A little progress… maybe

So I’ve been researching and submitting to agents in the UK, and most recently the US. After refining my query letter and narrowly selecting the most likely agent fits, I have finally garnered some interest from the US. I have requests for 2 partials and a full. The full has been requested on an exclusive basis. My warning antenna automatically shoots up, thanks to Miss Snark, so in my letter to this agency I might let them know about the partials – after all they can’t force an exclusive. The fact that they’d ask for it, after I sent the first 3 chapters by email, is quite promising though.

I mustn’t get my hopes up of course. This is just the beginning of the journey. But after a sea of “this isn’t right for us”, actually having some interest in my novel feels quite gratifying. It’s amazing how even the smallest glimmer of hope can make you happy sometimes!

Now I just have to navigate the confusing international postal system. International reply coupons and all that. The joys of residing in a small Pacific nation.

Update 15 December: My full manuscript was rejected, which is a blessing in a way, because I received my first comments on it from a publishing professional. The criticisms involve major revisions, but the encouragements were kind. I am feeling a little burnt out by the whole process at the moment, so I have decided to take at least 6 months off from querying and re-writing. My hopes and dreams need a rest.