Publishing is a Marathon. Not a Sprint

I started submitting my manuscript to literary agencies last week. The process in general is so daunting, overwhelming, thrilling, tiring, exciting and everything else in between.

I did some research on specific agents that I should target and reach out to. The process includes talking about yourself, where you come from in the writing world, your experience and awards (if you have any) and what makes you an expert on what you're writing. It's recommended that you send out your manuscript to agents in batches. Sending it out to one at a time is an agonizingly slow process and if you're waiting to hear back from that one publisher you won't be moving your work in the direction you want it.

So I did my research. Perfected my bio and introduction. And I submitted my manuscript to 8 literary agents.

I've already received my first rejection; not even a week later.

Normally something like this would hit me hard and cause me to go into a downward spiral; I'm not a good enough writer, I shouldn't even be writing, why am I putting myself through this...

You know. The usual. But Whitney said something that really stuck with me and I think I'm going to keep it as my mantra throughout this whole process.

Publishing is a marathon. Not a sprint.

She told me not to be discouraged. All I need is one person to catch my shared vision.

That is a very encouraging thought. Of the thousands of literary agents out there, there is one who shares my passion.

Time to lace up my shoes and get ready for a long haul.