And another

[pepperlandgirl]

Well the other agent that had MW sent me back a rejection letter that said "We decided to pass on this." I was sorta expecting this, so I'm not really upset. Well, I am upset, but I've been upset in general for the past few months, and so this doesn't really make me more upset.

What I've got to do is either a)rewrite the query or b) hold off on Mad World and not use it as my "break-in" book, but rather, pull it out if/when I hook an agent on another book.

I don't know. I'm having a really hard time right now with who I am and what I do and what I should do and what I have done and everything. I've been thinking about just pouring all my thoughts in my LJ and seeing if that helps, but I don't want to write a post that comes across as a giant whinefest or bitchfest. On the one hand, it's my LJ, but on the other hand, I'm not in a whining mood, just a very confused and unsorted mood.

Last September I had so many hopes for the latter half of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. Over the past few months, I've watched them die, one by one. Now I just don't know what to do. So I'll juse my sad Angel icon. Poor sad Angel.

Comments

[megan-peta.livejournal.com]

I had huge encouragment from my Australian Literature Professor when I was at Uni about a short story i wrote. He really pushed with the editing, was really warm in his positive feedback and he was sure I could get published. I sat on it and ten years later I have only just got back into writing with the hope of soonish following the dream of being published. I have followed your spuffy for awhile--read most of Mad World, and greatly admire your talent. If you need LJ to help you sort out how you feel about all of this, to get your strength and dtermination back so that you cna push on and make a decision of which way to go, then you use us. Because what you are doing should be achieved, and shouldn't make you unhappy. You have the talent to be picked up and maybe you're right and Mad World isn't the one you should try to break with. But you will with something. I'm here at least, whether you want to take advantage of that to chat is fine with me, or even if you don't. But do what you need. Writers are temperamental people. We won't hold it against you!

[spikewriter]

It doesn't come across as whining at all but, as you said, unsorted. You're at a crossroads and the signposts are terribly few.

I know how it feels to have the hopes die a slow, painful death as you watch -- I've been going through that myself and you have my sympathy. For the writing, I'd suggest putting Mad World aside and use another story to hook an agent. You have one that's definitely interested if you have something a bit more mainstream and marketable. Mad World's time will come.

[dantheman70.livejournal.com]

You could pour everything out and mark it for a private entry. That way you get the benefit of lessening your burden without risking seeming whiny or self-obsessed.

[curetpillargirl.livejournal.com]

I don't know what to say because you know what trite means, so I'll just say I hope thingsfind a way to work themselves out :)

[essene.livejournal.com]

I'm having a really hard time right now with who I am and what I do and what I should do and what I have done and everything.

Well, if that doesn't just sum up my life right now, I don't know what does. Though not for the same reasons as you.

Anyway, what I've found amazingly helpful--just in sort of arranging and sequencing those problems, not actually SOLVING them...yet--has been going to therapy.

During my last depressive episode, medication was my friend.

I dunno. Those are just my gut suggestions. Also? To talk to Jamie. Lots and lots about how you feel. Maybe he's got a few ideas about what/who you are and what you do/have done. People who love you are good at that.

*hugs you hard and sends you good wishes*

application

[http://users.livejournal.com/mazal_/]

My first and best journalism teacher had a great saying: "Failure is misapplication." Now, of course, you haven't failed at anything; you just haven't found the right market niche yet. I don't know anything about Mad World, but I KNOW there are markets for dark, erotic stuff. For example, I just came across changelingpress.com, which is actively asking for stories 8,000 to 28,000 words. I don't know anything about them; I'm just giving this as an example of a publisher that you can submit to directly. You may want to go this route for a bit, thereby building up your publishing track record; I just think this would help you (or anyone) when it comes time to get an agent to sell a more mainstream novel.