Long-time subscribers know that I’ve spent years on my novel-in-stories ROSE WINDOW. I wrote the first draft of my manuscript by hand from 2017-2018. Then I spent months cycling the stories through my critique group and invested in an editor. Then I started querying. Last year I pitched my manuscript to agents at the Chicago Writers Conference, the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York, and I had plans to attend AWP earlier this year, but canceled my trip due to needs of aging family. (Ultimately, the COVID shutdown started the week after AWP too.) One of the agents I pitched last year invited me to submit a re-write. I partnered with an editor again and, based on the agent’s feedback, we made ROSE WINDOW better than I had imagined. I intended to send the manuscript back to the agent before the holidays last year, but at the time I received the editor’s notes, my husband’s sister died. Then we relocated family closer to us. Then COVID happened. It’s been one thing after another for so many of us this year.
With that short re-cap, you can imagine how accomplished I finally felt last week when I completed a final read of my manuscript. It was finally ready for the agent to read again. On Wednesday morning (in addition to ad hoc creative time throughout the week, I nearly always get up for #5amwritersclub on Wednesdays) I formatted the manuscript, typed my email, and finally sent it off to the agent. I was filled with so much relief and hope that I felt I could float to New York and give it to her myself.
Within a few seconds I received an auto-response that she’s no longer with the agency. I Googled her and found nothing. I checked Duotrope and a few other query sites. From my mini-sleuthing I discovered she became disassociated with the agency somewhere between October 24 and the first week of November. No clue if she left the industry. No clues whatsoever.
I promptly went downstairs and curled up next to my husband in bed where he was still sleeping. The idea of querying all over again, the idea of finding an agent who believed in short stories AND believed in my writing like this agent had felt impossible. Should I even bother? Some of the characters in my collection spawned from stories I wrote 11 years ago! When can I send them off into the world and focus fully on my next fiction project? How much am I going to spend now on contest submissions and (remote) writing conferences with agent pitch sessions? Should I self-publish? Should I take a week off and spend all my time querying? Should I wait until after the holidays?
Then, laying in the pre-dawn darkness, my husband asked me what’s wrong. I was surprised he was even awake. (I am 110% a morning person and he’s 110% not a morning person!) I hated that I had to say it all out loud, giving the situation a thicker layer of reality. He said, “I’ll find her.” I told him she may have changed the genres she represents or she could have changed industries. COVID could be changing publishing just as its upended so many other things. He said he’ll find her, and he told me to call the agency and explain the situation to learn if she has forwarding contact information. So he’s searching, and I will too.
Wow! This brought me to tears.
Aw, thanks for caring so much. ❤
Oh nooo! That is such a heartwrenching story, Tara Lynne. I haven’t been in that exact scenario, but I’ve queried long enough to understand the expectations and emotions and the whole gamut. And, your story hit an especially personal note because I’m on the verge of contacting an agent from years ago who expressed interest in my work (I was still signed with another agent at the time), so frankly, I’m terrified of finding exactly what you found!
Also, my heart goes out to you for all the losses and struggles you’ve had this year… brava to you for continuing writing through it all. Thank you for sharing this, and please keep me/us/ the Write Naked community updated as you and hubby search for the missing agent!
I’m rooting for you (and I can’t wait to read Rose Window)! Hugs, Kimberly
Thanks, Kimberly! I hope you have a better experience in your agenting experience. It’s so tough to know what to expect with the publishing industry right now. Who’s staying? Who’s going? How will the pandemic change reader interests? I so appreciate your encouragement. Don’t let your fear of reaching out to that other agent stop you from doing it!
Congratulations on finishing your novel! I think contacting the agency is a GREAT idea, a great start. I’ll look forward to hearing what happens. Where do you find your freelance editors? I was using Reedsy.
Thx! I’ve actually used 3 different editors on my manuscript, and I highly recommend it because each one offers their own unique value and made the book better than I could have done on my own or by just partnering with one person. I used an editor I met through my blog after my first rough draft was complete. Then I used an editor I met through one of my writing groups, and then the final round of revisions I used another editor who is a friend of mine. I’ve heard of Reedsy, but haven’t used them. I highly recommend any of the editors I’ve worked with and happy to send their info to you if you like.
Hi, I would love their info–if they’re interested in reading middle grade fiction, contemporary fantasy-adventure based. The journey continues, right?
Thanks for sharing! Sorry to hear your family has gone through so much turmoil, but it is comforting to know you all have each other. Keep on keepin’ on! We will do the same.
Thanks, Beth! We’ll definitely keep on going. At times like these I find comfort in reminding myself to just put one foot in front of the other.
Contacting the agency will be the best idea dear. May be the right time for your “Rose Window” story to Publish has not come yet.Hugs from me too…
Thanks, Ramya, I was wondering that too. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason and I don’t know if it’s not the right time for ROSW WINDOW to meet the world, or if it’s supposed to teach me a new level of resilience, or if I’m supposed to focus on my next book, all of the above, or something else…so challenging to have hindsight when you’re in the thick of things! 🙂 Thanks for your note.