What's the Word? Weekend #6

Hey guys!

So, it's time for What's the Word? Weekend once again! :)




Okay so, this weekend I have some good news, and I have some bad news .... so let's get the bad news out of the way first, shall we?

The Bad News:
I received a rejection from the agent that had my partial manuscript (first three chapters and an outline). Here's what the R letter said word for word:

"Thanks for sending this to me. I enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the right agent for this. It felt more like a middle grade novel than a young adult novel. I'm just not as good with middle grade. Hopefully some other agent with snap you up."

So I REALLY appreciate that she took the time to write a personalized rejection letter to me. I'm glad to know that it wasn't my writing or anything, and that she believes that another agent will want me (well, that's how I read it anyway) ... however, the "middle grade" comment is what threw me off. I just ... I can see how my language might be simpler than other YA writers, but I don't know if I completely agree with her that it's a middle grade novel. It just left me confused after I read the email last night. Granted, she only read the first three chapters, and an outline, so maybe since she didn't read the full thing, it wasn't as clear? Regardless, I do appreciate her feedback as opposed to just another form rejection letter.




Okay, so now for some good news ....

The Good News:
I got a full request from another agent Thursday afternoon!!!!!!! :D

Ever since I got that email, I've been taking my time proofreading/editing my manuscript so that I could feel confident when I sent it to her (because we all know what happened last time I didn't ... see my previous posts about my first book in Dec 2011/Jan 2012). I definitely think it's fair to say, honestly, that I queried a little too prematurely (because I anticipated it would AT LEAST take a week to get a response .... boy was I wrong), which I DO NOT recommend ANYONE do! Fortunately, I've been able to catch up and all is good now; but don't try this at home folks .... ;)

So yeah, the final word count of The Zebra Stripes is: 82,623 words!!!!!!!

I also wrote a synopsis for the first time last night (well, early this morning technically), and as scary as it was, I made it through! I think having that outline I wrote for the other agent actually helped me a lot. Most of you who've queried agents probably know what I'm talking about when I say it's intimidating and daunting and, and .... and not that much fun haha!

Hopefully this agent likes what she reads, and I have good news to share with you all soon. When I queried her last week I also told her that TZS is a young adult novel ... but fortunately she happens to represent both YA and MG, so I'll let her be the judge of that (and I really wouldn't mind writing MG if that's what my writing is ... I just know that I'd have to tweak some stuff in my manuscript). I just hope she likes my overall concept!!!!!





In other news:
I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Eileen @ ***Singing and Reading in the Rain*** for giving me the Lovely Blog Award!!!!!!!





I absolutely LOVE it, and feel so honored that she would even give it to me!!! I personally LOVE getting awards, no matter how big or small they are! Honestly, I think that all of the blogs I've visited are really, really, REALLY lovely, and I aspire to make my blog just as spectacular as they are (once I figure out how to haha ... I'm still kinda just winging it as I go along)! I really haven't seen one not-lovely blog yet! So I want to give this award to EVERYONE THAT'S READING THIS POST (and has a blog haha). Seriously, especially if I'm a follower of your blog, feel free to add this to your blog page and say that I gave it to you!!!!


Well, it's time for me to go study for a Statistics Midterm I have tomorrow .... wish me luck!!!!!!! :D

X <3 O