In 2011 I will have 2 novels (Vegas Miracle--my first menage romance/The Tap Room--that choose your romance Brewing Passion one), 1 short story in a cougar anthology (Player Conference), a trilogy of shorts that have gotten progressively longer with publisher blessings (Turkish Delights/Blue Cruise/Tulip Princess) and one final stand along short as part of the 1NightStand series: Caught Offside. Plus the "final chapter" unless there is an incessant clamor for more (hey, a girl can dream) of the Brewing Passion series: Specific Gravity.
I am here to tell you that is a ton of words.
Not just the words I used to craft the various stories and series either.
I mean the endless slew of words required for edits, various rewrites, and finally the Dreaded Promotion...the long slog of blurbs, excerpts, cover ads, "release parties", blog hops, blog tours, blog-go-rounds, and of course reviews (we have covered this).
But I love the words....maybe it's because I am such a relative infant that I still get a buzz when I see "Liz Crowe_2nd edits_current MS" in my inbox. While I know this usually means we are past the worst of the crit, and egregious pointing out of my infamous overused words from Editing Round One, I get to read it again and have a teensy little squidge of pride when I realize: Hey! I wrote that! Somebody wants to publish it!
Now I don't kid myself. Publishers abound these days and in some cases seek quantity not necessarily quality. But at the end of the day, it's still a proud moment when you move past the: "We'd like to offer you a contract" to "Liz Crowe_1st edits" and my FAVORITE "Liz Crowe_cover art" and can say. Yeah. I wrote that. People are (God Willing) going to pay money to read it. They may not like it (see previous reviewing rant) but that's OK.
So riding high like I am on a week that has not one but TWO releases for said "Liz Crowe" (Blue Cruise and Tulip Princess from Decadent) it was fun to open up the Iphone email on a Sunday and see a particular set of new words: a request for a "full."
You see, I, like you, am in constant submission mode. I love my publishers and plan to stay with them but I have 2 projects I thought I'd throw to the 5 winds of some of the bigger houses.
You know, see how they stuck? So I subbed them, back in August. Just last week I was at a "to hell with it" stage and inclined to take them back and re-think my strategy.
But....lo and behold....there it was....glowing out of my inbox like a rare gem. I spent several hours Sunday ignoring my family's needs and polishing that sucker AGAIN before pressing the send button. For the record this is actually the SECOND request for a full I've gotten. One for each "bigger project" so far....
And now...the waiting begins anew. It's Okay, I get it. These publishers are awash in in submissions. To have made it this far is a real coup. But my energetic and enthusiastic 2 steps forward towards getting one of my big projects to the light of day now gets the 3 steps back treatment of waiting.
Hold my hand willya?
I'm not a patient person!
Share your story about getting that acceptance email or letter or the "sure send us more" one...did it work out for you?
cheers
Liz
Okay so in the interest of full disclosure AND "full circle of the writer's life" I will reveal that the request turned into a Big Fat Rejection. After screaming, then crying, then throwing things, I reached out to the rejecting editor and got more of a "it's good--it's just not for us." Sigh....back to the drawing board we go.
ReplyDeletehave a great hump day.
I know i"m trying.
Oh, lordy, been there done that. But sometimes it can really work out for you. I remember the first time I subbed to Ellora's Cave then chewed my nails for weeks suntil I heard back. They accepted it!@ I think I did the happy dance for hours. And now I am in my fifth year with them and it's a happy, happy relationship. Same thing with Decadent when I sent my first sub to them last spring. But this is after a big fat folder of rejection letters and at the point where I decided is nobody bought anything I wrote I'd still write for myself. So you just have to make the right happy marriage.
ReplyDeleteyeah, I can't seem to hit the Ellora's Cave sweet spot...no matter what I do. I'm focusing elsewhere but I really really had high hopes for that MS. it's pretty disheartening. But that's life. you are an inspiration Desiree for certain. thanks for the comment
ReplyDeleteWell you know that saying Liz, When one door closes..., Good luck on the next submission!
ReplyDeleteLiz you can hit the sweet spot!
ReplyDeleteDesiree, I've read so many of your gems, you've a phenomenon at Ellora's Cave and our Grand Dame of erotic romance!
XXOO Kat
It's strange how there are so many publishers in the U.S. let alone the world today. They are everywhere and they all do business differently.
ReplyDeleteLiz you rock and you know it. I still waiting for some to actually reject me and tell me why. I have been rejected for an antho but never was formally told no and why. Oh well....
ReplyDelete@Kat Thanks! you are a great cheerleader for me!
ReplyDelete@michael true
@harlie I did get good feedback on the R. But it was still an R! good luck to you!
@R. yep. onward!
Even with rejections and bad reviews, there are still so many who love your stuff. Keep it up! :)
ReplyDelete@Jessica thanks so much!
ReplyDelete((Liz)) Hang in there.... it amazes me how tenacious and dedicated writers can be, and you are definitely one of said authors. With your attitude, you'll totally get there.
ReplyDelete