You're querying. Fantastic. Good for you. Best of luck. Your baby is polished and your query is sparkling. You have a list of agents and you carefully followed the submission guidelines. So now what?
This is the part where you must learn patience. As you know, I'm not. But I've learned to become more tolerant. I let things roll more often than I used to. Querying is that moment that defines where your path might go. It puts you on the edge of your seat and your insides squirm. After you hit send, the build up to the moment . . . goes and now you must wait.
I know, not easy. As much as we don't like to admit it, we've hit the refresh button shortly after sending even though you know you're not getting a response any time soon. Most agents takes from two weeks to four months, some even longer. I know most of my email is advertisements. So why do we do it? Why torture ourselves? Why is that urge to continually hit the refresh button on our email so tempting and addicting? A society of instant gratification? Possibly. The want to know whether you make the cut? Sure. To some it's a test of whether you pass. But is it? Writing is highly subjective. That's the part that's hard to swallow. Not only do you have to have the strength of a great writer, personal taste and what sells comes into play. It may not be the right time. And sometimes being the best at your craft gets pushed aside just for a money maker. The factors of all this can make your head spin and create emotions you never knew you had. But it's the nature of the beast. You have to accept this will happen and some will get there quicker than others. Right now, I think I'm on the ten year plan, but even that can change. Nothing is set in stone, and even after you get that agent, there's no guarantee.
So send those queries but do something else while you wait. Go outside (if it's not bitter cold like it is here), write another book, make new friends, find other writers. Go out and live. Don't let the email be your crutch.
Lessons to learn and one I must follow. I've been shutting off email and all other social media when I write, and even though the urge is there, I plug forward and do my best to do something else.
Have a great day!!
