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(Side note: I get that much of the criticism a reporter receives is about content, not prose. But have you ever participated in a creative writing workshop? When my memoir underwent several of those, it was shocking how much of the feedback was criticism of actions I was revealing about my past rather than useful feedback on the actual craft of storytelling.)
Now as to patience? Again, how does one develop patience as a daily reporter? The author game is a long one. There’s the significant time it takes to write a full-length book that’s actually worth reading. Then there’s finding a literary agent. Revisions ensue. Then the agent—should she still wish to represent you—has to find a publisher. If that miracle happens, there’s more editing, along with the minutia of publishing (cover art, print layout, slotting in the publisher’s list). And once it’s published you’ve only started. Now you have to find readers.
At least if you reach that point you’ve had a few moments worthy of a glass of Taittinger champagne. What about that stage where you’re querying agents? Oh my, that’s where I’m finding my patience wearing thin, and I’m only three months in.
Since mid-January I’ve been simultaneously querying agents about the first novel of a proposed urban fantasy trilogy while working on the second novel for submission for professional mentoring by a Vermont College of Fine Arts instructor (part of their June Novel Retreat). It’s difficult pouring my creative soul into a novel that would only ever be published if the first one found a home.
One thing keeping me out of my funk is that I’m in talks with an agent about possible representation. We’ve had several email exchanges and an hour-long phone call. She needs to finish reading my full manuscript, but made it clear she doesn’t want me to accept an offer of representation from another agent without her having a chance to compete. There does not appear to be an imminent threat of such a scenario arising, but I didn’t share that with her.
This agent may not, in the end, offer representation. She may, and I may decide she’s not the right fit. Or we’ll agree to work together and she’ll fail to place it with a publisher. Twice in my career I’ve had literary agents who failed to place nonfiction projects. Still, I push forward. Just as I learned how to have a thick skin, I can learn to be more patient.
Oh, a final note on my choice of a title for this essay involving Greek mythology. One way I sought to distract my mind during this wait was to start work on a short story. I came up with a brilliant idea, essentially a “fractured fairy tale” on a well-known Greek myth. Online research revealed I was hardly the only writer to come up with that idea. Others included the legendary Terry Pratchett, a former collaborator with one of my favorite writers, Neil Gaiman (Good Omens). Yes, I could put my own spin on the story twist. I’m not yet ready to go head-to-head with a literary giant, however. There are other stories to be told. I can slip my love of mythology (a passion I share with Gaiman) into other areas, like newsletter headlines.
(Photo above by fox kraft on Unsplash)
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