Today’s topic is patience and stress relief, because as my good friends know, that is something I’m struggling with, especially in the last week.
Everyone always says “all good things come in time,” and it’s true. Patience is key, but what do you do when you don’t have any? I’m usually pretty good about at least burying my impatience, but this past week has been the hardest I’ve ever had to work to prevent myself from doing something stupid.
What am I stressing about and being impatient about? Well, my dream agent contacted me a week ago and wanted the full of my manuscript. I’m not going to say whom because I don’t want to curse it (yes I’m superstitious). I will say, however, that he’s from New York, he’s “young,” and he appears to have my sense of humor.
So, for the first time since I started querying, I’m in full panic mode. My thoughts are running the gambit from what if he doesn’t like it, to what if he does? I’m driving my husband crazy and the butterflies have taken permanent residence in my stomach. Along with the flying frogs.
I think they’re building a city in there. Complete with condos and subways.
So, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about what I do to try and relieve some of the stress and the first thing that comes to mind is patience. Lots and lots of patience. Of course, that’s the one thing I’m usually short of.
Agents are busy people. They work long hours and then come home and work even longer. To be honest, besides the doctor I used to work for, I’m pretty sure agents are the busiest people I know.
Their first priority is their clients, so most of the manuscript and query reads are done on their own time. Which is why it is of the upmost importance to research your agents before you query them. I can’t stress this enough. Make sure that the agent you’re sending to is even, 1) Someone you think you can work with, 2) someone who represents—or wants to represent—what you’re writing, 3) is even taking unsolicited queries. Most of this stuff can be found on their webpage. So do yourself—and them—a favor and research before you send.
That being said, I know that he’ll read my manuscript in a timely manner and that he hasn’t forgotten me. I also know that my bugging him isn’t going to make him want to sign me. Which is obviously something I want. I have to let my manuscript speak for itself. Which, since I’ve done the steps I talked about in an earlier blog—edited it to within an inch of its life, sent it to beta readers, and edited again—I’m confident it’s ready enough for him.
So, I have to be patient as I wait for Mr. Dream Agent to read (and love) Mirror. In the meantime, I’ve taken to scouring the Internet for absolutely anything I can find on him. Unfortunately, there isn’t much. Although what I have stumbled across has been pure gold. Interviews! There is nothing (in my mind) that tells you more about someone than how they answer interviews. And there has been no exception here. True, I may find out something completely different if he wants to work with me, but as of this moment, I’m convinced we’d be a good team.
So now that I’ve run out of reading material about him, I’ve tried writing again. It isn’t working. Not really. So, I go and take a boiling hot bath. That usually calms me down for at least an hour and then I can get at least that hour’s worth of writing done.
If that doesn’t work, I go take a walk or a bike ride (isn’t Florida wonderful?) or try burying myself into one of the hundred books I have piled on my dresser, waiting for me to crack open it’s cover.
Which reminds me; don’t forget to visit my blog on Sundays where I’ll be doing my own informal book reviews. I’m even working on getting a published YA author as a guest blogger for January. If I’m really lucky, I might be able to persuade her to autograph one of her books for me and I’ll have a give-a-way. More details on that at another date, but you can only participate if you follow me on my blog at BlogSpot.
And now back to our regularly scheduled blog!
So what do you do when your patience runs out, your mind can’t focus on reading or writing, and you’ve taken your tenth bath that day? I’m still working on that. Maybe someone can help me out here. LOL.
Oh and if anyone is wondering why I have a picture of a dentist for today's post. It's because to me having waiting is akin to being at the dentist. I hate it!!
