Anyone else on submission?

[Regina Harvey]

Okay, all of you - I didn't say "into submission." I think that might be another Ning Ring altogether.

I've got a manuscript on submission right now (actually two, but only one as Regina). I alternate between wanting to puke and feeling pretty damn good about getting here after so long.

I've heard so many writers' submission stories, but I can't seem to get enough of them. Anyone want to share?

[Regina Harvey]

Good for you! I had a similar experience when the equally-lovely Sarah Weinman took my short story at Shots UK. She totally made my year. Nice to have someone appreciate the work we've insanely decided is something we want to torture ourselves with, isn't it?

[Regina Harvey]

Okay - it's only been a month since my first submissions went out - I no longer feel like I'm allowed to whine about how long it's taking to hear back. What a fabulous surprise after so long! Of course, I'm hoping for good news sooner than six months, but hey, I'll take a "yes" anytime!

[Karen Dionne]

My second novel (the first didn't sell) went on submission to editors last summer. My agent and I thought we'd heard back from all of the editors during the first two months, and so I was deep into the writing of the next book when last January we got an offer from Berkley.

I happened to be in the bookstore when my agent called. He asked if I could talk for a few minutes, and then wouldn't tell me what was up until I found a place to sit down. I was mildly annoyed with him, because I couldn't think of a single reason he'd call me with needing-to-sit-down news, and I was thinking what's this stupid little game he's making me play? But after he told me we had an offer and who it was from (and how much it was for - more than my family makes in a year!), my knees actually did get weak, so it was a good thing I was sitting down. After that, I walked around the bookstore grinning like an idiot. Fortunately, my daughter was with me - otherwise, I would have had to hug a stranger.

My girls bought me flowers and fixed a nice celebration dinner; then we broke out the gift bottle of champagne I'd been saving for this occasion for SEVERAL YEARS. Happy, happy day.

Good luck, Regina, and everyone else on submission! Sometimes, lightning really DOES strike.

[Regina Harvey]

I know exactly what you mean about the elephant. If I let myself wallow in this purgatory, I'd swear there was a whole herd in my office! Good luck! We'll cross all our protruding body parts and maybe it will be enough (plus it gives us something to concentrate on so the elephants will go away!)

[Regina Harvey]

Nice to have an editor who took you along for her wild ride! Now that's commitment!

[Steven Torres]

Two stories, one good, one bad:

After finishing my first novel, I bought a copy of Writer's Digest and followed the advice for submitting to publishers who saw unagented stuff. Dropped seven packets in the mail complete with sample chapters, synopsi, and cover letters. Got a phone call the next day from the person who is now my editor at St. Martins. Of course, she first had to leave the company she was with, form her own company, contract me for four novels, then fold up that company to join SMP and bring me along.

On the bad side, I had a scholarly article rejected with a series of reviews (500 words each) from the peer reviewers. Of course, the reviews were all for some other paper, so I emailed to confirm. it was a real rejection, but the reviews were simply put in the wrong envelope. The next packet of reviews arrived a few weeks later, but they were for yet another article by a third writer. I gave up.

[Regina Harvey]

I don't think anyone can top that, Liz! (Actually, I wouldn't want to try - you poor dear!) Great fodder for interviews when the book comes out, though! Can't wait!

[Elizabeth Zelvin]

MWA and SinC members have heard mine before: 125 agent queries (about 40% requests for full or partial ms), two agents that didn't work out, many revisions, and 35 publishers: everyone in the business except St. Martin's, where a friend had given it to his own nonfiction editor in 2003. The guy kept it on his desk for 2 1/2 years ("I'll get to it soon, I promise.") Finally read it, apologized profusely, raved about the protagonist, and asked me to rewrite the whole thing. Three weeks later, when I email to tell him I did it, he was right, I think he'll like it, he says: "So sorry, I'm leaving publishing to go to law school." Was about ready to give up when I finally got a drop of luck in this sea of persistence: before he left, he gave the ms to a legendary mystery editor. The book will be out in 2008.

[Regina Harvey]

I have enough agent rejections to paper one wall of my attic office but now that I'm settled with just the right guy, I'm on to the new worry of finding just the right editor! It's nice to be on to that stage, but it brings fresh, nervous nausea with it. I guess it's all relative - seems whatever stage I'm in, I need someone to keep feeding me soda crackers so I don't lose it!

[Mark Troy]

About a month after my book, Pilikia Is My Business, was published, I received a rejection. The agent had sat on the proposal for three years. When I opened it and started reading the first page, it took me a few seconds to realize it was mine. I didn't recognize it at first and it wasn't well-written, but it had my name on it. Then I remembered that, yes, at one time the book had started that way. So many revisions in the past, I'd forgotten it. I could see why she'd rejected it. At the time I'd sent it, however, I believed it was the greatest writing ever.