Golden Heart Diaries: The Great Agent Search
Song of the Day: Crawling in the Dark by Hoobastank
With a title like Golden Heart® finalist, I began to realize something magical had happened. People started to take notice of me. Now those of you who personally know me are probably rolling their eyes and thinking “Phssh, well duh. Kinda hard NOT to notice Miss Brassy Pants.” Yet, I have been amazed and humbled by people’s reaction to my newfound accomplishment.
Some of the attention may have been overlooked had it not been for a few special friends of mine I like to dub my Horn Tooters. Everywhere I go, the wind section of these pals blow shiny horns, announcing my final and subsequent requests. After the rousing musical introduction, flags are raised, flowers are thrown and I am expected to do my very best Queen of England hand wave to the adoring crowd. Bless my merry band of Horn Tooters.
Once the delirious fog of my pirate historical Upon a Moonlit Sea actually making it in the finals lifted, I set to work to capitalize on the Golden Heart® name. I generated a new query and promptly sent it out to ten acquiring agents and sent follow-up emails to those who had my manuscript fermenting in their slush piles. Some of these agents had already sent their beloved, unsigned standard rejection letters. But, hey, why not give them a second chance at greatness, right?
The response blew me away. Eight of the ten asked for a partial or full – one within TEN minutes of me pushing the send button. Imagine, if you will, my giddy excitement; the falling to my knees, the tears of joy, the shameless bowing to my ornate agent shrine. Perhaps giddy isn’t the right word.
Now, this is where an old eighties rock tune pops into my head. “Sometimes high, sometimes low, easy come, easy go.” That sound you hear is the escaping air from my high flying balloon. I have received almost as many rejections as requests, deflating my ego at an alarming rate. Feelings of inadequacies burrowed deep and no amount of horn tooting or elegant hand waving would help. I confirmed that Moonlit Sea wasn’t at its best. Nausea had set it.
So why did I only send out ten queries? Surely the more agents I send to the better chance I’ll have of landing one. The proverbial iron is hot, after all. I should be hitting up every agent in the known world and beyond. The short answer is that I was scared. I hadn’t read my manuscript since last summer and I have come light years as a writer from where I was those months ago. Moonlit Sea needed a good buff and I knew it.
I didn’t want to send it out to anyone else until that sucker shined. But I fashioned a self-imposed deadline that I had to meet. I wanted, no, I NEEDED to finish my second pirate historical, A Kiss in the Wind, before I could move on. There were only a few chapters left. No way could I abandon the story, even for a month. My salty main characters would probably string me up on the gallows. Arghh.
I’m happy to report, I’ve met my goal and I’m done. Now, I am feverishly working to blind agents with Moonlit Sea with crisper authenticity and 
tighter phrasing. Though there is some head slapping at the little mistakes I’ve come across, the nausea is starting to abate. Bring me my Horn Tooters!
Yes, there is a smidgen of regret for sending out my manuscript so soon to those agents. With the story not at 100%, I can understand receiving the rejections. However, I’m reminded that if I didn’t have a great story, I wouldn’t be a finalist. Before long, I’ll be flooding the agent market again, hopefully with equally exciting results.
There has been a lot of success from other Golden Heart® finalists finding great agents. Congratulations to them all! With any luck, I’ll join that bandwagon soon. I believe in my pirates. I believe in my story. And the iron is still hot.
In my next installment of the Golden Heart® Diaries, I’ll prattle on about preparing to wow DC, dress anxiety, and any new agent developments.
Keep it up and you will get there! You know you will.
And then, those poor unfortunate agents that turned you down will be pulling out hair and grinding teeth when they see your name in lights.
And begging you for a second chance.
It’ll happen!
Rounder
Thank goodness for those horn tooters. As one of the perpetually aspiring, it’s good to feel the love.
I think you’re doing exactly what you need to do! Make the most of the nomination, but keep looking forward. The GH can be a big step, but it’s still just one step.
Your books sound fabulous and now there’ll be two strong stories to pitch. Who can refuse that?
Good luck and good hunting!
Jennifer,
You’re going about it in exactly the right way. Don’t waste time on regrets. Spend it instead crafting something so sparkling, you’ll tuck it into the envelope with a cocky “Let’s see you to reject *this.*” It’s okay to be arrogant in the privacy of your own office.
Enjoy the finalist experience and good luck to you.
Oh, btw, you have an agent shrine. And here I had an agent voodoo doll. Get a rejection? Stick a pin in the eye. LOL
I was giggling as I read this.
Have no idea why. LOL You know how I feel about your success. And yes, it is success!! You hang in there and keep that spunky attitude! It’s only a matter of time before the pieces fall into place!!! Great Post!!
I just picked up some cheapie tourist souvenirs in New Orleans and labeled one side of the voodoo doll magnet “Agent X” and the other “Editor Y”. Then I handed them out to my critique partners. They were a huge hit.
You’re writing is truly engaging, Jenn…I’m sure your time is coming soon!!!
Keep up the phenominal work!!!
Thank God you need your horn tooters again….I was afraid we were out of a job!!
I know you have a lot of confidence in your stories, but let me tell you one more time-they truly are wonderful stories! I believe it’s only a matter of time before you’re published, Somalian pirates not withstanding!
This really has been a tornado of a roller coaster ride since the infamous telephone call and then you throw real life into the mix and you’ve got a vortex threatening to suck you into a black hole. You’ve handled yourself with grace, and an unbelievable amount of courage. Good for you!!!!
You’re gonna knock ‘em dead!
Way to go, Jenn. 2009 has had a lot of success and National is still a month away. I have no doubt we will soon add your name to the success list.
{{{Hugs}}}
Ahhhh, I was wondering how things were going for you. You’re pretty smart to polish up Moonlit before sending to more agents. I’m sorry for the rejections.
Those def. stink. Thank goodness you have all the other legit, selling agents that you didn’t query yet! LOL
You’ll do great! You have a really upbeat, fun voice and I can’t wait to see what happens with these books!
Jenn~
, but I wouldn’t worry too much. If those are your A-list agents, polish up ms #2, submit that, then when people are falling over themselves to represent you, and you’ve selected your agent, you can show them your re-vamped and re-polished GH manuscript #1. It’s very common to sell #2 first (or #3, #17 or whatever) and only later sell the first ms you were shopping.
I sympathize with your premature submission anxieties
Have fun picking out the GH dress, to you and all the other GH finalists!
Thanks to blogs like this one and the writing community in general, I’m a lot clearer on the long, hard slog to publication. My understanding is that the biggest mistake writers make is to query too soon, before the manuscript is polished. Kudos to you for giving yourself the time.
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the confidence. And, you know, those agents aren’t done hearing from me yet. LOL!
With you at my back, John.
Hi Jeannie!
You said it, girl! The GH is just one step of many on a long road. I’ll keep moving forward. It’s all I know to do.
Can’t wait to meet you in DC!
Me? Cocky? BWAHAHAHA!
You’ve got to tell me where to get the agent voodoo doll. I MUST have one!
Thanks so much, Colleen!
And you have no idea why you were giggling. Hmm… Me thinks you do!
As one of my Horn Tooters (that’s it – you’re giggling because of the word tooter, aren’t you?), I cherish you and your undying encouragement.
Thank you!!
What a great idea! I’ve got to pick me up some the next time I go.
Thanks Colleen!
Thanks so much Tess!
I hope you’re right! LOL!
You’ll never be out of a job, Satcey! You and my other Tooters (not to mention my Treehouse buddies) have been so very important to me. True friends! It really has been years full of highs and lows. But ya’ll have been there. I only hope I’m giving back to all of you how much you guys give to me.
Thank you!!!
Hi Pat!
Thanks so much for stopping by and giving me a HURRAH! It’s much appreciated!
Hi Jessie!!
It’s great to have you stop by and check up on me. LOL! I’m not too worried about the rejections. Yea, they really so stink up the joint. But I know it’s all part of the process. I’d be foolish to think otherwise. Thanks so much for your support.
BTW – I can’t wait to see what happens, either. LOL!
Hi Kris!!
Great advice. As soon as I’m done polishing Moonlit, I’m off to polish my second ms. I’ve already received two requests for ms #2, so I’m feeling a little pressure. But that’s good, right?
As for the GH dress, ugh, it’s not easy finding a formal dress that’ll fit a 7 month pregnant girl and still look smoking! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks, Hope, for following along on MuseTracks. I’m so thrilled that you find us here helpful. That is our ultimate goal.
I am one of those people who DID query too soon. I finished up my MS, polished, had my DH read it, and sent it off to all the NY big wigs. That was before I ever knew about RWA, critique groups and the “rules”. HA! Talk about “ouch”. I learned pretty quick how to grow a tough skin and I am thankful every day for this journey and all the people (the good, the bad, & the ugly) that have helped me become the writer I am today. And, boy-oh-boy, what a journey.
The best is yet to come!