Why am I waiting?

[Scruffy Mummy]

So I had a meeting with a literary agent before x-mas about a (non-fiction) book proposal I sent her. She was interested but wanted me to write an extended book proposal as my first was a bit short. I did it and sent it off to her last week - she said she'll take it home over the weekend and get back to me this week. All day yesterday I checked my email a million times - nothing.

I don't want to annoy her - it sounds a bit pathetic 'so what did you think about my proposal?' And either she'll say 'Oh I haven't read it' Or she'll be on the spot because she hated it and is just trying to think of a nice way to tell me gently.

Agggghhhh.... What do you all think is going on? Does she hate it? or what???????????/

[georgia]

It's only Tuesday...

[Scruffy Mummy]

Yes I know! But I was thinking if she read it over the weekend and liked it, she'd get back to me straight away on Monday! So now I'm thinking she thought it was just 'meh...' (larry david speak for 'not so good')

[Keef]

Or maybe she actually did something non work related over the weekend. I know it must be hard, but give it til the end of the week then try contacting her.

[Cassius]

Hi SM

I know nothing about your particular situation, but would like to say that to YOU - this is very very important, however the literary agent might have had several proposals to look at - you might just be one of many and no more significant than the others.

I hope this doesn't sound horrid, but many of us over-estimate our importance to others - to you this is very important, to her it's just part of her job.....

[Scruffy Mummy]

yes, this thought had crossed my mind! Oh, well. Will have to just sit it out and chill.

[SteveT]

If your agent has read it and liked it she will find you soon enough. Now forget about it and move on to your next project! If you are preoccupied with something else you will be contacted, if you have nothing else on, you wont.

Sods law.

[Scruffy Mummy]

Yeah your right Steve!

[Ant]

Definitely relax. Getting a book published is a slow process. If you can get used to that now, this early on, so much the better as it will save you a lot of stress down the line.

Did I mention that publishing a book is slow?

Sloooooooooooow.

[Scruffy Mummy]

Just an update - I took everyone's wise advice and I decided to focus on other things this week and not pester the agent. She emailed me today and said that she had a family emergency last week and was out of the office but was keen to read through my proposal and she would be in touch this week! So more waiting......

[dulwichmum]

Hurrah! Lovely Scruffy Mummy I have a good feeling about this in my Chablis...

I wonder if I have cystitis?

[PeckhamRose]

Good luck, writing is great, rewriting is where the real work lies, and selling it is hell and a-whole-nother business indeed.

Writer friends and I regularly have to wait upwards of 2 months for responses from literary agents or anyone we've sent our scripts to, yet when I had my play produced last year I sent it Monday and he called me Wednesday. Unheard of!

"Yeah your right Steve!"

Don't give them any excuse to get irritated by sloppy spelling though!

Also, may literary agents or literary managers send their scripts out to professional readers to read for them. These people are usually straight out of uni with a lit degree with little experience of real life yet, so beware!

But best of luck and I hope it goes fabulously!! Let us know!

[Scruffy Mummy]

Thanks for the sound advice Peckham Rose! My shockingly poor spelling and grammer mean that I always use a professional proofreader to check everything before sending it off!! A little investment goes a long way is my theory!

I will update you when I hear something!

[Scruffy Mummy]

Well, I've heard from the agent and it's all good! She really liked the proposal, felt I had got the tone spot on and just had a few minor points that need correcting! Once I do the corrections and sample chapter (in addition to the introduction I did in the proposal), it'll be all good to go and she'll take it to some publishers. She was honest about the length of the process and said that it could take a while (particularly as non-fiction book by non-celebrity/high profile authors is particularly difficult) but she has faith in the idea and my writing - so I'm feeling pretty happy!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Well done old bean. [if you need proofreading, am happy to oblige!]

[citizenED]

Nice one Scruffy, I doff my cap to you and wish you all the best for the journey. Don't they say that the all successful authors are simply the ones that never give up - so hang in there.