I’ve always thought that clichés get a bad rap. They all began as an idea founded in truth, then were so abused that they became sarcastic punch lines rather than literal statements. Yet, the underlying truth remains. Just this week, I got to see “things happen in threes” in action; in this case, three very different clients fell prey to that particular quirk of the writing business known as "the whimsies of literary agents." All of these clients are talented, all of them are driven, and each has a great story or message to share. They all worked extremely hard getting their book “publisher-ready,” only to be rejected by the “gatekeepers” (agents). Finally, all three found themselves rewriting their queries, rethinking their books, and generally twisting themselves into pretzels to please the next agents on their lists.
What they didn’t realize, but soon found out, is that agents are incredibly fickle. One will say there’s no market for your book; another will proclaim it the next Grapes of Wrath two make matters more confusing, the same agent that rejected your work will love it three months later. If you ever hope to have your work published (and retain your sanity), you must learn to balance your desire to stay true to your story with your need for acceptance, which leads me to another cliché: “You can’t please everyone.”
Happy February, everyone, and as always, happy writing!
Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process, from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com.
What they didn’t realize, but soon found out, is that agents are incredibly fickle. One will say there’s no market for your book; another will proclaim it the next Grapes of Wrath two make matters more confusing, the same agent that rejected your work will love it three months later. If you ever hope to have your work published (and retain your sanity), you must learn to balance your desire to stay true to your story with your need for acceptance, which leads me to another cliché: “You can’t please everyone.”
Happy February, everyone, and as always, happy writing!
Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process, from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com.
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