Jordan Deen

I received a fantastic, insightful question regarding rejection:

“How do you continue once an agent has rejected you? Do you get discouraged?”

This is a great question. Quiet simply, the answer is no.

The reason:

Writing is a competitive, highly subjective market.

I have been querying for about two years with three novels. During this time, I’ve never stopped learning, studying, editing, writing, thinking and reinventing myself and honing my craft. For me, each experience with an agent has been an opportunity to learn and grow.

I’ve received enough rejection letters to wall paper my bathroom and probably half my hallway. Some have been form, others have been helpful and some have been extremely hurtful. However, each I’ve learned from and greatly appreciated, (even the mean spirited ones).

There seems to be a trend in the blog-universe regarding Agents receiving very inappropriate responses to form rejections. Let me just say, cussing, being crude, or rude to an agent in a response email WILL be shared. You’re name may not be mentioned in public forums, however, the agent community is very tight. (If you don’t believe me- go on Twitter. They talk to each other- seriously.)

Plus, my view on this- there is no need to be snarky with anyone. Your work is just not for their list at the time. That doesn’t mean that you can’t re-query them later with something else. So don’t burn your bridge and send off an email in anger. It will get you absolutely nowhere except blacklisted with that agency. If your email is inappropriate enough, I’m sure they will remember you or maybe even take note of your name/email for the future.

Agents are people too. They have lives outside of their work just like writers. Most work another job on top of Agenting to make ends meet. Most writer’s are in the same boat. I write as much as possible, but I still have a day job and I respect the agents that do reply to all queries, even if it is form, because ultimately- they have no obligation to tell you no thank you. All they truly have to do with their 200+ queries is hit “delete” and then you are left wondering about that unanswered query.

To answer the second part of the original question, I don’t get discouraged because I don’t take the rejection personally. I tend to like writing that is edgy, heartbreaking, dark, fantastical and offbeat- and that may not be for everyone. I write what I’m feeling, while I’m feeling it. I’ve cried my way through edits and re-writes and I’ve been known to toss a book or two at the wall in frustration. I give my heart and soul into each word I put to page and every character I write is a living, breathing person to me. But I know, just because I love them, doesn’t mean that the world as a whole will share my opinion.

Keep in mind while querying, it only takes one person to share your dream and your vision for your characters. You want an agent that will connect with you and your work because you want to have a level of trust, understanding and open communication for someone that is going to try to sell those characters that you’ve spent so much time with.

I hope this helps and answers those questions. My biggest suggestion of all is- Write because you love it, not because you want to be rich or famous.

Writing is like the air I breathe— even if I don’t become agented or nationwide published, it’s still going to be part of me tomorrow and the day after.

Much love everyone-

Jordan~

Ok this is the fourth time I've tried to type out this blog and I'm getting quite tired of it.   What is going on with this thing and why isn't it working already?

Anyhoo- has everyone seen the 90 sections of fantastic-ness that Summit finally gave us?  Eclipse looks amazing and Bryce looks amazing as Victoria.  Remember me and The Runaways come out in the next weeks- please go see them and support our favorite Twilighters so the executives "in the know" will get Breaking Dawn started already!  Millions of twi-hards can't wait to see Edward and Bella get married.  And, for the record, I want her to wear a Monique Lluiller gown! 

Here is it if you haven't seen it!

LOVE it!  Thank you Summit!

So, this morning I awoke to the wonderful release of a ten second teaser for Eclipse.  I'm so hyped up to see this movie and I can't wait for the full trailer to come out this weekend.  However, in the meantime, thank you to Summit for giving us a first look at the movie.  Now- if they could just get to shooting Breaking Dawn 1 & 2 already!

I hope all my twi-hards enjoy this as much as I did.

Oh, and BTW- Summit, if you want to know how crazy successful this movie will be, just look at the fact that within 10 seconds of this teaser being released, "Eclipse" shot to the top of the trending board on Twitter.  Yeah- that fast.

I <3 Edward Cullen.  Stupid Lamb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33DEEI-15c&feature=player_embedded

Today I found an article that Summit Entertainment will be releasing the first 'Eclipse' trailer during 'Remember Me' Robert Pattinson's movie that is coming out next weekend.  SO, next Saturday's guilty pleasure will probably happen at the movies- even if I have to drag the 5 y.o. out to a mushy girl movie instead of Alice in Wonderland.

For today, I won't be partaking in Guilty Pleasure Saturday because 1) my PS3 broke (DANG IT) and 2) I'm focuing on re-writes of Benches 2 and Half Moon (which is due to the publisher in June).  The tentative release date for 'Half Moon' is January 14, 2011 as long as they like the novel and there are no major edits (and fingers crossed, they offer me a contract for it!)

Instead of sharing a movie today, I thought I'd share a list of books that I'm craving right now- happy reading everyone!

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Incareron by Catherine Fisher

Smart Boys & Fast Girls by Stephie Davis

Falling for Romeo by Jennifer Laurens

13 to Life: A werewolf's tale by Shannon Delany

Albatross by Josie Bloss

Mirrors by J.A. Souders (not yet released but I'm REALLY looking forward to it!)

And the number one book I CRAVE:     Rules of Attraction (A Perfect Chemistry Tale) by Simone Elkeles!

Perfect Chemistry is and has been by far my favorite novel of all time.  I <3 Alex Fuentes.  If you haven't read it yet- pick it up today.  It's an amazing story!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone-

much love-

Jordan~

Ok so most of you have probably already seen this- but I have to share it again.  I love it.

As some of you know, my five-year-old son has been dying to get a faux-hawk (not quite a mohawk, not really spiked, just kind of like chicken little)  btw- that is his new nickname.  Anyhoo, he's finally got one and wanted so bad to go to school to show his girlfriend of the week, I'll call her Pretty-Princess because she is.  So Miss Pretty wasn't at school Tuesday.  However, the teacher and Principle told him how cute his hair was, then told him he couldn't have it in a few months because he will be in K.  Talk about being bummed!  He came home on Tuesday and the first things he said: Ms. Pretty didn't see it and the Principle told him he couldn't have it next year.  How horrible is that?  So when did schools start dictating how kids style their hair?  I mean, what's next?  Girls can't wear ponytails?  Seriously. 

Onward and upward- I usually log onto Twitter first thing in the morning to say hello to everyone and catch up with my favorite Agents and Publishers.  I've also figured out the Tweet-Tweet app on my new Envy Touch, so now I have mobile Twitter.  Chicken Little this morning watched me boot up the computer, click on the internet and go to Twitter. Then he asked, "Mama, are you getting on there to feed your birds again?"  

Yeah- through the eyes of a five-year-old.  Gotta love it.  Chicken Little sometimes says the funniest things, I may start devoting posts solely to them, because truthfully, he has me rolling at least once a day with the way he sees the world!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday and a super-awesome weekend!

All the best-

Jordan~

Can someone explain why Vampire DIaries is back to repeats again?  Didn't it just come back on?

Dang.  I guess it's Survivor tonight after Dumbest Daredevil's is over.

Much love-

Jordan~

Ok, so like every other normal woman who goes to the store- I've been watching all the tabloids and all the magazine about Bachelor Jake and his bevy of bachelorette's.  I have to admit, when Ali went home, I was quiet disappointed.  But, I held out hope that Tenley would get her Prince Charming, so I must say that, Vienna winning Jake feels like one of the evil step sisters ending up with Prince Charming instead of Cinderella.  Granted, I'm seriously pulling for him and I hope the edits of Vienna made her worse than what she really is- but seriously- in one of the first episodes she boasted about all the cars she's wrecked and how many girls don't like her because of her flirting with their boyfriends.  The world feels like it is out of wack this morning.  Tenley was squeaky clean, but I feel she was a little reserved due to the cameras and situation she was put in with the other girls, but I wish her all the best for the future! 

And of course Ali was picked as the next Bacholorette- I think she's going to be fantastic and I can't wait to see her in action!  Hopefully Facebook won't tell her to come home in the middle of it!

Much love everyone-

Jordan~

Just something funny to help everyone get through Monday!  I hope you enjoy-

Have a great day.

Jordan~

Another question from my wise and wonderful 'Myspace' friends.

Jordan-  I'm halfway through my novel and I've hit a serious road block!  How can I get past it and back to writing?

Great question!

Every writer is different.  Many will tell you to walk away from the novel and come back to it in a week, some will tell you to sit down and write through it, others will tell you it will pass.

First, let me say this process starts around 8pm because my motivation and inspiration usually comes late in the evening.  It's not unusual for me to be writing until 1 or 2am.

I will grab my largest, favorite coffee mug from the cabinet, fill it to the brim with flavored tea, and curl up in the quietest room in my house (usually my bedroom or the corner seat of my couch).  I pull out my laptop and read through the entire section of what I've already written on the work in progress.  I let my imagination wander in the story with the characters.  I visualize them in their daily lives, their interactions with parents, friends, etc. and let the story go from there.  I think it's important to wrap yourself in your character's worlds to accurately portray how they would handle a situation and get their mannerisms down.

As an example, when writing Benches I literarily cried my way through one of the fight scenes that is from Lauren's perspective.  I connected to her and her fear so much that the fight scared me so bad I was shaking.  But, that connection with her and being able to see the events through her eyes made it real for me and allowed me to write out the scene like a sixteen-year-old terrified of her decision and filled with regret. 

I find reading through what I've already written in the story "resets" me and allows me to feel the emotions I've already had and reconnect with the characters I know and love so much. 

This may not work for everyone, but it works for me.  Writing a novel is difficult and takes a lot of dedication, but it's more than worth it to put that last word on the page.

Hope this helps!

Carpe Noctem-

Jordan~