How Many Does It Take

I know there are millions of writers out there, looking to just get their work looked at. Just read the first chapter, is what we all think. If you just read the first chapter, I think you'll want to read the rest.

Unfortunately, most agents don't want to look at the first chapter right away. They want your query letter. They do not want just any query letter, though. They want an amazing and eye-catching query letter that will draw them in. Maybe it's just me, but writing a query letter makes me more nervous than the actual thought of someone reading my work.

I've given the first copy of my novel to two separate normal readers. They read frequently, enjoy a good story, and have good taste. One has said that it was great and with a little editing it would probably sell better than a lot of crap that is on the shelves these days. No offense to the people that actually write said crap. The second is still in the process of reading it, but she claims it is great so far (if you're reading this Deena, I believe you. I just hope the whole book is great!). So how are we supposed to portray this in a query letter that is up to only 2,000 words long without supplying the whole story summed up in it?

At this point I'm beginning to question my talent. I received my first rejection letter this morning (Sunday). I do not know what type of agency actually sends out rejection letters on a Sunday, of all days, but I just sent my letter on Friday. I just do not see how it is possible to get through the supposed hundreds of emails in two days and have time to send letters to each individual as well. This wasn't even a personalized rejection letter, either, and it was from a pretty known agency. I will not disclose the name of said agency but it was a real blow.

I know it sometimes many, many rejections for some authors to finally get to a "Yes," and I shouldn't give up. However, I'm not so sure how to deal with just this one rejection, let alone several, or possibly twenty. It makes my head spin just thinking about it.

My question is, how many rejections does it take before you get to an answer? Where do we go after spending so many hours upon hours upon days and weeks of perfecting our query letters and changing them but still only receive impersonal rejection letters that claim we "just aren't what they're looking for at this time."

It's not what you may be looking for, but what about the audience the novel is written for? What is selling right now? It takes more than just a glance at a letter to know what you are turning away. I can't help but wonder, how many more months or years will it take before I throw the towel in on getting published and just say, "It's not meant to be?"

Oh boy I sound negative. But really, I'm just looking to vent some.

I'll be published eventually. I just know it.