Instant Gratification? Yeah Right.

I was thinking today about my Partial MS (manuscript) for my second novel, The Demon Chaser.

You may recall my agent sent out a proposal to an editor who had requested a peek.

The editor read the first three chapters and synopsis and said he was "interested" and through my agent, I sent on what I had completed. Which at the time was about 130 pages.

It seems like at least two months ago I sent it. Time to start asking the agent or editor what's up, right?

Wrong!

Good thing I keep records of what I send out and when. It's actually not even been a month yet. If I start hounding agent and editor, that'll put a bad taste in their mouth and that ain't good. They may decide to swirl with some Listerine and spit me down the drain.

When waiting on responses, wait at least three months.That's the standard. And that's about how long it usually takes.

Everytime I've been impatient and inquired early, I've been met with a prompt rejection letter.

You see, it's easier for the editor, agent, or whomever to reject you than it is to be hounded by you.

I'll bet one of the most annoying part of their job is the impatient would-be author.

Need instant gratification? Eat a pint of ice-cream. The gratification in writing is there but there's nothing instant about it.

Takes you a year to write a book. Another year to edit. Another year to get a publisher interested. They buy it. Hooray. Another year before it goes to print. And all this only if you're good, worked hard and have been incredibly blessed.

So, I'll try to focus on anything but a contract and plunge ahead, writing the book that may or may not sell and try my best to find gratification in the process. And of course, there's always Ben and Jerry.