This was supposed to be a really great year.
My husband and I moved back to New York, he was going to start at his big, fancy law firm, I was going to give up my job and do some writing and freelance editing while I got back into publishing, and everything was going to be positively delightful. I was querying a contemporary YA manuscript I really loved, and I was sure someone would feel the same way and snatch it up.
Here’s what actually happened.
I gave too much notice when I left my job, and by the time I found out my husband’s start date was being deferred another three months, I’d been replaced. I scrambled to find a new job to no avail, and things with my manuscript didn’t work out all that well either. I finally put my query letter on Absolute Write and discovered just how awful it was. I fixed it, got more requests, and then got more rejections. My husband got deferred again. Then he got laid off the night before he was supposed to start, his big, fancy law firm went bankrupt, we both found ourselves unemployed.
But here’s what else happened.
Last November, I decided to try this little thing called NaNoWriMo. I’d been so attached to my last ms for so long that I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to start from the beginning again, but I’d been kicking around the idea for this new ms for months and NaNoWriMo seemed like the perfect way to jump in with both feet. I named the manuscript BEHIND THE SCENES, “won” NaNoWriMo, continued writing until I finished the ms after about seven weeks total, and sent it to two beta readers: my dear friend Chris, who always betas my mss (and vice versa) despite the fact that we write totally different genres, and another friend, who took a YA writing class with me and works in publishing.
You know when you think your manuscript is pretty good but then one of your beta readers tells you she passionately hates things about your manuscript, including your main character, and essentially thinks you should’ve written a totally different book? Yeah, I didn’t either, but that happened. And so I wrote and rewrote and by the time I was done revising, my manuscript had somehow gone from 67,000 words to 77,000. And then I let it sit, feeling like I’d changed it so much that maybe I just needed to step away from it for a while. And then I saw a Tweet about The Writer’s Voice contest.
It was the perfect kick in the butt I needed to finish with my revisions (as if we’re ever really done!).I was slot 70 out of the first 75, and then privileged to be chosen by the lovely Cupid for TeamCupid along with 10 other magnificently talented writers, two of whom have since secured representation, eight of whom will undoubtedly follow soon. I’d never entered a contest before and I was shocked at how all-consuming it was–following comments on Twitter all day, commenting on other people’s entries, revising based on others’ comments on yours… It was an all-day, every day endeavor, and for once, I was actually sort of glad to be unemployed so I could focus all my energy on it.
Thankfully, that paid off, and I made some seriously incredible friends and received two votes on my manuscript, i.e. partial requests. A day after I sent my partial to one of the agents, she requested the full. Twelve days after that, she asked to talk. A day after that, we did. An hour after that, I had to ask the ridiculously awkward, “Um, so, is this an offer?” (And that is the far more articulate version of what actually came out of my mouth. Seriously. The psychological effects on a querying writer of not actually saying the words “I am calling with an offer of representation” are still being studied, but there’s no better response to “is this an offer?” than “I thought that was obvious!” followed by the world’s greatest laugh. That is my contribution to said study.) Ten days after that, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve officially signed with Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger, Inc., and cannot wait to begin working with her!
Oh, and I got a job this week too 😉
So to everyone who’s talked me off a ledge, commented on my entry, read my manuscript, passed along my resume, suggested edits for my query letter, and just generally been the world’s most fantastic cheerleaders, thank you, thank you, thank you. And to those feeling like it’ll never happen, for the love of God or Jose Cuervo or whatever keeps you going, don’t give up. Because when everything does turn around, it all feels pretty damn worth it.
Susan said:
A big congratulations to you! One of the women in my writing group is repped by Andrea and has nothing but fabulous things to say about her. Best of luck to you with this book and beyond!
Dahlia said:
Thanks so much, Susan! Glad to be in good company!
writeforapples said:
Congratulations, Dahlia!! What a great story! I’ve added it to my list of inspiring stories at http://www.writeforapples.com/2012/06/inspiring-stories-getting-their-agents.html.
Dahlia said:
Thanks, Dee! Hooray for inspiring stories! I love that you do that!
Jen said:
Yay! I’ve been a fan (or stalker, technicalities) of your writing since your days as a Gawker commenter. Congratulations, and I can’t wait to read your book!
Dahlia said:
You win for my favorite comment ever in life. Gawker feels like a lifetime ago but that is so awesome to hear, thank you!!
Mónica B. W. (@Monica_BW) said:
YAY! Congrats!! I remember your entry and I liked it. 😀
WOOOT!!
Dahlia said:
Thanks, Monica!!
Marieke said:
This whole being away for the weekend got in the way, but belatedly: I am so, SO happy for you! BEHIND THE SCENES is absolutely gorgeous and not surprising at all it got picked up like that! I have no doubt it will hit the shelves sooner rather than later, too. And I can’t wait to see you have ALL the success!! SO excited for you!! <33
Dahlia said:
Thank you so much for being one of its first readers!! Can’t wait until I’m congratulating you on your own post soon enough!!
Tracey Joseph said:
There’s been so many success stories this week. June has been a very lucky month for so many writers. Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading BEHIND THE SCENES when it is published. 😀
Dahlia said:
I’m so late to responding to the rest of these comments but it’s true, June was great and July’s been great too! Definitely a good summer for aspiring writers! Thank you!
Crystal (from AW) said:
I love when there are happy endings in real life stories! Congratulations on your successes! One of my biggest beliefs in life is that you have to take responsibility for yourself and you did so in spades. I really hope many more successes come your way!
Dahlia said:
Thank you so much!! Definitely owe a lot to AW and really appreciate your trekking on over here!
Leigh Ann said:
DAHLIAAAAAAAAA!
I’m so glad your first MS didn’t do so awesome, and you wrote your second one, and you entered TWV, and you were on my team, and we DMed when we did, and YOUR MS IS ON MY KINDLE AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Wishing you ALL the luck on subs. ALL OF IT.
❤
Dahlia said:
LEIGH ANNNNN!!! You have totally earned ALL THE RUGELACH!! I too am incredibly grateful for everything that has brought you my way, and thank you so, so much for letting me go crazy to you these past couple of weeks! Wishing YOU all the luck on subs, and excited to be doing this together!
Cortney said:
This is so fabulous, what a great story! Congrats, not only on the offer, but on the job as well!!! Can’t wait to read more of your story someday! 😀 So glad we got to meet through Team Cupid!!
Dahlia said:
Thank you!! And me too! Go TeamCupid! Can’t wait until I’m commenting a similar post on your blog in the undoubtedly near future!
Rachel said:
Hi Dahlia, I also trekked over from AW. (You once commented on one of my first pages in SYW – thanks!). Congratulations non getting an agent and a job. Good things come to those who wait. (And unfortunately sucky things happen in the mean time…I’m sorry to hear about all that prior sucky stuff). HK is such a great lit agency and I’m sure your book will be very well taken care of, as well as anything else you write. CONGRATS! again. – Rachel (RachelWritesThings on blogspot, and Smiley0501 on AW)
Dahlia said:
Aw, thank you! I totally know you on AW – your avatar always cheers me up! It can be such a terrifying place sometimes that it’s nice to see a friendly face!
Viklit said:
What a great story congratulations!! Followed you over from AW and so happy to hear that you are making it happen! You’ve made it happen! Yay!
Dahlia said:
Oh, wow, thank you for trekking on over! And for the congrats!!
Kimberly Gabriel said:
I LOVE the title of your post. We’ve all had the rough patches – I’m thrilled you got your happy ending…I also love your last line…I’m so glad it feels pretty damn worth it. Fabulous news!
Dahlia said:
Thank you!! I hope you feel everything was worth it when you inevitably write one of your own posts like this soon!
annbedichek said:
So super super excited for you!!!! And I can’t WAIT to get to read more than just the first page of BEHIND THE SCENES!
And you know all that horrid stuff had to happen, just so you have an awesome story as a result 😉
Anyway:
YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dahlia said:
That is basically what I told myself every day–“This is gonna be so extra great when everything turns around!” And yaaaaaay to you too, MG superstah!!
Suzi said:
I can’t believe that was your first contest. What a great story. Congratulations again.
Dahlia said:
I really had no idea contests were a THING. But lest you think that means this came easily, feel free to e-mail me for my query stats on my last ms!
Melanie said:
Congrats over and over again! (Glad you finally posted your story.) I love reading these stories and yours is one of the best- how everything can go from TOTAL crap to completely the opposite. I’m so happy for you. 🙂
Go Team Cupid! (Just had to throw that in there since obviously we’re the best!)
Dahlia said:
We are OBVIOUSLY the best. I also spent yesterday so fully obsessed with SWAY that I actually got out of bed at almost 4 AM yesterday to make it my bedtime reading instead of the book in my nightstand, just because I was so eager to get back to it. So, uh, yeah–I have a feeling you’ll be joining the Team Cupid successes shortly!
Elizabeth Briggs said:
Yay for agent AND new job!
Dahlia said:
Thanks times two!
Anonymous said:
Congrats again, such fantastic news. I’m so happy that pursuing your passion is becoming a reality.
Dahlia said:
Thanks!
tani.P said:
So awesome & I’m so happy for your extremely deserved success. To much more!
Dahlia said:
Thank you for EVERYTHING, including sticking it out in NY for a few more weeks 😉 And, btw, new job has summer hours, so Yoni and I have already begun discussing how that’ll mean an annual summer pilgrimage to Atlanta.
andimjulie said:
DAHLIA!!!! This is incredible! When great things happen, they happen all at once! Trust me I know these things! It’s the universe trying to make up for being an asshat. I can’t wait to hear what other great things happen for you in 2012, because there will be more great things, my MOJO tells me so. 😉
Dahlia said:
I can’t wait either, although now that karma’s on the upswing in mid-year, I’m a little nervous to see where I’ll be come December! And bonus points for working “asshat” into your comment!!
valeriefm said:
Dahlia, I am SO SO SO happy for you! I can not WAIT to read Behind The Scenes one day (I will, of course, be requesting a signed copy to treasure forever). So happy to have been in The Writers Voice with you and to now call you a friend 🙂
I had a similar reaction on my agent call–for the first 10 minutes I held my breath until the words were actually said!
Dahlia said:
Thank you, Valerie! I will gladly trade you a signed copy of BTS for one of THUMP!! You set the bar seriously high for TWV success stories–way to come out #1! (And selfishly I was super glad because I am determined to read that thing!)
Andrea literally never said the words. Even after it was patently obvious I spent days stressing about it. I love that this is a totally common freakout. I think we’ve all just spent so much time looking to “what happens when you get THE CALL” that we have exact visions of how it must be, and any deviation is just terrifying!
Avigail Gordon said:
Congrats, Dahlia! That’s fantastic news, and I look forward to the next post about it being published and my chance to buy it! 🙂
Dahlia said:
Thank you!! Man, I love me some Gordons! And trust me, I look forward to that day too 😉
Michael Gordon said:
Congratulations! I’m sorry you had to go through so much crap to get there, but I’m glad you’re there. And thanks for the inspiring post. I might print it out and stick it to my computer.
Dahlia said:
Hi!! And thank you! Yes, seriously, do whatever works–I *know* you can and will make it happen! And if you ever want to talk about the process, I am always game!