Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For August, the question is: “Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you’d forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming? ”
This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner! Feel free to swing by their sites and see what they’re up to.
My answer to the question (Has your writing ever taken you by surprise?)
With the risk of sounding arrogant, I’ve always believed in my writing and that the articles I submit to magazines are worthy of publication. Don’t we all? Luckily for me, this is usually the case and it’s the occasional rejection (or lack of response from the editor) that takes me by surprise.
When it comes to unpublished work, sitting in folders on my laptop, I often regard that as “useless”. So, whenever I do browse these stories, blog, and article ideas, I sometimes stumble on a piece of good writing. That takes me by surprise. If only I could spend all my time writing articles for magazines!
Snatching an agent for my memoir is another beast all together. Here, I don’t expect easy progress, quick interest, or magic. It has proven to be a long road as rejections and silence are a big part of my life this year. If an agent ever reaches out, that would be a surprise. I’d love to share that story as an answer to this question one day!
My book progress
My goal during our one-month stay with Mark’s parents in Massachusetts was to submit queries to a total of 100 agents, and contact a handful of publishers. It seemed doable. I’d created a non-fiction book proposal and query letter at the end of 2018. The last seven months, I contacted 35 agents (half replied with form rejections, the other half remained quiet), finished writing the memoir itself, reworked the proposal, and “perfected” my query. Many months of travel and living on the road were thrown in there – months where my memoir returned to the back burner. I can only be productive during house sits or extended “home visits”. So, in July, I was ready to research and get in touch with 65 more agents.
First, we had to get settled, visit doctors for check-ups, and reacquaint with friends and family.
Then, I received a super long and difficult translation project (engine service manual for mechanics in Dutch anyone?) that took me an entire week of ten-hour days. Oh, and our dog went missing.
Next up, there was this US naturalization test and interview I had to prepare for. I passed with flying colors. 🙂 And, researching and booking my parents trip to Canada and New England in September. And errands to run. And, a camper to fix. And, blogs to catch up on.
So, the last week with a desk and other work conveniences has arrived. I selected and submitted to 30 more agents here and there and have reached the grand total of 65. I will not have more time this week to reach my goal of 100. Darn.
The good thing is that – having little time to read – I finished Less by Andrew Sean Greer. It only took me two months. Not sure whether you are familiar with this book, but it is fantastic! I found it brilliantly written and recommend it to anyone who enjoys humor, travel stories, and excellent writing. I still remember how he describes immigration officials in Morocco as dressed in the “green and red of cocktail olives” and how a plane “underlined the moon”. Other examples: “…her lips pursed in concern like a surgeonfish.” (page 210) and “Boredom is the only real tragedy for writers, everything else is material. Boredom is essential for writers; it is the only time they get to write.” (page 204) As always, I did spot some typos.
What’s next?
Saturday, Mark, Maya, and I hit the road again, so I have to prepare a bit for that – cleaning, packing, moving stuff, shopping, maybe reading up about destinations? It will have to happen on Friday, though, as tomorrow I have an editing job.
Happy with and proud of my Caribbean Compass title. 🙂
We plan to visit friends in Maine and explore New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island (Canada). My unfinished agent/publisher research and query goals will weigh on my shoulders every day. There is only one solution: move into a real house and work. But who wants to do that?
How has your summer been so far?
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August 7, 2019 at 13:59
Hi Liesbet! I think you are making GREAT progress! It’s very difficult when you have so much going on including losing your new “baby!” Glad you are both doing good and expect that one of these days you’ll have great news for all of us regarding your book. ~Kathy
August 9, 2019 at 05:39
Thank you for you encouraging words and support, Kathy. As always. Hopefully, one of these days, but more likely, one of these months (ideally not years), I will have good news. I just wish I could enjoy my travels and really forget about book writing and book publishing tasks when I’m in Zesty, but it doesn’t work like that! Enjoy your trip to Baja!
August 7, 2019 at 15:09
Sounds like a busy time! Thanks for sharing your progress.
August 9, 2019 at 05:44
There is never a time it isn’t busy, unfortunately. Usually in a good way, though. 🙂 Thank you for your visit and comment, Yvonne.
August 7, 2019 at 15:48
Slow and steady wins the race. Keep pressing through the rejections and silence, you’ll get there, Liesbet. I know you will! Drive safe!
August 9, 2019 at 05:44
Thank you so much, Jill. You are an awesome cheerleader!
August 7, 2019 at 15:51
Hi Liesbet
You never cease to amaze me! Your process and progress are great learning tools for the rest of us. I think I will check out the book “Less.” I’m intrigued by the selections you sighted.Or is that sited? Either way…
As Always
Safe Travels
Laura
August 9, 2019 at 05:46
I think it might be “cited”, Laura. 🙂 I hope you pick up “Less”. Since you’re a writer, you will definitely enjoy it. I hope you’re doing well on your side of the country!
August 7, 2019 at 15:59
Well, you’ve made it two thirds through the list and that’s farther than most people venture. You’ll hit the remaining batch soon.
August 9, 2019 at 05:47
I might not hit the remaining batch soon, but I will hit it nevertheless at some point. Thanks again for sharing those resources with me, Alex, as that’s what I’m using now, The Directory of Literary Agents.
August 7, 2019 at 19:20
Your travel is an apt metaphor for your writing. Keep driving, savor the journey, you’re getting there. The book is a product, but you are recording progress here. Someday you’ll read this post, and smile with a published book in your hands. And you won’t be 70, 60, or 50 when that happens! 😀
Maybe I’ll check out Less, sounds like a fun read.
August 9, 2019 at 05:51
Hi Marian! With your language background, your joy in reading, and your writing talent, I think you will enjoy “Less”. And, you’ll get through it much quicker than me! 🙂
I love how you see things positively and your way with words, Marian. Your comments always make me smile, especially this metaphor with our travels. Maybe my life is one big metaphor… 🙂
August 8, 2019 at 05:57
What a great post, Liesbet. First, GREAT news on your naturalization test and interview. WHooHoo! Second, you are doing fabulous with sending out queries to agents. Don’t put yourself down. It’s so difficult to do a project like that, knowing how low the success rate is of even receiving a form letter reply, much less a personal one. As far as your memoir writing and subsequently “getting it out there,” I suggest that Marian Beaman (your commenter above) has showed us in her blog posts a wonderful way of getting it done. I’m in the middle of devouring a “reader copy” of her book, and it is wonderful. Just as I know yours will be too.
Enjoy Maine! <3
August 9, 2019 at 05:56
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Pam. You know that writing world. I realize this whole agent thing is a long shot, but, if you know me, I always have to try everything and ideally the hardest way first. When I recently saw a presentation online by agents of a famous agency, I was still baffled by the fact that one of them receives 4000 queries a year and signs one author out of that. Crazy!
Yes, Marian is extremely talented, organized, and prepared and is doing the publishing and marketing part of her book right. Once I go indie, I’ll try to follow her lead. As for Mennonite Daughter, I’m glad you are enjoying it. It’s one of the two books I proofread this year and it opened my eyes and taught me a thing or two. Fun read!
August 9, 2019 at 06:09
Oh, so you know all about how great Marian’s book is. Her writing is terrific, and I feel like I know her so well now. A perfect example of a good memoir – when the reader feels a kin to the author. Never give up, because I’m one of your readers when the time is right! 🙂
August 10, 2019 at 08:03
🙂
August 8, 2019 at 10:19
Hi, Liesbet – Congratulations on your naturalization test! I agree with the others, you are making good progress. I greatly admire how you constantly juggle multiple demands.
Enjoy New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. I have loved my travels there!
August 9, 2019 at 05:57
Thank you, Donna! I’m happy you’re still along the sidelines, cheering me on. If I could just forget about the work I’m not getting done, I might just enjoy the Maritimes. I’m curious as to how they compare to the West Coast of Canada!
August 8, 2019 at 11:46
It is amazing how time gets away and chores stack up. I am in a bit of panic mode now since we only have a little less than 8 weeks left “stationary” and I’ve hardly made a dent in my projects. But luckily we only have to move one time in those 8 weeks so less time will be taken up with the whole moving and resettling process.
I think it is great that you found time to submit to 30 more agents – more submissions, the better the odds, right? I hope you are surprised very soon!
August 9, 2019 at 06:01
Eight weeks left in Cabbagetown sounds like plenty of time still to get things done. But, you’re right, it will be over sooner than you think. Time flies like crazy. And, I’m sure you feel the same way about getting in the van again. Nothing of what you (or I) are doing now fits in that program, so it’s always a fight with the time left. Stressful… How anyone could ever be bored, you got me! 🙂 I hope to raise the odds with agents even more soon, but I have no clue as to how, since we won’t have internet in Canada and going to a library is tough with Maya. 🙁
August 8, 2019 at 17:02
Congratulations on the naturalization test Liesbet. No surprise to me that you passed easily. I can imagine the process of sending out the letters is challenging and exhausting. Good for you to persevere and I look forward to further reports. Best wishes as always from Dave and I.
August 9, 2019 at 06:04
Thank you for the wishes and the support, Sue. Seen as separate actions, the entire process of writing a book and submitting to agents is actually enjoyable. As long as I have sufficient time. That’s where the problem lies. I so wish dealing with my memoir is the only thing I have to worry about, but it’s not. Life doesn’t work that way. Not for me and not for other writers. It’s all about priorities and dealing with everything else that comes your way, too. It would be nice, for example, if I didn’t have to work to make money anymore, or if we decided to live in a house for a year. But then, I would miss out on other experiences. And it’s not how we live right now. One day, I’ll find a healthy balance. 🙂
August 9, 2019 at 14:28
You are convincing me that finishing my book will not lead to relaxing times! I’m with a few others who think you are making great progress as you plug away at all these tasks. Nice to see sweet Maya again!
August 10, 2019 at 08:05
Maya sure is sweet and soft. But also quite stubborn. 🙂
I don’t think work on a book is ever done, even when finding an agent or having it published. That’s when promotion and marketing are important. And, working on a sequel… All these facets sometimes discourage me to keep going, as I want to do more in life than writing.
August 9, 2019 at 18:47
I just commented on Jacqui’s post about the surprise I have each time I can sit down and type 3000 words in one sitting. Sometimes the words just flow! I can see how with everything you have been through lately could put some things on the back-burner, Liesbet. That translation job sounds horrible for lack of a better word! You are a machine to crank out those queries and I’m sure you will hear good news soon! Meanwhile, enjoy where life takes you!
August 10, 2019 at 08:28
Thank you for understanding, Terri. And for your continued encouragement. Isn’t it nice when the writing flows? Those are good days, with a sense of achievement. Enjoy working on your fitness book, before school starts again. 🙂
August 10, 2019 at 06:15
Congrats on passing the citizen ship test and interview!
Such a hard slog to find an agent. I admire your perseverance. Keep at it. It will happen.
Give Maya a cuddle from me. So glad she found her way back to you guys.
August 10, 2019 at 08:30
Thanks, Ellen. Give Simon a cuddle from all of us. Although, I’m not sure he deserves one. 🙂
August 10, 2019 at 11:54
Hi Liesbet,
Be easier on yourself, girl, you’ve moved mountains this month! Congrats on the naturalization! Enjoy your trip through Maine and Atlantic Canada. We will be here in NH through leaf-peeping in October…do love these lakes region.
And have faith – someone, somewhere will pick up your book. You are an awesome writer and author at heart.
PS: Glad Maya’s adventure turned out positively. How scary.
August 13, 2019 at 13:30
Hi Nancy!
Thank you for your encouraging words. I’m not giving up hope yet in regards to an agent picking up my book, but I will have to decide “enough is enough” at some point this year. 🙂
Yes, I do know I have the “over achiever” problem, something that became prevalent again when the immigration officer asked me the first six civics questions and I answered them correctly (which suffices for that part of the test) and I continued being curious about those other 4 scheduled questions (they ask you up to ten and you need six correct answers), which she read to me and I answered as well. 🙂
Thing is that we rarely have the time and the logistics for me to really work, achieve, and make money, so when the conditions are right, I’d like to make some progress and do as much as possible… I haven’t had a day off in a while, but soon, we will be in Zesty full-time again and I hope to relax a bit then.
August 12, 2019 at 17:29
There is so much great news in this post. Congratulations on passing the naturalization test!!!! HUGE. Wonderful to see your name on the masthead of Cruising Compass. So proud of you for submitting to 65 agents in total – especially with all the craziness going on (and that exciting translation job to boot!). I am so excited about the places you are heading to. I have often thought of retiring to Maine, PEI or Nova Scotia ..in my dreams of course. Would love to sail Maine and Nova Scotia again. My summer seems chilled compared to yours :-).
August 13, 2019 at 13:31
Thank you, Lisa. It’s been a hectic month, for sure. And, we are looking forward to exploring a bit more of Canada soon. But first, I pitched an article idea to another publication and need that finished! 🙂 The rest of the agent submissions will have to wait until I get to the library for a few days up north.
August 12, 2019 at 18:23
Oye! I’m exhausted just reading, lol. I see Mercury sunk its claws into you too. It’s almost over! Hoping sanity returns and prevails. 🙂 x
August 13, 2019 at 13:32
Yes to sanity and a tad of normalcy one of these days! Normalcy for us, that is. Which might still be crazy times for others. 🙂
August 14, 2019 at 10:52
100 agents is a monumental and daunting task. How have you gone about choosing who you’ll query? I’ve been thinking about diving back in the pool, but blind querying seems a frustrating task. I should be more careful and take a nuanced approach, but that also seems daunting.
August 15, 2019 at 09:26
Your nuanced approach seems like a good idea. But, that requires even more research, probably. I checked a few lists of agents alphabetically, based on the “memoir” search term. So, all the agents I contact seem to be open to memoirs. Then, I read their bios and what they’re looking for and when their personality, approach, and summary resonates with me, I query them after reading the guidelines for submission on their agency’s website. All agents have different preferences about how to get approached. It’s a lot of work, but once you get in the groove, it’s kind of fun as well. 🙂
Good luck, Ryan!
August 17, 2019 at 12:21
Did you get your dog back? I lost a cat once to a freak accident. It was chasing a second cat around my apartment and hit a window which had a rotten sill. The window broke and the cat tumbled out, survived, but ran off into the night never to be seen again.
Good luck with the querying. It’s one of my least favorite things about writing.
August 24, 2019 at 08:35
Hi Tamara! Yes, we did get our dog back after 30 hours. She managed to find us and our camper back in an unfamiliar area. Wow!
That is a scary and very unfortunate incident about losing one of your cats. What an awful coincidence about the window. Glad she survived, but so sad to lose her. Thanks for the well-wishes about querying. It’s a long and patient process.
August 21, 2019 at 11:50
I’m inspired and need to change my goal from getting an agent to (pick a number) rejections. Success is in the eye of the beholder. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
August 24, 2019 at 08:39
Collecting rejections sounds like fun this way, right? 🙂 I actually don’t mind querying this much and collecting rejections and even not hearing back (which is the worst) as long as I KNOW that at some point, one or two (or more) agents WILL send me an email back, either to read the manuscript, to take me on, or to provide constructive criticism. That is what I am waiting for. And, I’d love to send out 40 more one of these days…
August 27, 2019 at 17:58
Congratulations on acing your test! And hang in there with the agents – I’m sure one of them will be the magic ‘right fit’ soon. 🙂
August 29, 2019 at 08:50
I hope you’re right about the agents, Diane. Today, I will really try to set some time aside and research a few more of them. So hard to work on the road, without internet. One has to make a conscious decision to leave the sightseeing, driving, dog care, and other errands and get on with the job at a library! 🙂