I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Sunday, February 5, 2012

The call is coming from inside the neurosis

Okay, the voices inside my head are saying that it may be okay to post about this.

So, you all know I'm doing an agent search, right? Okay, well in my first batch of three agents which I sent out four and a half weeks ago I have two non-respondents and one request for partial. One of the non-responders belongs to the "if you haven't heard from me in two weeks, consider that a rejection" club, so I think that one is safely in the "pass" category. I need to check the other one of the non-respondents rules, but I think they're in the "you will hear from us" club.

For the other one, if you were at Confusion you could probably attest to just how chuffed I was to have one of my first of the first choice agents request a partial. But we're now approaching the 4th week after sending that in and no word.

I know, four weeks isn't long. I should do breathing exercises and just chill the heck out. But those same voices have started in on the "maybe they didn't get the email" or "maybe Apple's email filter bounced their response" and the ever famous "it was so bad they just hit delete."

Okay, I know it's none of those. I know that not hearing for four weeks is a good thing. If it really sucked they would have responded quickly and moved on. So it's either they're busy with other stuff (which they would be, being one of my top choice agents means they have a good client list and reputation for making sales) or they're contemplating and figuring out if my novel would fit into their mix and if they have a reasonable chance to sell it.

I just need to breathe. Chill out. And prep my next submission (to keep the novel in three peoples' hands at all times).

Breathe in, breathe out. You're not that neurotic.

Breathe in, breathe out. Four weeks is a short time to evaluate a novel.

Breathe in, breathe out. It's a good novel, it'll find a home.

Breathe in, breathe out. Stop freaking the fuck out about it.

4 comments:

Rick said...

Hang tough, buddy. You're on the verge of making it.

Steve Buchheit said...

Thanks, Rick. I certainly hope so.

Elizabeth said...

Keep breathing, and good luck!

Steve Buchheit said...

Thanks, Elizabeth. I'm trying to.