As I alluded in my last post, I don’t have any submittals out with a traditional publisher right now, nor with any agent. I say that based on information given on an agent’s website.
Back in January I submitted In Front of Fifty Thousand Screaming People to a literary agent. I had pretty much decided this would be may last attempt at a legacy deal for this work, and probably for any work. I never met this agent, but we’ve interacted some on-line via blogs and e-mails. Based on these contacts and on her statement of what she represents, I felt that she would be the best agent for this work and for my career in general.
Alas, more than sixty days have passed since I submitted my query letter, and I have not received a response. The agent’s website says that no answer within sixty days means “we aren’t interested”. So it appears she isn’t interested. Maybe my query was poorly written. Maybe her representation needs aren’t what I thought they were. Maybe she has a similar book and author she’s already representing. No problem; a tacit no is a no.
I’m not going to send her an e-mail and withdraw my submittal. If I receive an e-mail in a few days saying she’s interested, I won’t stand on a sixty day statement. But I know that’s highly unlikely.
So I’ve made up my mind: I’m not going to submit it again. I’ve submitted it to one editor and five agents, each saying no. The traditional publishing route says I’ve only just started. I should gather a basket full of rejections, continuing to seek an acceptance. After all, many best sellers have had fifty or more rejections (e.g. Harry Potter, the Chicken Soup series). I’ve only just started. Persevere! Don’t give up so quickly.
I’m not giving up. I’ve just decided to seek a different path to success. The traditional path is broken for most writers. Success that way is still possible, but highly improbable. Recent (last two years) events have shown that alternate paths are available. E-books are quickly overwhelming print books, Internet purchasing grows while brick & mortar store sales stagnate. The ease of self-publishing, both e- and print, causes a writer to more carefully consider all options.
I’m rambling. I’ve said all this before, as have many proponents of self-publishing, and you all are tired of it. I hope to have Fifty Thousand Screaming People self-published by May.
I don’t get tired of the ramblings – I share them! It’s good to know I’m not the only one thinking the same things. I think it’s such a shame that authors spend hours and hours on works, and more hours on proposals, queries, etc. – only to receive no reply at all. Not to mention the time we spend waiting for a reply, when it’s possible the agent/editor saw the email immediately, decided “no” within 2 minutes, yet never responded. But I’m thrilled that self-pubbing is available. Next week I plan to get the cover done for the next installment of children’s series (which is out-selling my memoir 7-1 this month, despite being only 10% of its length). I am excited beyond all reason, given its modest success. But it feels great that it’s something within my control to do.
Thanks Susan. What kind of sales are you having that they make you excited? It must be at least 7 per month if you know the ratio is 7:1. I’ve sold x copies of “Mom’s Letter” in 13 months, Y copies of “Documenting America” in 10 months, and 3 copies of “Too Old To Play” in almost 3 months. I’m not exactly discouraged, but I’m not excited either.
For March – my memoir has sold 2, the kids’ book 17. It just amazes me how much better that “small” (around 5500 words) book sells. I think you should price DA higher – 2.99 at least. It’s substantial!
BTW – saw your comment somewhere about the comment the ‘well known author’ had made about self-publishing not being publishing at all. I’ll admit I was a bit discouraged/taken aback by that as well!
Those sound like good numbers to me. I’d be excited too. This wee and next could possibly be good weeks for my sales. The spring issue of my college alumni magazine will hit mailboxes on or before next Wednesday, the 38th, with a profile of me in it and a mention of “Documenting America”. We’ll see if some sales results. This week I also have a couple of marketing things for DA planned. So you must have been one of my sales of that. I’ll think about bumping it up to $2.99. Possibly I’ll do so when “The Candy Store Generation” comes out.
We both know that “well known author”, and benefitted from his largess last year.