You’ve finished your epic novel and you’re querying agents.

(You haven’t written an epic novel? No matter. Applying for a job? Same thing.)

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Yep, you’re in it for the long haul. Oh yeah.

So how do you succeed at the game—and how do you handle the rejection?

1. It’s a numbers game. Remind yourself: It’s only a numbers game.

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2. For every query that is rejected, send out two new ones—because . . . it’s only a numbers game.

3. Pop a cork! You’ve gotten your first three rejections over with. (Because . . .  it’s only a numbers game.)

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4. Print out the rejections and and make paper airplanes. (Or tack them to the wall to encourage you to persevere.)

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5. Find courage in the list of famous books that triumphed after numerous rejections at Literary Rejections. Then read the books.

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6. Reread Six Cover Letter Mistakes to make sure you weren’t mistaken and Query Letter Do’s and Don’ts to make sure you didn’t. Then avoid sharp objects.

“Chance favors only the prepared mind.”

—Louis Pasteur

7. Prepare yourself for success. (Because chance favors only the prepared mind—or so said Louis Pasteur). How? Ice down the bubbly.

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8. Seek out published authors who describe querying over 100 agents before they finally find theirs—because . . . it’s only a numbers game. Take heart.

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9. Compulsively check and recheck AgentQuery to make sure you haven’t overlooked any agents to query—because, that’s right, it’s a numbers game.

10. Revise, refine, rewrite your query. Hone that sucker. Make that baby sparkle.

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11. Research the next batch (numbers game again) of agents you’ll be querying even more zealously. Add new names to your already massive Excel spreadsheet of agents to query.

It’s a numbers game. Repeat to self: It’s only a numbers game.

12. Follow every agented author on Twitter who writes in your genre and tweets her success stories. Use her profile photo on your dart board.

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13. Make a Twitter list of literary agents and publishing luminaries to follow and retweet their #querytips and #pubtips. When one thanks you and follows you back, pour more bubbly.

14. Start looking at small publishers and make another spreadsheet for those. Just to pass the time till your future agent calls. Stay positive.

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15. Keep writing your next novel. Remember that one, the one you began so enthusiastically before you began querying? ♣

What are your strategies as you query and hunt?

 

You can get a sneak peek of my upcoming novel: 

Read an excerpt from A Habit of Hiding here

For more on the art of writing, look HERE.

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