Wishful Thinking?
Lately, I’ve been wishing that my work would attract the attention of a major New York literary agent.
Less than two weeks ago, it did. Just not in the way I imagined.
Perhaps I should have been more specific when I wished. I should have wished that Stuck, my middle-grade paranormal novel (that I’m revising again) would attract an agent’s attention. Or, I could have wished that Ferradiddledumday—my Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin, which is referenced by the SurLaLune Fairy Tales website and which will be mentioned in an Appalachian tales book that Dr. Tina Hanlon is writing for a university press—would attract an agent and finally make it into print. But I didn’t.
Neither of those works has yet been submitted to an agent, although a recent revision of Ferradiddledumday (an early version is on the AppLit website) has been sent to a publisher for consideration. So, what work of mine was noticed—and by whom?
Alas, it was my “Vile Pun” winner in the 2008 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. And the New York agent who liked it enough to mention on her blog that it’s her favorite is none other than Janet Reid, who also writes Query Shark, one of my favorite writing blogs.
Ironically, Jacie—my 11-year-old protagonist in Stuck—wishes for things and doesn’t get her wishes in quite the way she expects either.
Be careful what you wish for. And probably how you wish.
Less than two weeks ago, it did. Just not in the way I imagined.
Perhaps I should have been more specific when I wished. I should have wished that Stuck, my middle-grade paranormal novel (that I’m revising again) would attract an agent’s attention. Or, I could have wished that Ferradiddledumday—my Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin, which is referenced by the SurLaLune Fairy Tales website and which will be mentioned in an Appalachian tales book that Dr. Tina Hanlon is writing for a university press—would attract an agent and finally make it into print. But I didn’t.
Neither of those works has yet been submitted to an agent, although a recent revision of Ferradiddledumday (an early version is on the AppLit website) has been sent to a publisher for consideration. So, what work of mine was noticed—and by whom?
Alas, it was my “Vile Pun” winner in the 2008 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. And the New York agent who liked it enough to mention on her blog that it’s her favorite is none other than Janet Reid, who also writes Query Shark, one of my favorite writing blogs.
Ironically, Jacie—my 11-year-old protagonist in Stuck—wishes for things and doesn’t get her wishes in quite the way she expects either.
Be careful what you wish for. And probably how you wish.
~
Labels: writing
posted by Becky Mushko | 1:01 PM
5 Comments:
Yea, but you NEVER KNOW where that may lead. She may know someone, that may know someone etc... I told you that you need to come with me in January! Who knows, we may just get STUCK in an elevator with an agent.
I am often told that any publicity is good publicity...
Maybe you are stuck so that you can commiserate with Jacie.
Life may give you lemons - its your job to make lemon meringue pie with them.
I agree with Country Dew..
the publicity is good..notice is better..
your out there girl!
And how many agents have you contacted about the novel? You have a great background--I'm sure your query will get noticed sooner or later. Your wish will come true sooner or later.
www.GreenerPastures--ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com
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