tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post1053166859910051279..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Surviving the Slushpile ... for the very first timeCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-22925114314692500302011-10-09T18:04:52.019+01:002011-10-09T18:04:52.019+01:00You're welcome to the slushpile any time Jan!You're welcome to the slushpile any time Jan!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24514152398400967652011-10-09T16:36:25.541+01:002011-10-09T16:36:25.541+01:00Great to hear from you, Jo - still on great form, ...Great to hear from you, Jo - still on great form, I see.<br />Seriously thinking of rewriting my novel as a YA JUST so I can join you wonderful people at Slushpile ...Janhttp://literaryteapot.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51253785856477840402011-10-08T16:56:29.467+01:002011-10-08T16:56:29.467+01:00That's so I can chase after the agents as they...That's so I can chase after the agents as they run away from me Candy.Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-41236414468089672952011-10-08T16:40:57.215+01:002011-10-08T16:40:57.215+01:00... the voice ... and those thighs! mmm... the voice ... and those thighs! mmmCandy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-82364630335995058512011-10-08T16:05:51.652+01:002011-10-08T16:05:51.652+01:00Fabulous post, Jo. On the whole I'm glad that ...Fabulous post, Jo. On the whole I'm glad that email has mostly replaced the post for manuscripts. But I have the same OIP as Teri, and I can attest to the fact that it isn't foolproof, alas. <br /><br />As for voice, Jo, you've got it in spades. You'll be basking in requests soon, I'm sure!Amy Greenfieldhttp://www.amybutlergreenfield.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-57067381485111402392011-10-07T19:15:30.089+01:002011-10-07T19:15:30.089+01:00I'll watch out for big towers of smoke coming ...I'll watch out for big towers of smoke coming from your house then Candy...<br /><br />Honestly, the longer I sit thinking about this business, the harder it makes me giggle! It's like a CV, isn't it? Four years at uni, and it all comes down to whether you can write a cv. Except I don't remember drinking THIS much coke at university.Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-4315686102846271012011-10-06T21:06:01.918+01:002011-10-06T21:06:01.918+01:00Great article! I smiled all the way through it!! I...Great article! I smiled all the way through it!! I suddenly don't feel such a fool! I have just begun the journey myself and have even started a blog to make sense of it all - http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/<br /><br />You have given me hope and a grin on my face! Now who could want more!!<br /><br />Thank you!!<br /><br />StuStu Ayrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001940316941634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-48332051265584221282011-10-06T19:21:25.945+01:002011-10-06T19:21:25.945+01:00yes, having wine/pair of broad manly shoulders/hot...yes, having wine/pair of broad manly shoulders/hot bath easily to hand is helpful when it comes to rejection. Funnily enough, (I'm laughing as I type) I've just had an e-mail rejection and eaten a M and S chocolate refridgerator square - which helped.Addy Farmerhttp://www.addyfarmer.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-27773276203615835652011-10-06T18:43:21.417+01:002011-10-06T18:43:21.417+01:00Ah yes! I've forced myself into a new habit - ...Ah yes! I've forced myself into a new habit - even when you think it's finished - sit on your script - send it to someone you trust. Send it to 3 people you trust. It won't be finished. Rewrite it, then sit on it again. Trouble is, at this rate, I don't think I'll ever send the blooming thing to my agent...Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-72720418195777537742011-10-06T13:47:35.613+01:002011-10-06T13:47:35.613+01:00i've got one of my rejections pinned up above ...i've got one of my rejections pinned up above my computer - just because it was funny and kind. i recently glanced at it again and realized that i have since gotten to know that editor and she had no memory of the rejection!<br /><br />yes, hang in there, jo.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-37787253094668161042011-10-06T11:47:00.681+01:002011-10-06T11:47:00.681+01:00Ha, one of my rejections was sent on my birthday l...Ha, one of my rejections was sent on my birthday luckily it came in the mail and I didn't get it till two day later; I did check the date though.Heather Kilgourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553036216216310308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-68101453821083521502011-10-06T11:33:36.483+01:002011-10-06T11:33:36.483+01:00Email is great in so many ways, yet there is a dow...Email is great in so many ways, yet there is a downside to rejection by email vs. post: I once checked my email on Holiday. On my birthday. <br />(I'm sure you can fill in the rest!)Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-31358659294488676992011-10-06T11:28:27.136+01:002011-10-06T11:28:27.136+01:00Fantastic post and could empathise with everything...Fantastic post and could empathise with everything you said. There is a that particular sound as your rejected ms comes flopping through the letterbox. I hate it. Good luck am sure you will get there soon.Ness Harbourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-45275081412257029332011-10-06T11:23:20.232+01:002011-10-06T11:23:20.232+01:00Yes I’m avoiding it.
I did ring two publishers an...Yes I’m avoiding it. <br />I did ring two publishers and found one dummy had made it through two readers and was sitting on an editor’s desk. They then assured me they are a very small publisher and I shouldn’t get my hopes up. The other publisher sent it back the next day.<br /><br />It feels a bit like sitting on a knife edge one wrong move and it’s all over.Heather Kilgourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553036216216310308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14361973932162460262011-10-06T10:49:21.912+01:002011-10-06T10:49:21.912+01:00Jeannette - I devised my own OEP (official interne...Jeannette - I devised my own OEP (official internet policy). I don't put the name in the 'to' box until I check EVERYTHING - it is too easy to twitch on the wrong button and send it half done. Unfortunately I frequently breach said policy.<br /><br />Heather - after four months, I think you should most definitely send a follow up, very politely of course - I know at least one writer who would have missed out on her first publishing deal if she hadn't done so (her sub had got lost). I'd say after about three months it is reasonable to do so (unless their website specifically states they take longer, or don't reply).Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-22098664246071077602011-10-06T10:41:27.308+01:002011-10-06T10:41:27.308+01:00I've been running down every day to check the ...I've been running down every day to check the mail for the last four months. I sent out nine and only five have returned so far. Now I'm beginning to wonder if/how to write a follow up letter.Heather Kilgourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553036216216310308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-47590234415345105852011-10-06T10:17:25.729+01:002011-10-06T10:17:25.729+01:00I'm with Teri on the email front. Much as I lo...I'm with Teri on the email front. Much as I love the ease of email I have to open the Sent folder everytime to check that I've added the contact details, spelled the agent's name right, spelled the book title right, even spelled my own name right (Oh Yes! I do it too. That double n is so easy to miss.)<br /><br />And then I discover something. And what do you do? Send them another email? Hope they don't notice? Ahh! The things we expectant writers think up to torture ourselves with. Oops, there's another. Should I really end a sentence with a preposition?......Jeannette Toweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02549517044119318384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-58011616081346876052011-10-06T09:38:43.020+01:002011-10-06T09:38:43.020+01:00You'll get there, Jo!
The ripping the envelo...You'll get there, Jo! <br /><br />The ripping the envelope to check everything is in it made me laugh: how many times have I done that? Eventually I decided to never, ever seal an envelope until just before that slow walk to the post box (then live in fear that I remembered to seal said envelope).<br /><br />But email subs are worse: once you hit 'send' it is gone...<br /><br />One point: personally, I've never had an agent phone if they are interested. It has always, always been email.Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-54447017439263220202011-10-06T09:33:44.168+01:002011-10-06T09:33:44.168+01:00We have the same desk!We have the same desk!Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-31785865481046781812011-10-06T09:32:28.065+01:002011-10-06T09:32:28.065+01:00This is so raw and honest and funny because it'...This is so raw and honest and funny because it's true.<br /><br />Hang in there and keep going.Ebony McKenna.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02724727996270658767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-16331121027214176192011-10-06T09:25:36.114+01:002011-10-06T09:25:36.114+01:00Jo, i'm glad that i'm not the only slightl...Jo, i'm glad that i'm not the only slightly neurotic writer out there. Although I do the letterbox crouching thing when it my birthday, and now I’m getting older it’s always disappointing with fewer and fewer cards. Maybe it good practice though?!Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759992873045228788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51635424813220518132011-10-06T08:11:35.926+01:002011-10-06T08:11:35.926+01:00I collected my rejection letters into a file that ...I collected my rejection letters into a file that was two inch thick - but now it's disappeared! I've been looking everywhere for it. I hope I didn't set fire to it by mistake.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-90812359387574703512011-10-06T07:53:16.157+01:002011-10-06T07:53:16.157+01:00Jo, this is hysterical! I was just nodding away, ‘...Jo, this is hysterical! I was just nodding away, ‘yep, I avoid elevators at all conferences or anywhere in Notting Hill’, ‘yep, for every submission I need two envelopes for the - did i forget my SASE, my signature, my sanity - panic’. Good luck with your subs.Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.com