Sunday 14 June 2009

Still Alive and Kicking

An overactive firewall has caused havoc with the internet connection this week so I haven't been in cyber land much. However, I am happy to report that I am alive and kicking though I'm sure non of you thought that I wasn't.
Not much has happened on the writing front or any front come to that.
I had a story rejected the other day (boo!) by a magazine that has had two more of my stories since October. I queried them about a month ago but still haven't had a reply. The story that they rejected came back in a few days so I'm not sure what's happened to the other two. If they are still under consideration I would have thought that they could have dropped me a quick email. Who knows?
Also, Roxanne started a new story this week. She hasn't written anything for a while but the urge came over her this week. It's still in the early stages but I'll let you know how it goes.
I have just completed week three of leaving BTL alone - only another five to go. This week I'm probably going to start working on the final list of lucky agents who are going to get the chance to take it on. How many do you think that I should send it out to? Does six sound about right? And do I mention in my covering letter that I have sent it to others?
Oh there was something else that I did earlier in the week. I worked on the first part of NRIMH. I'm going to work on that some more this morning. That was the good thing about not having a reliable internet connection. At least it meant that I had to do some writing.

7 comments:

Annie Wicking said...

have a quick at my blog, GBW as I have put up two links to website where you can check out agents and agencies.
There are links to their websites too, for guidelines.

Good luck with your novel.

Colette McCormick said...

Thanks Annie I'm going there right now.

Karen said...

I think it's okay to send out to several agents at a time, unless they specifically state otherwise but I wouldn't mention it in my letter. Is that wrong?

Colette McCormick said...

I don't know if it's wrong not to mention it in the covering letter but unless they clearly state that they must have exclusive submissions I would imagine that they expect it. If anyone could clarify this it would be great.

Anonymous said...

Nicola Morgan, who's published around 90 books, thinks you should let agents know you are multiply submitting. See point seven of this post. In fact, she says that smaller agencies don't even like you submitting elsewhere.

Sheila Norton said...

I'm no expert, Gonna Be, but I agree with you that agents nowadays expect you to submit to more than one at a time, and I don't think it's necessary to mention it (unless they specifically ask you to, on their website). The most important thing of course is that as soon as you agree to take on agent A, you let agents B, C & D know they no longer need to consider your submission. Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

Colette McCormick said...

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Nicola's blog Captain. as someone who has had so many books published she should know what she is talking about. Someone left a comment querying the multiple submissions which she s going to answer in a couple of weeks after asking some agents so I guess I'll look out for that.
Olivia I wouldn't mind if it was Agent E who decded that they wanted to take me on as long as someone does.