Dear 2012 Brows, You Suck

“So when I leapt, it was more of a step down from a curb. I see the book that way. It's a nice-to-have, would-love-to-someday-be-my-career kind of thing, but I'm not quitting my day job, just like this book isn't getting published anytime soon.”

Does anyone else remember when people used to say “thank you, I think...question mark?” and actually say the words “question mark” out loud, not just imply it? It's funny, because people will say “oh, she's an author” or “she wrote a book,” and I insert the hesitant thank you in the most questiony way ever. Because I am horrid at patting myself on the back.

Sure, finishing a manuscript is cool and all, but the more I learn, the more I'm floored by the sheer volume of writers out there. Maybe it's because writing inherently doesn't involve physical skills, people skills, or a formal education. Legit, anymore anyone can self-publish to Amazon. And I mean ANYONE. I could too, and this b*tch of a manuscript would be out into the world.

Thank God I didn't, because the deeper I dive, the more I realize my book needs help and my pitch to agents is kind of shitty. People spend years writing a book just to rush the end part that puts it into the world.

I feel like my manuscript closely mirrors the thing I say to Josey a lot: “I am so glad social media didn't exist when I was a teenager. Good Lord, I am glad none of those shenanigans were captured.” Except for the book it's, I'm so glad I haven't put this manuscript in the public eye fully just yet. Not because my book is an embarrassment, or isn't pretty. It's just naive and green right now.

I'm sure I've broken every agent 101 rule there is, and that everyone who's gotten my queries thus far has probably gone, “Oh boy, she's cute to think this is ready.” Like circa-2012 eyebrows penciled way too thick, with a Lightroom filter I thought was so pretty. It wasn't. And that proof does indeed live to see the light of social media.

I say all this to simply say: it's harder than I thought (that’s what she said). Because I want to do this right and not rush it into the world.

It's a bit like the time I spent before leaving corporate, when I didn't need the income from my business because I kept my career secure until I had the clients, the financial planning, and the business coach secured. So when I leapt, it was more of a step down from a curb. I see the book that way. It's a nice-to-have, would-love-to-someday-be-my-career kind of thing, but I'm not quitting my day job, just like this book isn't getting published anytime soon.

I got one more query out the door, coming in hot at just shy of 200 words instead of the 400 it sat at before. My book elevator pitch still needs some help, but the more letters I send and the more swings I take, the better it gets.

So yes, it's still a swing and a miss (said in my best umpire voice, hand motions and all), but that doesn't mean I'll ever stop taking swings at this find-an-agent game.

One day at a time, babes.

MANUSCRIPT STATS

📈 Chapter 1: re-reviewed and revised after catching AI's "smoothing." Done.

📄 Chapter 2 & 3: Full line by line edit progress.

🎯 Total Queries sent: 11

📬Negative or No Responses: 6

📨 Query #2 out. Under 200 words this time, down from 400.

⚾ Elevator pitch for the book: still a swing and a miss. Still swinging.