Hatrack River Writers Workshop: I am SO frustrated with myself

This is topic I am SO frustrated with myself in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

I just realized that in a query to an agent (of COURSE it would be the agent who in my dreams would be my first choice) I "mis-spoke" and referred to a novel by the wrong name. It was close. It's a novel I've read a number of times and I know the name PERFECTLY well. I proofread the letter twenty times and never caught it. Other people proofed it for me and no one caught it.

Now, of course, he thinks I'm a total idiot. *bangs head violently on keyboard*

He was going to send me a rejection anyway because by reputation he never takes clients over the transom. *sniffles* But I did't want it to be because I'm stupid.

Edit: I SO hate this whole query process. (I'm alone, right?) Send out queries and see who bothers to even send you a rejection. Then those few that want a partial you send out and wait MONTHS to see if they want a full and then wait more MONTHS to see if they want you as a CLIENT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.

I have one partial out at the moment and three rejections on my current effort. At this point I honestly need tranquilizers.

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 06, 2008).]

Posted by Wolfe_boy (Member # 5456) on :

I'd calm down just a touch and not worry that much about referring to a novel by the wrong name. So long as the book you're referencing isn't misnamed as Lord of the Hobbits or The Gear of Time Series, I thin kyou're probably alright.

Because, essentially, it's your writing that's going to get you through the slush pile. If you didn't catch it, and proofreaders didn't catch it, there's a decent chance the agent will either not catch it, or skim right on by and head straight to the sample pages you sent.

Once again - calm down, don't stress. It's so unlike you to be so high-strung.

Jayson Merryfield

[This message has been edited by Wolfe_boy (edited March 06, 2008).]

Posted by brainie (Member # 7810) on :

I think you need some chocolate.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Who? ME high-strung? *grins*

Never! Yes, chocolate. That would be a really good idea. Either that or liquor.

Edit: It was to Joshua Bilmes, for heaven's sake. I made a mistake in my query to JOSHUA BILMES! *has hysterics*

There. I feel better now.

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 06, 2008).]

Posted by Wolfe_boy (Member # 5456) on :

I'm more interested in the name of the book you bollocksed up. Plus, with Joshua Bilmes, he's probably seen every type of weird typo and error, and has enough experience to see through a cover letter and evaluate the quality of a submitted piece.

Jayson Merryfield

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

I compared my novel to one that was among his first big sales after he opened his agency--The Sheepfarmer's Daughter. Nominated for a Nebula and Elizabeth Moon's first novel. And I referred to it as the Sheepherder's Daughter. Now I've read this novel at least 4 or 5 times. I have it sitting on my bookshelf. Blech. I must have proofread the stupid letter 20 times and didn't notice it until weeks later.

No wonder he hasn't answered my query! He thinks I'm too stupid to bother answering.

Edti: Bottom line: when kissing up to an agent--make sure of what you're saying.

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 06, 2008).]

Posted by Chaldea (Member # 4707) on :

I'm really sorry about your experience. It seems no matter how much experience we have as writers there is always more to learn. It never stops, does it? By the way, I noticed something in your original post here that is grammatically incorrect, and if used in a query to me as an agent, it would raise a tired eyebrow:

"Then those few that want a partial you send out and wait . . . "

This refers to a person requesting a partial. A person is a "who" and not a "that." So it would be "Those few who want a partial . . . "

This reference probably was not used in your query, but I read it and hear it spoken so often that your reference made me wonder how many mistakes like this are made in queries. So my point is that sometimes the rejection is not so much about the story or what you think went wrong, but the misspellings, word choices or grammatical errors that get in the way. This one is especially common.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Oh, good lord. *deletes extreme sarcasm*

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 07, 2008).]

Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :

I was introduced to Sharon Shinn at the last World Fantasy Convention, and mentioned how much I'd enjoyed The Shapeshifter's Daughter. A bit later it struck me that the title of her first book was really The Shapechanger's Wife.

Of course, I wasn't trying to get an agent. But this was the author. You can bet she noticed it. However, Ms. Shinn is so nice she just smiled and said "Thank you."

Of course, then I really put my foot in my mouth and said, "I don't know why I haven't read any of your other books."

She laughed, and I talked with her for about half an hour.

[This message has been edited by rickfisher (edited March 09, 2008).]

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

That's funny.

I hope Chaldea and Rommel Fenrir Wolfe 2nd never meet in a post...

Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :

too late

are you saying my gramer is incorect?

as i said before i am using militery computers which dont have a good word prosser and i dont speek english, i speek american, and not too well. also human languedgs are quite aquard to remember how to spell.

anyway. try some morepheen, works wonders, when i was hosiptalized in 01 for a knee ingory i got in school morpheen was my drug of choise to numb the pain and help me sleep.

RFW2nd

Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :

Oh JeanneT! I did something similar in a cover letter for a job I really wanted... a bone-headed mistake. In your case, I think you might consider resending it in a bit (a couple months, maybe?) And there's a good chance he won't notice, and there's a good chance he will read your manuscript/ synopsis first.

And take heart--you already have some books under your belt!

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Thanks. I know I'm not the only one to do something bonehead like that. Eventually, I had to laugh. You have to try to keep your sense of humor in this business. That's a funny story, rickfisher.

And yes, nit-picking Rommel Fenrir Wolf's posts should pose a challenge. *grins*

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 07, 2008).]

Posted by mommiller (Member # 3285) on :

Chaldea, I'd be honored to have you pick apart my work. I appreciate your attention to detail.

JeanneT. Good luck. Although I am wondering why you sent a manuscript to an agent unsolicited? Perhaps he just rejected you outright and it has nothing to do with your missquote?

Three rejections on your current isn't that bad. I know of some folks that could wallpaper a couple of rooms with theirs.

Again, good luck.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Where did I say I sent him a manuscript? And, for that matter, where did I say I received a rejection from him? Where did I say that three rejections is bad?

*examines post* Huh. I didn't.

And if I ever post a work here to be critted, you or Chaldea are welcome to pick it apart. People who do that to posts tend to get a less friendly reception.

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 07, 2008).]

Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :

Back in the days when my novels were more like marathons, rather than a gentle jog around the park, I once submitted a novel of 240,000 words. It wasn't until I got the rejection letter that I realised I'd got a little zero happy and I'd wrote it was 2400,000 words. Duh! No wonder they rejected it.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

LOL Funny.

Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :

well if i could remember witch password to use,

what is wrong with books of 200,000 words. it took me the better half of 6 years to write my book of 200,000 something words. my friend who is editing is having trubble with that, with work and all. makes me laugh.

RFW2nd

Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :

"I hope Chaldea and Rommel Fenrir Wolfe 2nd never meet in a post... "

in less than 90 days i will be back to the states and using word 03 so my grammer and spelling will be better than usuil

RFW2nd

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Better than usual? Ok... I'm scared!

(But very glad you'll be back in the states from over there)

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 12, 2008).]

Posted by TheOnceandFutureMe on :

JeanneT- Would it help if we listed embarrassing things we've done that have potentially hurt careers? We'll call it "tossing around humorous story ideas."

I once called a regional manager of a store I was working at "ma'am" on the phone. His name is Rob.

When I started a job for the gov't doing grounds maintenance (cutting grass), I broke an expensive piece of equipment every day for a week.

I accused an interviewer and potential employer of running a scam (I'm still convinced he was). Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

I would start listing ridiculously stupid things I've done in my academic career, but I should get back to trying to salvage my academic career.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Ha. Well I finally got a rejection from the agent in question. Now on to other queries.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited March 13, 2008).]

Posted by Grant John (Member # 5993) on :

It could have been worse, you could have got the title of your own novel wrong.

Adding to stupid career errors, I once sent a job application to a school with a different school's name on the top.

PS Is it just me or are there a lot of books which are called The Someone-of-other(male)'s Wife/Daughter. To add to the two that are already mentioned, I have been trying to listen to a book on tape of The Timetravellers Wife (first tape is broken, need to return it to the library).

Ok just also remembered, The Bone Doll's Twin (the Bone Doll being male and the twin being female).

[This message has been edited by Grant John (edited March 18, 2008).]