When is Enough Enough?

I woke up this morning realizing one thing (apart from how sticky my eyes are thanks to allergy season): I won't query the manuscript forever. I won't be one of those writers who query hundreds of agents and then hide under the covers when all of the effort is to no avail.

My brain must have done some macro and micro-processing overnight since a to-do list formulated, a set of instructions, all with a clear end in mind.

So here it is: I have reviewed the client lists for over 200 agents, narrowed the list down after considering apparent compatibilities with their past representations, and only have 35 left on the list that I have yet to query. I'll likely narrow the 35 down further after researching their query guidelines (some may not be taking submissions at this time; others may only be looking for Christian-based fiction AKA mysteries and miracles).

I also have a handful of agents on my list that only take written/snail mail submissions (I suspect they have relatives or stocks in the pulp and paper industry) and will dutifully send those out after the electronic queries have been sent--which saddens me to some extent since there are some agents very high on my list who have smartly utilized the ploy of accepting only written submissions likely in order to curb the amount of queries they get (who could blame them? After going through Miss Snark's Crap-o-Meter query examples, I nearly stabbed my eyes out with the nearest sharp object, which happened to be my own fingernails).

I'll also try posting a few sample chapters on this blog, and then post the site on Publishers Marketplace, under their page of 200 other writers in search of an agent. But I won't do that forever (not at USD$25 per month if it gets me no where. I mean, c'mon...rejection has it's own price. That's just adding insult to injury).

And that'll be it. A girl has her limits. And when they're just not that into you, big girls can accept that and move on. Right? Right.

Besides, I'd rather expend my energy on the latest manuscript. I still have the entire climax to finish on the first draft...and I don't want to delay gratification. Manuscript #2 still has to go through another three drafts, then critiques from a few unluckily chosen guinea pigs, and then at least a fourth draft (a method I like to employ--I am nothing if not methodical. Oh, and short--but that's just genes).

In the meantime, I'll continue with my 3 to 5 queries per week until the agent list is exhausted. And I'll just keep amassing manuscripts on my hard drive until something gives.

What that something will be, only time will tell. But I suspect it'll be the micro processors.