Apologies

[Christine Daae]

CK (and others):

Let me offer my sincerest apologies. I had not meant to ignore anyone. I simply started writing a new manuscript. I get frustrated with my lack of skill in query writing. It just so happened that this round of query writing was interrupted by a stroke of inspiration for another manuscript. If you notice I usually answer back. I certainly understand that you and the others take time to help the other writers here. I do appreciate your help. I should have come back to check on my weasel Q. When I am in the middle of a writing wellspring everything else gets a little lost in my life. Again sorry.

[Jena Grace]

Let me see if I have this right: you've finished a manuscript. I assume, if you've already been querying, that means you've revised, edited, and polished your ms several times. You ARE happy with the ms, right? And believe it's ready for submission?

Yet now that you're having difficulty writing a query letter, you're tossing it all aside to begin another ms?

Do you plan on being published in this lifetime or the next? Because this kind of procrastination could be endless.

[Christine Daae]

Jena,
Confession time. Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying. Sadly, this seems to be a terrible pattern of mine. If I am going to put it out on the table (or the Web) I’ll just ‘fess up and tell everyone that I’ve done the same thing for the last ten years. I have three completed, polished ready-for-querying manuscripts and not a single good query. I have four others that are still in need of some polishing and editing, but they, too, are completed manuscripts.

I know exactly what many people here will say to that. “If you can’t write a query, your manuscripts probably are as poorly written and in need of work.” I can only shake my head with confusion. I’ve submitted all three to local reading groups (as test readers) and I’ve not only had excellent response, but requests for other work. I’m not a total idiot—I know my queries suck and I’m not a brilliant writer or a literary genius. I am, however, an excellent storyteller and I am savvy enough to know the difference.

A few of my husband’s fellow professors (all published and brilliant in their fields) have read at least one. Although, only one of them writes (historical) fiction, all of them would recognize a poorly written manuscript if they saw one. I’ve seen them be brutally honest with students about their writing ability and I believe they certainly would not hold back if they saw a dismal lack of talent on my part. I believe I have the ability to use the written word for communicating a very good story. I do not claim to have any sort of mastery of the art of writing. I am still learning and I eat up all the valuable advice I get here on WN. I am an eager student even when I’m lurking. Everyone who has read my work has encouraged me to query. Yet, that is the very thing that I cannot surmount. It’s easier and way too tempting to edit, polish, or start a new manuscript. This is a terrible admission of self-indulgence, I realize now.

So, I risk exposing myself for the truly neurotic writer that I am. I may be one of those wretched people whose grandchildren find a box of manuscripts under the bed while they’re cleaning out the house. I don’t know what’s wrong with me and now that I’ve probably alienated everyone on this website, I feel like crap and will crawl back into oblivion now.

[Keith .]

Don't feel alone, PennMom. What you're describing is common. You can blame it on the query quandary if you like, but it sounds like you're reluctant to submit. You've invested so much time, energy and heart into this that you're terrified an honest-to-God publishing pro will shoot you down.

As I see it, you have four options. 1) quit writing. 2) write and stack your manuscripts under the bed. 3) self publish. 4) Take a breath, swallow hard, dump the pity party and stick your literary neck on the chopping block. Wayne Gretzky said that you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. True dat.

[Jena Grace]

“If you can’t write a query, your manuscripts probably are as poorly written and in need of work.”

Personally, Penn, I don't believe this. Query letters, like synopses, are HARD to write for many authors. It takes time and work, and often a lot of help.

The reason your post caught my attention is because, as an author who started later in life, I'd hate to see you unnecessarily waste time. Sometimes authors get to the querying point and immediately give up--and often start new projects-- because they're afraid of rejection. If that's not the case, then please, keep working on your query and get your ms out there. Time passes too quickly. I'm convinced if I'd taken my writing more seriously 20 years ago (I first published 3 years ago) I'm be done with my day job by now and I'd be writing full-time.

And of course you're neurotic. It kind of goes with the territory. And I don't think you've alienated anyone. You apologized for not responding, and that's more than most non-responders do. Hang tough, girl!

[John Hawkwood]

Writing is an intensely personal process. Only you can tell whether you (as opposed to your manuscript) are ready for querying. Yes, it sounds like you're procrastinating, and that can only harm your chances for becoming a published author, and the advice given here on that issue is good.

However, you should not have to apologize for not "getting back to people" after they give you advice here. Sharing advice and opinions is the point of these boards. Some people here write for a living and may have more time to jump on these boards than others who write on the side when their personal and professional lives permit.

If someone provides advice on this board, and they expect fulsome thanks, wholesale acceptance of their changes, or the commencement of an extended discussion on the merits of their comments, but they don't get it, they can always refrain from providing advice to that particular writer going forward. While it would be best practice for the writer to drop a quick note of thanks when he/she can, I don't think it's appropriate for someone to take the writer to the woodshed over it.

The way things are going new potential posters are going to be scared off from getting active on the site, because they'll be afraid of receiving nothing but sarcastic or venomous responses, or being taken to task for violating some rule crafted not by the site administrators but in the imaginations of other individual posters. I hope we can pull back from this precipice before we completely kill the site.

[Simon Says]

I agree with John that there's no need to apologize for not getting back to people who gave you feedback on your query.

However, since it seems that you give up on crafting a good query, then perhaps you should apologize to us for wasting our time by asking for feedback to begin with.

I can't say I understand why you are willing to put in the time and effort to get a 100K manuscript ready, but not a three paragraph query. Perhaps it has less to do with your ability to write a good one, than some other issue you have regarding having your manuscript rejected.

Anyway there's no shame in not seeking publication.

[Christine Daae]

Jena, John, Simon and Keith,

Thanks for responding. I’ve done a lot of thinking since I posted and realize that there is no getting out of the query process if I ever would like to see my name on a book spine. I’ve decided to give it a shot again and start over with the Q process. Thanks for the encouragement and even the chastisement because sometime what it takes is a good kick in the pants.
Simon – rest assured that no one wasted their time critiquing my query. I do take into consideration what each contributor says. Thanks for responding.
Confession is good for the soul. I need to get over my fear of rejection and stop procrastinating.

[Keith .]

Atta girl.

[Smiling Curmudgeon]

Penn,

As others said, no need to apologize. None. Nada.

Take another crack at a Q. Post it. Worst that'll happen is the world will end.

Seriously, do it. Then do it again. And like that.

Cur