Update Time!
Okay, I have no idea how long it's been since I've posted anything, but it's been awhile...lol I figured it was time for a little update of sorts. I've been still plugging away on my story and it's almost finished!! I've got 340 printed pages. That's alot! It'll probably be about 400-450 when it's done. I'm really excited about it and hope it's good. *is nervous* I worry that it's too similar to the Buffy format, even though my characters are not Buffy characters...There are definately some similarities, though I've tried to make everyone as original as possible. I wouldn't expect a die hard Buffy fan not to notice though...But someone not familiar with the show shouldn't have a clue what my inspirations are.
I'm really excited to be nearing the end, and at the same time I'm getting sort of sad about it. Once it's over, the hardest part will begin...Trying to figure out how the hell to get someone to read it. I briefly looked up literary agents online and I'm seeing what a daunting task it's going to be to get someone to even look at the story, much less having a chance at publication. My first instinct is to say screw it because with all the millions of stories out there, no one will be interested in mine. But then I wanna kick my own ass because I NEED to be more confident than that. I need to tell myself that I have nothing to lose by trying. Sometimes I let myself dream about what it might be like to be published and make money doing something I love, etc. But then I try not to get my hopes up too much because it just seems like good things like that don't happen to me. Then I think, "Well, they have to happen to someone!" I've read lots of published books that I honestly feel are crap and I could do SO much better. But then I wonder if I'm just dreaming and am not really as good as I think I am....lol
So you see, I have this constant internal battle going on at all times. I either feel like I'm pretty damn awesome, or I feel like I'm a loser who's delusional. I seem to have bi-polar self confidence...lol I KNOW I will be rejected. It's inevitable. Someone, maybe lots of someone's, will reject me and my story. BUT maybe, just maybe, someone out there WILL like it and want to help me get it published. I have to cling to that. I can't let my self confidence go down the toilet before I even have a chance to get rejected. One of the things you have to do in order to get agency representation is to sell yourself to them. They all want a cover letter stating how awesome the story is and why you wrote it, and why someone would want to read it. If I'm going to get noticed, I can't write "Uh, I think my story is alright. Maybe someone might like it?" I have to KNOW it's good and project that, or else the doors will slam right in my face. It's very hard for me because I'm ultra critical over myself and am too humble. It's just not my nature to say "This is awesome, you have to read it and love it." I'm more of a "I know this might not be that great, but hopefully someone will like it..." But I say that not necessarily because I think the work is bad, but I try to prepare myself for failure just in case. Like if I admit someone might not like it, I'll feel less hurt if someone else criticizes it. Does that make sense?
Anyway, does anyone have any tips for me about how to go about dazzling an agent? Also, I was really clueless about how the entire agency thing worked. I thought I'd find someone local and like make an appointment, but I was completely off base there...lol It's really just like sending your work to a publisher because they won't even talk to you if they don't like your work. I thought I'd get to actually be there and explain myself in person and then if they were interested they'd sign me up. So yeah, much different process than I expected. But if anyone can give me advice or anything, please let me know!
Last thing...In the near future once the story is complete and I'm happy with it, I'm looking for a few choice people to read it and give me feedback. Before I send it to any agency, I want to make sure I'm not embarrassing myself!! But I don't particularly want this story all over the place, since I AM trying to sell it. If anyone is interested in being of my 'test readers' please contact me or leave a commment with an email where I can contact you :) Thanks!!
I'm really excited to be nearing the end, and at the same time I'm getting sort of sad about it. Once it's over, the hardest part will begin...Trying to figure out how the hell to get someone to read it. I briefly looked up literary agents online and I'm seeing what a daunting task it's going to be to get someone to even look at the story, much less having a chance at publication. My first instinct is to say screw it because with all the millions of stories out there, no one will be interested in mine. But then I wanna kick my own ass because I NEED to be more confident than that. I need to tell myself that I have nothing to lose by trying. Sometimes I let myself dream about what it might be like to be published and make money doing something I love, etc. But then I try not to get my hopes up too much because it just seems like good things like that don't happen to me. Then I think, "Well, they have to happen to someone!" I've read lots of published books that I honestly feel are crap and I could do SO much better. But then I wonder if I'm just dreaming and am not really as good as I think I am....lol
So you see, I have this constant internal battle going on at all times. I either feel like I'm pretty damn awesome, or I feel like I'm a loser who's delusional. I seem to have bi-polar self confidence...lol I KNOW I will be rejected. It's inevitable. Someone, maybe lots of someone's, will reject me and my story. BUT maybe, just maybe, someone out there WILL like it and want to help me get it published. I have to cling to that. I can't let my self confidence go down the toilet before I even have a chance to get rejected. One of the things you have to do in order to get agency representation is to sell yourself to them. They all want a cover letter stating how awesome the story is and why you wrote it, and why someone would want to read it. If I'm going to get noticed, I can't write "Uh, I think my story is alright. Maybe someone might like it?" I have to KNOW it's good and project that, or else the doors will slam right in my face. It's very hard for me because I'm ultra critical over myself and am too humble. It's just not my nature to say "This is awesome, you have to read it and love it." I'm more of a "I know this might not be that great, but hopefully someone will like it..." But I say that not necessarily because I think the work is bad, but I try to prepare myself for failure just in case. Like if I admit someone might not like it, I'll feel less hurt if someone else criticizes it. Does that make sense?
Anyway, does anyone have any tips for me about how to go about dazzling an agent? Also, I was really clueless about how the entire agency thing worked. I thought I'd find someone local and like make an appointment, but I was completely off base there...lol It's really just like sending your work to a publisher because they won't even talk to you if they don't like your work. I thought I'd get to actually be there and explain myself in person and then if they were interested they'd sign me up. So yeah, much different process than I expected. But if anyone can give me advice or anything, please let me know!
Last thing...In the near future once the story is complete and I'm happy with it, I'm looking for a few choice people to read it and give me feedback. Before I send it to any agency, I want to make sure I'm not embarrassing myself!! But I don't particularly want this story all over the place, since I AM trying to sell it. If anyone is interested in being of my 'test readers' please contact me or leave a commment with an email where I can contact you :) Thanks!!