Rounding Second!

I'm heading toward third base!

The journey to getting published feels like baseball to me right now. I cracked the ball and sent it soaring (sent out my queries). I reached first base.

Then I got a request for a full. That's my second base.

Some people go straight home from there, but I'm heading toward third.

That's because I received a revision letter from an editor. *swoon*

Remember I had a full out to a publisher? They've requested some revisions which I am only too happy to do! So right now I'm trying to get these done so the manuscript can go out for some reads.

I've heard that some writers are discouraged by revision requests. Maybe they're overwhelmed (I was a little) and they step off the base and are out. DON'T step off the base. If you get a request, and it feels doable and you resonate with it, RUN like lightning for third base.

This is pretty exciting for me. I could still get out but I know there'll be other chances for me to bat again.

What is the most exciting thing that ever happened with one of your manuscripts? Would you love to get a revision letter?

For tips on handling revisions, check out these fabulous posts by Jody Hedlund and Keli Gwyn.

Comments

Melissa said…
How exciting!!! good luck with the revisions!
March 30, 2011 at 4:51 AM
Tabitha Bird said…
All the very very best with your book!!!!


I met the editor of a publishing house and we clicked. She requested the full of my manuscript. They then sent me a long and very personal email singing the praises of my writing, but telling me it was not right for them at this time. They even went into detail about where the book could have been made stronger... sigh. Still it was not to be.
March 30, 2011 at 5:53 AM
Katie Ganshert said…
That is amazing, Jessica!!!! So excited for you!! Hope you do the revisions and you round third and slide straight into home. :)
March 30, 2011 at 6:15 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Thank you Melissa! :-)

Katie, woohoo! I've never slid home before. Sounds fun. *grin*
March 30, 2011 at 7:16 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Tabitha, that is SO awesome!!! I know the power of your writing. Do NOT give up!!! Seriously, this is just one house. Your story is memoir, right? I think you could sub it pretty widely, and you should.
Send it out girl! With a rejection like that, I think there's going to be an acceptance somewhere. :-) Congrats!
March 30, 2011 at 7:17 AM
Terri Tiffany said…
So happy for you!!!!! Your journey gives the rest of us hope!!
March 30, 2011 at 7:50 AM
Janna Leadbetter said…
Jessica, that's wonderful! Congrats!

I love the reference to baseball, and I do know you've been training hard. You just might slide right into home, safe.
March 30, 2011 at 8:18 AM
Wendy Paine Miller said…
I would love to get a revision letter.

I've had some pretty cool things said about my work from people I trust.

Oh, and I have no idea what base I'm on. I think I'm in the stands chomping on a hot dog.
~ Wendy
March 30, 2011 at 8:20 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Oooh, Janna, I hope so! :-)

Terri, I'm glad. I know reading other writers' stories give me hope, definitely.

LOL Wendy, I don't know. Seems to me you've been on second a few times. :-) But if you are eating a hot dog, save one for me because I might find myself next to you in a few months.
March 30, 2011 at 8:41 AM
Linda Kage said…
Oh wow, this is soooo amazing. Congrats!!!

Revisions letters really do make you feel a little sick to your stomach because now someone else is actually wanting to see it again. Expectations are involved; what if you don't live up to what the other person wants? Yikes.

But once you're done, you'll feel so much better about the story.

I'm so happy for you!
March 30, 2011 at 9:13 AM
Eileen Astels Watson said…
Jessica, my nerves are all tingling for you!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Go girl. Do those revisions and may this be the start of publication for you!

You've brought a huge smile to my face, girl!!
March 30, 2011 at 9:37 AM
Anita Grace Howard said…
Congrats my well deserving friend! (I hope I'm one of the readers you have lined up--;) -- can't wait to see the changes!)

The most exciting thing that happened w/one of my manuscripts thus far? Hmm. I think you already know the answer to that. But here's a hint:

Es lebe Deutschland! LOL
March 30, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Keli Gwyn said…
Congratulations, Jessie! This is such wonderful news. I'm sooo happy for you.

I wish you well on the revisions. You can do it--once you get past the shell-shocked stage and can view the feedback more objectively. What's exciting is when you begin to see the possibilities, experience a surge of creativity energy, and watch your get better right before your eyes.

(Thanks for the link to my post.)
March 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Laila Knight said…
Kudos for the words of encouragement. Good luck to you! Hope you head for home soon.
March 30, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Linda, you nailed it. I do feel a little sick and nervous. There is that deep fear that I won't get the revisions right. *shudder* Nevertheless, I know that if this book fails, if I fail, there's always the next pitch.

Eileen, your excitement is bringing a smile to MY face. :-)
March 30, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Erica Vetsch said…
Yay for a revision letter! That's HUGE!

Congratulations! Go for it. You might even wind up stealing home!
March 30, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hahahaha! Yes, Anita, that is VERY exciting and I think more exciting things will be coming. :-)

Keli, yep, I do like seeing the story pick up and get better. Hopefully. *grin*

Laila, thanks so much for commenting! If I get home, I'll be telling the world. Well, at least the blogosphere. lol
March 30, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hahaha, Erica! I'll steal and hope I don't end up in a pickle. *snort*
March 30, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Sarah Forgrave said…
Congratulations!!! How exciting!
March 30, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Julie Dao said…
I can't believe I didn't find out about your successes sooner!! CONGRATS! I am ecstatic for you :) When your bestselling romance hits the shelves, I'll be able to say "she was one of the first people who encouraged me when I started out as a blogger"! Best of luck, keep us posted on everything.
March 30, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Dara said…
Well my most exciting moment came when an agent actually requested material from me by reading my blog and my fiction summaries. I had to decline though because the book wasn't close to being ready to send out. But it was still exciting :)

And yes, I would gladly receive revision requests! People often see what I miss when I'm editing so it's would be nice to have that :)
March 30, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Karen Lange said…
A revision letter would be lovely. When I actually finish the manuscript. :) Congrats to you on your progress!
March 30, 2011 at 2:29 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Thanks Sarah!

LOL Julie, well, I haven't made a sale yet and I don't know if it'll make it to bestseller (though that would be pretty awesome). Thanks for your enthusiasm. It's catching. :-)
March 30, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Dara, I remember hearing about that! Very, very exciting. :-)

Karen, yes, lovely is the word for it. *grin* You'll finish!!
March 30, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Diane said…
Slide baby slide!!! Love it and your great attitude! :O)
March 30, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Susan J. Reinhardt said…
Hi Jess -

Great news! Keep your eye on the goal, and go for it. :)

Blessings,
Susan
March 30, 2011 at 8:58 PM
Tana said…
Oh my gosh, I had no idea!!!! SUPER HUGE CONGRATS!!!! I hope you have a contracted book due out soon!!! =)
March 30, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Karen Hossink said…
Jessica, that's awesome!!! I am so excited for you. Keep running! *grin*
March 30, 2011 at 9:28 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Thanks Karen. :-)

Tana, I hope, hope, hope!!!

Thanks Susan!

Diane, I just hope I can keep the attitude if I don't reach home. But I'll be sliding if I do!
March 30, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Cindy R. Wilson said…
Oh, yay! This is great news and clearly you already have a strong manuscript, which is awesome! All the best with your revisions and I can't wait to hear more good news from you :)
March 30, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Angie Muresan said…
I am thrilled for you, Jessica! Blessings on this exciting journey.
March 30, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Anonymous said…
Great to read! All the best the revisions and keep reaching those bases!
March 31, 2011 at 8:02 AM
Jeanette Levellie said…
Wow, that is wonderful! I'm so happy for you, Jessie.

My most exciting part of the game was landing an agent, so I'm only on 2nd base. She's done an excellent job of pitching my books, but so far we've not found a home for them.

I'm still batting, though. I'm revising the two into one, which will reach a larger audience.

Blessings on your game,
Jen
March 31, 2011 at 8:53 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Eeek, Cindy, based on the revisions, the manuscript isn't quite there but I hope I can get it there. Hoping, hoping!

Thanks, Angie! I'll take blessings. I like those. ;-)

Thank you Lynn!

Jeanette, it depends on the game. If it was for an agent, then you already got home, right? :-) Blessings on your game too!
March 31, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Jessie Oliveros said…
Wow! Congratulations. This is great news. I bet you'll be sliding into home soon.
March 31, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Rita Gerlach said…
Very exciting. For an editor to take the time to send you a revision letter is uncommon. This is a good sign she likes your writing, otherwise she would not have taken the time to give you her suggestions on how to make the manuscript better.
April 1, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Nancy said…
Sounds like you are moving right along. Hope the rivisions go the way you wish.

The most exciting thing that ever happened to me was that I would have gotten a short story in an annual collection if I had been Canadian. That was the only thing wrong with my story the lady said.
April 1, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Glynis Peters said…
Doing a happy dance for you! Wonderful news!
April 3, 2011 at 5:04 AM
Unknown said…
That's awesome! Yay!
April 3, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Thanks Jessie! As long as I don't get a rash when I'm sliding, it's all good. LOL

Rita, I'm incredibly excited and honored about the whole thing. And nervous!

Thanks Jennifer!
April 4, 2011 at 7:23 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Nancy, wow, just because you're not Canadian??? That's crazy. A nice compliment, but crazy!

Thanks Glynis. :-) And Julie. :-)
April 4, 2011 at 7:24 AM
Jaime Wright said…
I love the revision process and to me it's exciting to get feedback. It usually enriches the writing or the scene rather than takes away! :)
April 4, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Ivana Watkins said…
Hi Jessica! First of all, congrats on reaching the third base. That must be exciting :). Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. My story was very painful but it was oh so worth it. I will definitely be using elements of it in my next book. I'm looking forward to reading your book.
April 4, 2011 at 9:59 PM
Patti said…
I would love to get a revision letter, but first I need to send it out.

Hope you come around to home soon.
April 5, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Lauren F. Boyd said…
I was just thinking about you today and wondering if you had heard back from your publisher about your submission. So I stopped by your blog this evening and was SO happy to read that you've heard good news from them! Congratulations! I think it's awesome that they are asking you for revisions and allowing you to submit them once your finished. Keep up the good work! I know you'll be getting a contract from them SOON!
April 5, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Georgiana Daniels said…
That's a huge step! Hope it works out for you :D
April 15, 2011 at 12:19 PM
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