2015 – A year of submissions, rejections, hope and encouragement (And yes, I did shift those extra p

My advice to any fellow writers out there – be aware, writing the book is the fun part, editing it and then getting an agent to represent it is far more challenging and requires obsessive determination, a very thick skin and oodles of positivity. The writing part is down to you, all the decisions are yours but to get representation you are at the mercy of other people’s decisions – that’s a whole different ball-game.

I spent a happy year writing Only Cows and Horses and have now spent exactly the same amount of time submitting it to agents. It’s a hard process full of rejections, waiting (oh the waiting is agony), being ignored and coming close to giving up altogether. It will take you to the brink of sanity; make you want an agent so bad it hurts. They are the gateway to all your dreams, to gaining a life-changing publishing contract and a full-time career doing what you love. It’s the stuff of fantasies, that’s why thousands of people send them submissions every week clogging up inboxes and creating slush-piles so high they rival the Empire State Building.

We all have to remember that’s why agents take so long to reply; it’s not personal and certainly doesn’t mean they don’t like what you have written.

I got off to a flying start, the first agent I submitted to emailed back within days asking for the full manuscript. I was walking on air for about three weeks waiting for that life-changing moment when he called to say ‘I love it! Let’s talk!’ What I actually got was an email saying ‘Sorry, it’s not quite right for my list.’ I know it’s pathetic but I admit that I sobbed big fat dream-crushed tears. A request for feedback was politely declined. I had no choice but to draw a line and move on.

The next batch didn’t reply at all – so from one extreme to the other! Then I changed tactic and decided to disregard the general advice on the internet about writing fairly formal covering letters and started to break all the rules – writing letters with humour (it is a comedy-drama book after all) and personality. This brought forth very encouraging rejection letters, ‘Not quite right for us but stood out from the many we receive,’ or ‘Sorry it’s a "no" on this occasion but keep trying! You will definitely get agents interested in this.’ I even got a few agents suggest changes and ask to see it again.

What made a big difference for me was attending the York Writer’s Festival organised by the writer’s workshop. The ticket price included all the workshops (which were really helpful) and two ten minute one-to-ones with actual agents who get to see your first chapter beforehand.

The feedback was fantastic; both agents were lovely (I expected them to be very scary but they weren’t at all) and had nothing negative to say. The one had done a brilliant edit of my first chapter, invaluable advice which I really appreciated. Both agents ended up asking to see the full manuscript which was exactly the encouragement I needed.

In the dying light of 2015, I made my final submission of the year to an agent who a friend suggested. I sent them my first three chapters including the re-edited first chapter. They sent me a lovely email saying they were ‘intrigued’ and would try to read it over Christmas and New Year – I’m now eagerly waiting for their response.

So, as yet I am still unrepresented but have possibilities, hope and a book which, thanks to all the advice from agents and fellow writers I have connected with along my journey, is far superior to the one I was submitting at the start of 2015. I have learnt so much, realised that I am a good writer and can be taken seriously. But I’ve also learnt the true nature of the challenge I’m taking on.

A bit like the challenge to shift this stone I’ve put on in December! Honestly it’s the same every year – simply can’t resist a scrummy Yule log, chocolate orange, Christmas biscuits, basically anything naughty and yummy! So with the words ‘Own worst enemy’ ringing in my ears, I’m off to check my emails to see if that life-changing one from an agent is waiting in my inbox. I’ll keep you posted…