Wednesday, September 5, 2018

September #IWSG: Wait For It...(Getting the CALL!!)

First Wed of Every Month





Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html



I apologize for being MIA last month. My crazy summer ended in a trip to Mackinac Island then off to a new job as an elementary school librarian to getting the most important phone call of my writing career!!! 

Wait for it...

A few weeks ago an agent emailed me (I assumed another lovely rejection) to tell me how much they loved my story. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this before, but usually they end with a "but it just isn't a good fit for my list right now." Instead, she ended with the words, "I'd like to set up a phone call with you." 

I almost fainted. I most certainly cried. Probably screamed in excitement. Danced around the room a few times. Passed out in my writing chair.

Yes, it was THE CALL. I am now represented by Britt Siess at Martin Literary Management!!!! Britt is kind and knowledgeable and professional and personal! And I'm super excited about her vision for my book and my writing career.

Here's the timeline: 

I started writing this book in November during NANO. I slogged through December and January with tons of self doubt swirling around me, like an endless demon fog with sharp teeth ready to devour every shred of my self confidence. I finally convinced myself to continue in February to the shouting of my critique partner, "FINISH THE BOOK!" After bribing myself with coffee and more coffee, I  exchanged the final draft with my CP in March. I entered my middle-grade murder mystery in a contest at the end of April. Won Runner-Up in said contest!!! 

Confidence boost!!

In June, I entered the fierce competition of Query Kombat and found myself on Michelle Hauck's team. I lost the battle in round one, but became a host save and made it to the agent round. My MG entry THE INK AND PAPER SOCIETY nicknamed "I Can Keep a Secret" got the second highest number of agent requests! However, this summer has been slow, searing hot, and full of crickets. Britt was not one of the requesting agents from Query Kombat. I queried a few agents in July, but then stopped. Seriously, I barely queried this manuscript. Not wanting more rejections (because I freaking LOVE this story!!!!), I enjoyed the rest of my summer. I had queried another agent at her agency, and she kindly referred me to Britt! 

I'm over the moon at attaining my long-time dream of securing literary representation! How's your month going? 




55 comments:

  1. Congratulations Jennifer! I do believe if we keep trying even when we doing feel like it, good things do happen. Happy IWSG Day :)

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  2. Congrats! See, you never know where a query will lead but yours led you to the right person.

    Plus now I know how excited my authors are when I tell them I want to set up a phone call. LOL

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    1. It really is like no other experience!! And thanks!

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  3. Jennifer,
    congratulations! I am so happy for you. I'm still waiting on a call and hearing you have received one encourages me.
    All the best and I look forward to seeing your book release.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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  4. HUGE congrats! That's beyond epic and I'm serious happy for you. Cheese all around!

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    1. Thanks, Crystal!! Cheese for the win and the story takes place in Wisconsin;-)

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  5. Congratulations!!! That's worth celebrating big time :)

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    1. THanks!! Trust me, we've celebrated with mom not cooking for awhile now;-)

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  6. Congratulations! That is fabulous news. :) Hope you're having a great time at your new job.

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  7. Yahoo! Congrats - that is hugely exciting news! :)

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  8. Wow, wow, wow! That's the kind of news that most of us would likely want to receive. Congratulations!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  9. Big congratulations! That is so awesome.

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    1. Thanks!! I was such a crazy mess last month and then this happened! :)

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  10. Congratulations - that is fantastic news!!

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  11. I've only known a few people who have gotten "the call". Big Congratulations!
    What a fantastic achievement, cause your book had to be dynamite!!!

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  12. Congratulations Jennnifer, I did tell you that you will get an agent soon. You deserve it girl. When are you giving me a treat?

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    1. You did, Rachna!! Thanks!! Treat, uh, my book when published? ;-)

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  13. Wow. That sounds like a fairy tale. lol Congratulations!!!!

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    1. Aww! I never dreamed it would happen to me;-) Thanks!

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  14. My month was pretty good, but not that good! Congratulations! That's incredible news!

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    1. Thanks!! I love to hear exciting things happening in the book world! Congrats to you too!

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  15. A huge and wonderful congrats to you!! Your journey has only just begun!

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  16. Yay! So excited for you, Jennifer! Can't wait for you to have more good news.

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  17. That is the best news, Jennifer! Well done, and congratulations on your new job too.

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  18. A huge congratulations, Jennifer. Stay over the moon and keep dancing.

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  20. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU, JENNIFER! How exciting!!!!!! It is SOOOO nice so see SOMEONE in our group moving a head with an agent. As you know, I 've been looking for an eternity. Thought I had the right agent a few month's ago... like you, it was an agent referred from another. I really thought I had an agent. She requested the full and synopsis in less than twelve hours....

    After two months, I heard nothing. I decided to send her an email to see where she was at. I received a message through Query Tracker and sadly she passed. Of all things, she didn't like the voice... WHAT? When I sent the query to her colleague, I also submitted the first three pages. The VOICE was in there. So why request a full if you weren't sure the VOICE was right for you.

    ANYWAY.... THIS is about YOU, not me... I am THRILLED FOR YOU> I will look forward to hear the exciting news when your book sells to a publisher. Wishing you all the best with your new JOURNEY. Keep me posted!

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    1. Thanks, Michael!! I've been in the same boat for years. Literally. Constantly getting full requests from agents only to get rejections. I don't know how I kept going all this time, but I did!! Don't ever give up, friend.

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  21. Congratulations Jennifer - new job ... and an agent for your book - that's wonderful ... now enjoy the next steps ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks!! It's a lot happening at once, but I'm still excited to be going forward for once!

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  22. *cheer!* That's awesome news! Congratulations!

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  23. That is great news indeed. Great way to end the summer, can she make the heat go away too? Then she'd be a super agent haha

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    1. We've been mostly in the 90s this summer. Boo. I hate heat. But today was 70 and rainy!!! She's a super agent!! Thanks, man!

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  24. Wow, that's awesome! Signing with a literary agent is definitely a major accomplishment, and now you can move on to the next stage of your writing. And I think you did things the right way, where you participated in NANO and formulated a specific plan for the writing process.

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  25. I’m impressed, I must say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you've got hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the issue is one thing that not sufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I am very blissful that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something referring to this. casino slots

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  26. I'm so happy for you, Jennifer! This is awesome news!!! Revel in the moment! You go girl!

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February #IWSG: Just Do It

                  Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs...