Literary agent Colleen Lindsay’s blog (The Swivet) is a gold mine of advice and encouragement for writers, including this latest nugget:
"Everything in publishing in 2009 is going to take longer. It’s going to take longer for editors to read and respond to pitches from agents. It’s going to take longer for editors to find the time to read the manuscripts we’re sending them and get back to us with a decision. A lot longer. It’s going to take longer for a manuscript to get sent to an editorial board. It’s going to take longer for your newly acquired book to get scheduled. It’s probably going to take longer to get contracts and checks. It’s going to take longer, period. Because there are a lot fewer people doing all the same amount of work right now and those people aren’t superhuman.
"So starting today? Cultivate the art of patience. It’ll be the best thing you can do for yourself as a writer."
Patience is not my virtue. But perhaps this market downturn will help teach me (us?) how to wait.
I recently came to the conclusion that if there is one major lesson to be learned in a lifetime, mine is definitely patience. I am sooo bad at it. I guess this helps solidify that I was correct. *grin*
Well, it’s never too late to learn, right? I guess that’s the lesson here. 🙂
I read her post. It was a great post.
I ain’t laughin’ at that ‘Patience’ poster though. No siree!
The Patience poster’s hilarious, isn’t it? Google Images is wunderbar.
It’s a good lesson for us to all learn. Thanks for the reminder!
Colleen (Can I call her that?) is such a straight shooter. I appreciate her insider’s view of the industry.
Thanks for passing this along. My agent told me many of those same things.
Even the houses I’m currently working with will, she said, most likely take longer to get back to us.
Things probably move along more quickly, though, when you’ve got a YEAH, BABY manuscript on your desk!
Haha!
We can certainly hope so. 🙂
So what’s the agents’ excuse? 🙂 Patience is a tough one for me, too — and right now, I’m waiting on more agents than editors. Sigh.
Did you read the linked blog entry? Colleen Lindsay’s inbox is full to overflowing with queries. I’m guessing she’s not the only one who’s been flooded with submissions.
I didn’t read it all — I obviously missed that part. Tough times!
I’ll dial back my wait-o-meter from four months to eight and go find someplace warm to hang out.
Sounds like a plan…Let’s do a writers’ road trip!
Thanks for the update. My response. AAAAAHHHHH! Okay. I’m finished. I’ll be fine. Really, thanks. 🙂
LOL! At least we’re in the waiting room together.
Oh boy…patience is NOT my thing either….I have a VERY hard time with patience, but this year, I am trying.
*Taps toes. Drums fingers on desk.*
Say…how ’bout we work on it together?
🙂
Sounds like a plan….;)
I think most of us have some patience issues. lol… like you said, if nothing else, perhaps this economic chaos will teach us some patience. I just hope things start getting turned around sooner rather than later. It is just killing me to see how many people are losing their jobs these days. 🙁
That being said… I hope that your wait is a quick one. 🙂
krlvz
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