Tag Archives: querying

So when should you stop querying?

Posted on August 10, 2011 by

According to this article in today’s Ottawa Citizen , failing at something can affect your health. At what point should you give up? It suggests when the goal is not achievable. “It’s actually possible that quitting can be associated with better … Continue reading →

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Tips on Finding an Agent

Posted on May 19, 2011 by

I’ve had a lot of people ask me how they can find a literary agent. I had no offers of representation until I read New York super-agent Donald Maas’s two great books on writing a bestseller: The Fire in Fiction, and Writing … Continue reading →

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Why selling a house is a lot like selling a book

Posted on March 26, 2011 by

I’m trying to think of how many times I’ve had a friend or colleague forward me a piece of fiction they’ve written and ask for feedback. Decades ago, it was one of my professors who asked me to review a … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Published, Querying | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

How many agents should you query before giving up?

Posted on March 12, 2011 by

I noticed that someone was directed to this blog by this Google search: ‘how many agents should you query before giving up?’ I started this blog with posts about NOT giving up, so I hope that some of the inspirational … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with rejection, Don't Give Up, Getting Published | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Another success story under the heading, Never Give Up!

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

Today’s guest blog is from another AW writer who went through 185 rejections before finding success. She even switched genres! Her genre was initially horror. But, thanks to the feedback she received from an agent, even though he passed on the manuscript, it’s now … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with rejection, Don't Give Up, Genre, Getting Published | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

How many queries should you submit?

Posted on January 22, 2011 by

I was asked this question frequently this week, after my story circulated in the media. I suppose the answer is, keep going, ’until you find representation,’ or ‘until you give up.’ I tried the contest route. For me, that worked. If it … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with rejection, Querying, Revisions | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Journey

Posted on January 19, 2011 by

In light of today’s CBC radio interview  (hard act to follow, a sasquatch) and the extraordinary number of hits my blog is getting as a result, I thought I’d post the full story of my  journey to publication. (This will … Continue reading →

Posted in Dealing with rejection, Don't Give Up | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

And, since I’m on stats, here’s some more:

Posted on January 6, 2011 by

Here are one month statistics from a New York literary agency (Caren Johnson). Total: 337 queries. Requested 6. Interesting that  she mentions the following (aspiring authors: make a note): “I think I requested all of those manuscripts in the first week. It … Continue reading →

Posted in E-books, Getting Published, Querying | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment