Please can somebody come and hold my hand while I wait for agent’s feedback?

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Over the last couple of years I've been writing a novel (I was NearlyANovelist) - it's not Tolstoy, just flighty chick lit. Last year I was lucky enough to get the first fifty pages in front of an editor who thought it was "pretty good actually!" and recommended me to an agent who deals in romance (I still have to pinch myself when I think about this ).

The agent read the whole thing and agreed that although the book/I had potential, there were lots of things about the first draft that needed to be changed - i.e. I needed to spread the action out so that more happened in the first half, beef up my subplots and improve my heroine so that she was less of a whinging pisshead

I've spent the last few months working on the second draft and delivered it to the agent last Sunday. Now I'm terrified. It took her six weeks to read the first draft so I know I could be in for a bit of a wait and I am dreading her coming back to me. What if she says ?Thanks but no thanks.?? How will I deal with the disappointment?

Also, I am 39+4 pregnant with DC2 at the moment, so waiting in nervous anticipation is my sole occupation. Help me please!

[sloggies]

Ok, I will hold your hand. You will cope, you are a Mummy! Have a and try and chill a bit...

[MmeGuillotine]

holds hand and offers red velvet cake

I'm in the same boat - waiting for an agent to let me know what they think of books one and three. It's nerve wracking isn't it? Just keep telling yourself that getting past the Slush Pile is a huge achievement on its own and that every time an agent or editor shows interest in your work, even if they pass it still massively increases the chance of someone eventually taking you on! :)

Hope you hear soon and it's good news! xx

[ninah]

well done on redrafting nan, horrible job! am crossing fingers toes and everything for you! lots of luck! (and breathe)

[Punkatheart]

Fantastic to get so far. Have you got any hands left to hold? Nervous but excited for you. Keep us posted!

[BsshBossh]

Terribly excited for you . Another handholder here!

[DukesOfTripHazard]

Also.... this is not the only agent.

[DukesOfTripHazard]

Just thinking damage limitation there. In your heart of hearts, how do you feel about draft two?

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Thanks everybody. Sorry it's taken me a while to reply, I gave birth to my gorgeous DD2 on 6 April and she's been doing her best to keep me occupied

MmeG - What's red velvet cake? Does that mean your book 2 is a goer and you've submitted the others to see if you can get a deal?

Duke - Although I wanted to resist the changes she suggested at first (don't we always?), I now honestly feel that by following her advice I've managed to produce a much better novel. It was great when I came to rewrite the ending and I had to go round and finish off each of the minor character's stories, as they had developed into real subplots instead of just background noise.

However, when I imagine her reading the new draft I just cringe

[ninah]

congratulations nan!

[MmeGuillotine]

Congratulations! :)

Red velvet cake en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_velvet_cake

I decided to publish book one by myself on Kindle as I couldn't wait the years that it takes for publishers to get a book out. Book two was accepted by a publisher and is out this summer and book three, which isn't finished is being looked at by an agent at the moment. They also requested a look at book one though so I sent that off too. :)

[belledechocchipcookie]

Can I join?

Agent liked my book, 'has a lot of potential' but wanted me to have it edited though and send it back as she'd like first refusal. It's being edited at the moment.

Congratulations nan!

[BsshBossh]

Yey, congratulations nan on your DD2 . It sounds like you are excited by your second draft so have a .

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

[belledechocchipcookie]

I've sent it to a professional as I've no idea. She's emailed today, her notes are at least 20 pages long as she's not finished yet. She sounds lovely though, she was the editor at the agency before going freelance and has offered to help with some (well needed) moral support. I should get it back at the start of May.

Straight romance? Maybe if one of the characters was a transexual, may add an interesting dimension to it.

[MmeGuillotine]

I write historical fiction - so far it's been about Marie Antoinette or set around the French Revolution but my next book is set at the court of Louis XIV and the one after that will be about Jack the Ripper. ;)

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

The worst has happened

Agent rang back yesterday - unfortunately I was driving and DD2 was having a massive screaming fit so I couldn't answer it. She left a message to say she's sorry to give me bad news but she doesn't think the rewrite was extensive enough. She said I could call her back next week for more feedback.

I feel heartbroken. I can't see how I can improve this story (I expect the main problem is that it revolves too much around the romance) and think the best thing for me would be to move on and start writing the-next one. However, I can't see when I would find the time and the self belief to do this. DD2 is a refluxy baby and cries constantly if not held while DD1 is a v demanding toddler. I also need to earn a living!

Aaaargh!

[schroedingersdodo]

Hi, I don't post here much but wanted to say something.
Why don't you just leave this book as it is and sent it to other agents? Maybe another one will like it as it is (and if they don't maybe in a year or two you can take a look at it again and make more changes. I think you need some distance before you resume work on it)
In the meantime, just start another one.
(I know it's not very helpful, but you are much better than many of us anyway. I haven't even finished my first novel yet. You should be proud, really)

[ninah]

oh nann I am so so sorry. Really I am. It's heartbreaking enough being rejected from the off, but after all that work ...
I agree with scroedinger. Consider sending it out elsewhere - but leave it for a while before you make further revision. Have you kept a copy of the previous draft?
Definitely get the feedback. There might be something obvious that can reallly help.
What did you feel about the revisions she suggested:? Do you feel you have a better novel now than at previous draft? Are you confident enough in it to approach other agents.
Above all, have a break and/or start something fresh. But do keep at it. You are much closer to home than I am. And I plan to get there one day, despite every sign to the contrary at present. No agent would invest so much time in your unless they believed in your capabilities. Be strong. Have a . Start again.
Oh and shroedinger you should post more often you sound lovely and you speak buckets of sense

[wordfactory]

please remember that an agent's view is just that...one person's view.
By all means take the feedback, then ask yourself if it rings true.

If it does perhaps you could take another pass at the draft.

If not then why not sub it to some more, see what happens.

I have had the same agent for years now and he has been great but he is not always right. When I showed him the draft of book four he hated it and said there was no way my editor would go for it.
He was wrong.

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

Thank you all so much for replying - it's really helping me to gain some perspective on the situation.

[schroedingersdodo]

hi ninah, thanks for that. didn't reply before because was writing 1500 words (smug). I'll try to post more often.
and hope notanother is feeling better now :)