Just One More

Lately I've been checking my mail like a high school senior waiting for acceptance letters from colleges.  You may think I'm crazy, but don't worry.  It's all part of the master plan.

I'm going to be really fabulous author someday.  New York Times bestseller.  It's going to happen.  (Isn't that the secret wish of every blogger??  Haha...oh well).  Here's my issue: no one really likes me yet.

My first novel (The Elsie Files) was published in February of this year, but it was published by this tiny outfit in Oklahoma with almost no marketing contacts.  I've sold a handful of copies and really haven't made much money at all.  They offered to pick up my second book, but I really didn't want to go with them again.  I want to play in the big leagues, so I have to actually start figuring out how to do that.

In looking for a home for my second novel, I spent countless hours querying literary agents and publishing houses.  I have buckets of rejection letters.  Two agents are currently reading my second book to see if they like it, so keep your fingers crossed for me.  Nothing concrete has happened, so I started getting discouraged.

I noticed a lot of places that rejected me want a writer with more publishing credits.  I don't have a third novel in mind at the moment, so I decided to start querying magazines.  I figured I could write a few magazine articles, earn a bit of cash, and stock up on publishing credits before my next round of queries.

Well, it's not quite that easy (are you surprised?).  I worked for days to craft another round of queries, these ones personalized for specific magazines.  I pitched ideas while trying to sound smart and pithy at the same time.  All I got for my trouble was more rejection letters and e-mails to add to my collection.

I had a lot of hope for this one specific magazine.  I thought my idea for them was really good.  I got their "this material just isn't right for us" letter in the mail today, and I sank into my couch, disappointed again.  I texted Rex and said, "Aargh!  Just got rejected from another magazine where I thought I might actually have a shot.  This stinks.  How many times should I get rejected before I give up?"

I went about my business for the day, and when I sat down to check my e-mail I had a message from Pat Stone, the editor of GreenPrints magazine.  He said that the material I submitted was "funny" and "well-written," and that he would like to publish it.  My check for $75 will be in the mail tomorrow.

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!  I very much needed a win.  I called Rex to tell him the good news, and he said, "Well, I guess there's the answer to your question - how many times do you get rejected before you give up?  Just one more."

That's so true.  Rex has a way of being very profound at times.  Just try one more time, every time.  Eventually you might get something.  I know $75 and an article in a gardening magazine isn't like I just got the cover story for Good Housekeeping or Time, but it's a start.  Also, more importantly, it was just the motivation I needed to keep going.