Monday, June 14, 2010

The Email Addiction

I've often talked with fellow writers about how easy it is to become addicted to your email, especially when you're on submission.

What I should've said is "especially when you're on query submission". Getting query rejections is normal, but when you see an agent has sent you an email back, before you open it, there's a chance it will be a request for a full or other good news.

Once you have an agent, and he/she starts submitting to editors, the email addiction changes. At least for me!

My young adult is on submission.

My agent picked 8 houses she thought would be a good fit and a good start for the submission process. I was geeked, to say the least.

A little over two weeks later, I get an email from my agent titled "Tagged: update". Of course I eagerly opened the email and scanned the contents.

Three shiny rejections.

Ugh! Okay...Five more to go and there's always a few rejections at the beginning. All my friends have been very supportive and walked me through what to expect. My agent told me how normal rejections are at first, etc. I'm glad she doesn't mind having a newb for a client. : )

The following week, another email from my agent and I stared at it, knowing what it would be. My agent would call me on the phone if we sold.

I waited to open it. I went to the bathroom...did my dishes (with my laptop near the sink and my inbox still opened) and finally I opened it.

I've never waited to open anything! I'm an email addict, as I've mentioned. But suddenly, opening emails was less exciting. LOL

I did eventually see my two new rejections and since they didn't match any of the other reasons for the rejections, I'm still in a good position.

The one cool thing about editor rejections, is how helpful they can be. Editors are people too, and I respectfully disagree with some of the reasons given for the 'no' but all of them give you priceless food for thought! I would never complain about my agent sending the rejections to me. They're great...but they're not a sale, which would be HUGE.

A friend of mine has told me to eat a Twizzler for every rejection to minimize the impact, and while this works to some degree, it still hasn't taken away my fear of opening my email.

Each time I do, now, I scan to see if my agent has emailed me and if the subject line is "update".

Sometimes, I'm really glad not to hear from my agent. LOL Whoever thought I would say that??

Anyone else feel this way? Or am I alone on my little island?

Best,
Gin

8 comments:

  1. Gin, I get 'email addiction' completely. And it doesn't have to be waiting on a rejection, or waiting on a sale, it can be as simple as waiting for word on a contest, or communication from a fellow loopster with information you want/need. It can get out of control! What's that old saying? All things in moderation? LOL! Great post! :-) Marianne

    ReplyDelete
  2. I check my e-mails at least 20 times a day! I can't help it!

    By the way, sorry about the rejections. Hopefully that trend will end and you'll get "The Call!"

    Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I'm a total email addict. I even got an iphone so my various email accounts would always be with me :) And when I am waiting to hear back on something, I go into stalker mode. It's rather ridiculous, because the email I'm awaiting for always seems to pop into my inbox when I least expect it.

    I do the stalling thing, too, when it comes to submissions. The email I've been waiting forever for finally shows up and...I wait to open it. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've definitely stalled opening email during subs. My house has never been cleaner!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great article Gin. Thanks for sharing.
    Neecy

    ReplyDelete
  6. I try to only look at my email once a day, after I write. That doesn't always work. If I turn on the computer, I'm gonna check email, guarenteed. Sorry about rejections but I'm still getting agent rejections, so you're one step closer to the dream!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hang in there, Gin. Every rejection will provide great material for the article someone eventually writes about the "overnight" success of your book!

    Manhattan Mary and I are cheering for you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. chill, chica.That call will come when you least expect it. And it will seem like it's not really you talking on the phone.

    Your story is so good, I know it will eventually find a home. Keep believin'.

    ReplyDelete