You’ve done it. You finished your manuscript. It has taken you months a year years to write it, but it’s finally complete and ready to send out. You’ve written your professional, but brief (only one page please), query letter that includes your stunning synopsis of the story. You’ve compiled a list of agents you know represent the genre you have just written. You are ready.
So What’s Next?
You put on your big girl panties and begin to submit. And then you wait. And wait. And wait. This is the toughest part of the querying process. Up until this point, you have had control of what you’ve done. Now it’s in someone else’s hands. And the wait can be a killer.
So I’ve devised five handy ways to help you pass the time:
1. Start playing an online game- Farmville, Poker, Candy Crush, there are many highly addicting games available to keep you occupied for hours. I am not serious about getting addicted to online games, but do try to have a little fun during the query process.
2. Start a hobby- Time always go faster if your mind is occupied. How much time will you have to obsess over things If you are skydiving or lion taming? None, and that’s my point.
3. Clean your house- No, never mind. Sorry I even brought it up.
4. Help a neighbor/ volunteer- It always makes you feel better to help someone else. It might even take some of the sting out of some of the rejections you receive. I said it might, but I’m not making any promises.
5. START ON YOUR NEXT PROJECT! – Working on a new project instead of obsessing over the old one is a great way to pass the time.
And remember to stagger your queries. Don’t send all of your queries out the same day. By staggering your submissions, you always get to hold on to that little bit of hope that the other agent might be interested.
Happy Writing,
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
Yes! I knew you’d make an awesome lion tamer.
You made me smile. It sure is hurry up and wait:)