My Top Ten Query Disrtactions

TOP TEN WAYS I ~~DISTRACT~~ TRY TO DISTRACT MYSELF WHILE QUERYING

Y'all, querying is not for the faint of heart. If you're me, you're living in a stress response for an extended amount of time. Every time I check my email, my heart races and my stomach turns, especially during the weekday hours.

That's when I've gotten all four of the rejections that have come my way so far.

I staggered, but sent the first batch on and around 7/29. 46 days ago. Over six weeks ago. So, in other words, I'm getting to that point where it's either crickets over here or I actually start seeing feedback pour in. I'm gearing up for both more rejections as well as requests for partials or fulls.

In the meantime I give you my Top 10 distractions from Query Stress, most of which aren't really working, but keep me from sliding into an obsessive-like rabbit-hole on QueryTracker, if nothing else.

10. Bedroom: Good thing I added a content warning. The husband relaxes me. Enough said.

9. Vacation: I went on vacation two days after sending my first 5 queries. I tried to relax but I was mostly just anxious. I did get some great feedback from a beta reader. I sat next to the ocean, read it, and bawled. Finishing the book was uber emotional for me!

8. Slightly Obsessing Over QueryTracker Timelines: Well, as stated above, I try not to obsess, but I fail miserably. I haven't spent too much time, but take the occasional peek at the agent's timeline to see who has marked feedback before and after my own query was sent. This has led me to believe I'll hear something (or nothing) before long.

7. Looking Up Each Agents Turnaround Time: I just did this yesterday, and found it pleasurable. The average looked to be 4-6 or 6-8 weeks. I even discovered one agent who wants to be informed if I get a request for a full. Good to know.

6. Think Tanking Next Manuscript: I told hubs I'd like to start something YA and we spitballed for awhile over coffee. We came up with a cool premise, character names, inciting incident, obstacles and a resolution. Now I have a pretty solid outline.

5. Writing My Next Manuscript: The sequel to RUBBER ERASER SCARS is off the ground and running, but I'm trying to hold off until late November since I'm planning to write it during the MFA program I'm in -- it starts in a month. We have a 6 month Independent Study, and I'll need something to work on. That said, I may go back and write more before it starts. I'm sure I won't finish it in 30 days. (Winks. I probably could.) I've also written the opening scene for the YA piece referenced above.

4. Day Job: Day job is demanding, and it's not one I can always step aside from at 5 pm. For instance, I attended a client's funeral over the weekend, I think that's why mornings have become so sacred to me.

3. Planning for the Holidays: We already be talking about Turkey Day and Christmas. The old me never planned ahead, but guys, I'm 40 now and I think it changes you into an actual adult.

2. Blogging and Business: Blogging is such a release. Obvi. I'm also working on setting up a business structure to offer editing services to fellow writers. I think I need to update my plan, because I don't have time to read everyone's full. I literally don't.

1. College Sports: I'm heading from home in Louisville to Indiana's Midnight Madness, called Hoosier Hysteria, on October 2. I am pretty sure it's held early evening, not at midnight. Thank the stars. I can't wait for basketball season! We have a new coach who is a former player and Hoosier Nation is REAL excited. I'm personally like coming out of my seat excited, like peeing myself excited.

BONUS THINGS: 5th grader in soccer, Stitch Fix boxes of clothes, and - OH YEAH. I went for an oil change this weekend and ended up trading in my car for one three years newer with half the miles.

Time to wrap up, check email, and check QueryTracker. Maybe send a few more queries today, though I already have around 30 outstanding. It's not a numbers game, but I just keep finding more agents I love, who might also love me. Universe, please let that be the case.

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