Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Second Guessing!

SIX WEEKS. That's how long I've been waiting since pushing send on my full mss to M&B.

That's nothing you say. Some people wait two years to hear back on a full. So, logically I know I should sit back, start a new book (which I have) and forget about the old one. But the thing is the editor I've been working at is SUPER SPEEDY! She's getting quite a reputation - lol.

I heard back on a week after sending my partial, ten days after sending her the first 33k and the longest anyone I know has heard back from her on a full is five weeks. This was my benchmark until a friend said they'd heard of someone who heard back after SIX weeks.

But six weeks it now is for me and still nothing. I alternate between a number of best-case and worst-case scenarios.

Perhaps its a definite R but because she's such a lovely ed, she's working out the best way to let me down gently.

Perhaps they're just really, really busy at the moment in Richmond.

Perhaps she's drafting up another revision letter.

Or joy of joys, perhaps she's passed it up the ladder for further approval. (of course I know that even if this is the case, the other eds might not like it).

But it's driving me batty. Email checking is a constant obsession. I can barely eat dinner without getting up to go and check. If a child wakes me up in the night (which is a frequent occurrence in my house), I log on and check my mail. Hubby's so used to it now, he's given up asking me what the hell I'm doing with the laptop in bed at 3am in the morning. It's even affecting my writing cos after every sentence I write, I check my email - NOT good for the word count!

So... I'm guessing I'm not alone? Please tell me there are others out there who second guess what waits mean!?

15 comments:

Mel Teshco said...

checking the computer for emails is my obsession too Rach - checking for reviews (or not), checking is my middle name. When you're published, it will get worse!!!! LOL Believe me!!

AJ Blythe said...

Oh, (((hugs))), Rach. I do the same thing - does the wait mean they are passing it around for everyone to read the new fab discovery... or using it to prop open a door somewhere *sigh*.

For my last sub I checked the email every morning first thing to see if something came. I would psych myself up, only to have days of disappointment. Of course, the rejection came via snail mail and caught me completely unawares when I opened the letter box - talk about heart stopping moment, lol.

I know when it comes it will be good news, but my fingers are crossed for you anyway :o)

Becca said...

Yep, makes perfect sense to me, Rach.

Fingers crossed for hearing soon and good news!!

=)

Angie Peters said...

Hope you hear soon, Rach - and hoping it's fantastic news!!!

Kat said...

Well, you know how bad I am, so you're def not alone! I'm terrible for trying to second guess, and it's never helpful is it?
Six weeks isn't massive as you say, and hey, it's summer here - maybe she's taken a holiday? Try not to second guess things - which is a pointless statement I know, because you can't help it.
You know the drill - write new stuff and drink heavily, lol!
It'll come soon i'm sure, and hopefully when it does it will be brilliant news.
Hang on in there!

Mira Lyn Kelly said...

Hang in there Rach! The waiting is so hard, but if there's one thing I'ver learned it's that you can't read anything into how long it stretches other than you just haven't heard back, lol. Not helpful, I know! But it's true!!

At the various stages, I had a million explanations for why I hadn't heard in so very, very long. And then I'd eventually get an email that said, "I just got to it yesterday..."
((hugs))

Scarlet Wilson said...

Hi Rach,
I completely understand the waiting bit. Who are you working with? I'm working with Sally and she gets back to me really quickly, I'm so impressed. Just sent in more revisions today, so who knows when I'll hear. Good luck with the wait.

Jackie Ashenden said...

Love Joanne's answer to waiting - work on the new ms and drink heavily! Yup, got both of those covered! :-)
Big hugs hon. I don't know how long it's been since I sent my chapters in and I'm not looking. Can't bear it. But yeah, Mira's got it right too - she may have got lots of other stuff on her plate and may not have even got to it. Chin up!

Rachael Johns said...

Okay - i replied to everyone up to Mira yesterday and the computer has eaten it!!!

Thanks to everyone for your sympathy and words of wisdom.

But Anita you have FREAKED me out!!! Now I'm gonna be scared to get the snail mail too.

Susan - I'm working with Flo and as I said, she's been SUPER speedy in the past! good luck - hope you hear back soon!

Rachael Johns said...
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Rachael Johns said...
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Rachael Johns said...

Don't know what's going on! First the blog doesn't put my comments in and then when I try again it does it three times!

Aideen said...

Hi Rach,

Second guessing is second nature. I did ask my crit group last week if they thought there might be something wrong with me and by that I meant that a month has gone since I pressed send and I genuinely haven't thought any about the ms. I don't know how to explain my reasoning or my complete calmness other than to say it's done. The ms is out there, I can't change it, what will be will be and I'll know when I know. Seriously, my attitude freaks even me out. I'm the girl with little or no patience yet I'm totally unaffected by this whole waiting process. Now, perhaps if another six months have passed and I still haven't heard, then I'll probably start to worry.

I've already spotted numerous things I coulda/shoulda done differently but it's out of my hands now and I can only hope that maybe revisions will feature in my future. I don't know but I'm ok with that. I'll work on something else, that's what we do. That or bite nails or drink vast amounts of wine.

Anyway, keep the faith and continue with the partial you've completed. You'll know in no time and I'm sure the news will be great. Have you given up buying boots or am I confusing you with Jackie now???

Lacey Devlin said...

I choose to go with the thought that she's passed it further up the ladder ;) *Hugs* Rach!

Rachael Johns said...

Aideen - that's absolutely AMAZING that you don't think about it every second of every day - lol! I'm fairly easy-going about it but I'd just rather know than wait two years! Or a long time anyhow.

Lacey - love your thinking!