz of Writer’s House
Kat Tienstra of KT Public Relations and Literary Services
Uwe Stender of TriadaUS (my, he’s friendly and fast!)

That’s the writing gig for Monday night!

Catherine

Why Post All the Rejections?

I wonder if you wonder why I’m busy posting about all the queries and rejections that I get in my journal. During a rejection streak like this one, it may seem like I am a glutton for punishment.

I’ve never made any bones about the idea that this journal is to keep me submitting and keep me honest. Actually, during the streaks of rejection, when you do want to quit, it is very helpful. Besides, I am truly one of those corny writers who sees every step of this journey, rejections included, as forward movement.

If I were a writer who actually had a large fan base, I would probably switch this over to a journal where I would spend my time trying to be witty and clever. Right now that would take away from my actual writing time Except, you know, for the wit that might creep in naturally, unschooled and unnoticed, and consequently unedited.

This journal is a log. And it’s a resolution. Oh, it is one more thing. It is also a picture for other writers. I want to document the length and breadth of this journey. I hope some day, especially after I get my movie deal due to Hulk Hercules and can snag an agent with a film deal, some day that other aspiring writers will say, “Oh, it took Catherine XXX (days, months, years, put in your own time span. Please don’t say epochs…). I too can do this!”

Right now I’m in a rejection streak. And I’m not doing much more than sending things out, because I have to take care of some other facets of my life, especially some academic writing. But I am keeping my promise and commitment to myself.

To clarify then: NOT a body count, but rather a journey. NOT masochism, but forward movement. NOT discouragement, but encouragement.

You too can do this! You too can get rejected! And you too will eventually be accepted more and more.

Back to life as I know it.

Catherine

Turn Around is Fair Play

Rejected very politely by Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger. I decided to immediately send a request to another agent at that agency who interests me, Sara Crowe. Well, it’s a way to procrastinate from my daily duties just a little more. 😉

Missing the writing a lot. I don’t think that paper I’m going to do comparing English and Japanese English as a Second Language techniques is going to take the edge off either, but duty calls.

The most interesting thing I’ve done today is look into buying a pair of red contacts.

Catherine

ETA: Crowe turned around a same day rejection.

The Library

So, there I was in the Iowa City library, waiting to have dinner with my friend who had flown in from Tokyo to chat with his professors about his thesis. It was going to be the first time I had seen Tetsuya in five years, and I was excited about it. However, because of one of his meetings, we wouldn’t be getting together until 6:30 pm.

A quick trip into the House of Aromas and one bubble tea later, it was 4:30. Bryon and I went into the library to kill some time, because it needed killing. I’d already checked stray essays while drinking bubble tea, and I planned to scoop (more) snow later, so I wanted to do something that wasn’t too taxing for a while.

Bryon found a Peter David Battlestar Galactica novel that he had some definite opinions about. I started cruising the library. One of the things I do now is I look at the shelves for the books of people I know.

Continue reading “The Library”

The Fable of Yellow Cat

Sometimes something odd shows up in your inbox. One of my coworkers sent me information about submissions being accepted for a chapbook of poetry for the local organization Friends of the Animal Center Foundation.

After some trimming, I succeeded in getting The Fable of Yellow Cat, a piece I wrote for my husband in 2006, off to them. I thought doing something creative might help me ease the winter doldrums, and I was right.

The Fable of Yellow Cat is about the loss of our beloved Toby. It was the only piece about an animal I had. Bryon won’t mind if I share Toby with the world. Toby certainly wouldn’t mind.

I miss Toby. He was such a good boy. Every time I read the piece about him, I cry. And I guess I’m okay with the world knowing that.

Catherine

Not Quite Technologically Illiterate

I just successfully made mp3s. That’s pretty amazing. So now, I’m done with Jools’ music interview, just as soon as I get the little blighters attached to my email and sent out. Ah! Dial up! Some of us still have it. 🙂

Taxes went well today. Japan is on from probably June 13-June 30th ish. Lots of friends I need to see. Hmmm…could I write my way across Japan for a couple of weeks this summer?

And finally, Moira Sullivan from Maria Carvainis rejected me.

Catherine

Fly By Rejection

Mentioning that Laurie McClean of Larsen Pomada sent me a rejection. It was a little over written for a form letter, but I applaud her attempt at trying to make a writer feel it was her, not them. She could scale back a bit, but I think that other agents could take a look at some of her boiler plate and use it to their advantage.

I particularly liked this paragraph:

Assume I’m wrong. Persevere until your books reach the goals you set for them. I can’t suggest a publisher or an agent who might be interested in a particular writer’s work, but directories, your publishing network, and the Association of Authors’ Representatives might lead you to the agent you need. Persistence rewards talent. I can’t make a living saying no, but as author Joe Girard says: “Every no gets you closer to yes.”

So, golfer’s clap, Laurie. Tighten it a bit, but at least authors can’t charge you with the idea that you don’t pay attention. Also, you don’t feel that you are burdened, the way some of these letters occasionally do.

Catherine