Sunday, April 18, 2010

Message To My Agent Repost

This was written at a definite low point for me. We've all had those moments when the desire to succeed is like a painful little shard in the heart, when you feel crazy for dreaming you have something to say that's worthy of the world's notice. You begin thinking you're wrong and maybe all those rejections are right . . . Then I felt this passionate, hopeful, defiant spark.

If you're a writer, you've experienced this. If you haven't yet, you will. It's par for the course so don't lose faith. As I've said before, it takes a will of iron to work with paper and ink. I'm much more optimistic now, and since I'm still single in the writer-agent dating pool, I thought I'd post it again. Maybe you can relate.

Hello. It's just me, your future client. I've been looking for you everywhere. Are you taking good care of yourself? Being careful when you cross the street? I certainly hope so. How's your diet? Are you getting the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals? Yes? Excellent. You'll need your strength. We have a bright future ahead of us.

Except you don't know that yet.

Maybe you're in an important meeting, or you might be answering one of the many messages on your cellphone. You are a success, future agent, because you love your job, in spite of the long hours and hard work. Right now, you're out there, somewhere, living your life, completely unaware that I exist.

Ask my children where their mother is and they'll roll their eyes and tell you, I'm here. In my office. At the computer. I'm thinking, writing, and revising. I'm dreaming of the day my work crosses your desk, the day you read it over and hear the story I'm trying to tell. Then, you'll have enough faith in me to take a chance on my talent. You will fight battles on my behalf and never stop until we win.

In that case, I'll stay up late again tonight and polish this manuscript a bit more.

Here's to us, agent of mine. I'll see you when I see you.

37 comments:

  1. Ah yes, I know all those feelings. Great post, love the letter to your future agent! :)

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  2. That's right, he/she is out there, just waiting for your paths to cross. Don't give up, it only takes one yes for your dreams to come true!

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  3. LOL!! Good luck in your agent search and I'm loving your blog background...Very nice!!

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  4. Great post! I think many of us have written this letter in our own heads :)

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  5. I felt this exact way when I was ready to give up the fight about six months ago. Then I came to peace with it. Yes, I'd had many rejections, but I'd had a LOT of encouraging feedback, too. I knew there must be something to that. That's when I realized my agent and I just hadn't crossed paths yet. I don't believe in serendipity in a mate, but I think there's something to that with an agent. You'll find each other, it just takes lots and lots of searching (as you know). ((hugs of support))

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  6. Awwwww!!!

    I wonder if I could send this to Dan the man...?? After I tweak it a little maybe..!

    :-)

    But seriously - these agents must have hearts of stone if they could not fail to be moved by this letter.

    Sigh.

    GOOD LUCK with the singles scene in this particular dating game!!! I have everything crossed that you will find the perfect match!

    Take care
    x

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  7. Oh boy...agents! I have experience good, bad, helpful and useless. It is hard to pinpoint what it is to get them to take notice for sure. There are so many out there now. I have had some really amazing experiences but my first agent was a thief...yikes. I do like this letter a lot.

    Holly
    504 Main

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  8. Oh, I love this! It rings so, so true. Thank you for sharing!

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  9. How cute, Roxie! Keep talking to your future agent, and one day he/she will appear! Don't give up. And every so often, substitute the word *editor* for the word *agent.* That may bring you even closer!

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  10. I love this Roxy :) :) I loved it the first time (I think it was one of the first posts of yours I read :) and I loved it again. They are out there, waiting for you. You are too fabulous, amazing, talented, hilarious (in a good way), and every other glowing adjective I just can't think of right now, to not get the perfect agent. I believe in you :):):)

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  11. I know exactly what you're talking about. Took me many years and many rejections. Hang in there! You'll make it. :)

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  12. Great letter. I am sure he/she is out there reading it. Keep the faith!

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  13. Thank you all for the kind words. I send that same support and encouragement back to you. Isn't it great to have such a wonderful community of writers? I love the camaraderie and understanding.

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  14. It's part of the maturing process of a writer. Well written.

    Jai

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  15. Great post, I feel the same way. Got to keep that hope going that your agent is waiting:)

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  16. Yeah, I've been there too. Don't worry, your time will come. Hard work always pays off eventually.

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  17. Great letter, Roxy. I'm not to that point yet and, right now, I'm so happy I'm not.

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  18. This is exactly how I feel tonight! I'm so glad I found you on blogspot, Roxy, mainly because I will have the opportunity to witness your balloons and confetti post when the perfect agent falls in love with your project. It will happen, and I can't wait to see how you deliver the big news!

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  19. I hope he is preparing himself to do his best on your behalf. Lucky guy!

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  20. This is an awesome letter, Roxy. Your time is coming, girl, hold on!

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  21. I certainly believe in the magic combination of hard work and positive thinking. These well-matched attributes precede success in every challenging undertaking. Now, if I can just apply them to my typing skills and exercise regimen . . . ;) Hope you all have an excellent week!

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  22. Great post, Roxy. Love the letter.

    I, too, believe in the hard work/positive thinking blend (with a splash of perseverance and a twist of patience). I will never give up writing.

    But if you figure out how to apply this determination to an exercise regimen, will you let me know?

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  23. That's the spirit, you'll win through!
    Hugs, Carole.

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  24. Wonderful post, Roxy. It's so inspirational and just what I needed this morning. Here's to fighting the good fight... and never stop writing!

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  25. Hope someday soon you can say all this to the person who becomes your agent. Great post!

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  26. Keep fighting for what you want! I was once told by someone wise, that most people give up RIGHT before they are about to finally succeed. You never know what is right around the corner!

    Good luck in your writing endeavors. I wish you all the best!

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  27. What do you think would happen if you actually sent it? I'm just sayin'...

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  28. I liked this post the first time I saw it. As true today as it was when it was written. :o)

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  29. Roxy, I relate to all of the feelings that you describe. In one day I can go from feeling great about something I've written to berating myself that I ever though I had enough talent in the first place. Rejections leave a bitter taste in our mouths and stab our hearts.

    I hope you find your agent someday soon.

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  30. I can hear the longing in this, but also the hope. Write on!

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  31. That's the kind of agents who are out there, I think. They are people with a vision for art, critics for their own sakes, like us. I hope you get one that meets your vision.

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  32. So cute! Taking their vitamins!! I love this Roxy.

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  33. Yes, I can certainly relate. I'd write one myself, only I'm not as generous a soul as you are Roxy, and mine might sound bitter; whinny.

    ........dhole

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  34. When I was querying, I believed that my agent had to be out there somewhere. It had to be the person who was the best fit for me, especially after having bad run-ins with agents that didn't match me.

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  35. That was a great post. She's out there waiting for you. I know it! :)

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  36. I know this feeling and I <3 this post. LOVE YOUR BLOG!

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