“I think you are right Little One. It is Friday.”
“Oh, Goodie.”
Another Friday has arrived, and we are not too sure what that means anymore. Well, for one thing, it means that whatever annoyance we had to go through with our work at home situation will be over in about eight hours. It also means that this is the first day of a new month. That always gives us hope for a new beginning.
Here in Texas, the governor has opened up individual businesses. He has set a limit of 25% occupancy, which means most restaurants will not open due to the high cost of start-up versus the return. Most will still offer carry out and delivery.
Also, the governor indicated that the take out and mixed drink accommodation may become permanent. Once that cat is out of the bag, it is tough to get it back in. On a survey here (very unofficial) by the local TV station, 75% of those polled responded that they had taken advantage of the take-home or delivery of mixed drinks. I guess this could cut down on the drinking and driving at least.
I have to share an agent rejection that I had this week. I submitted my material last Sunday evening at about 5:30 PM. This was done on the agency form and included a query letter, a bio, and the first five pages of the manuscript. I got an answer back at 8:30 PM. So on a Sunday, the agent was standing by the computer to “carefully evaluate” my submission. You gotta say that is one dedicated agent. Hahaha.
Today’s John Ku talks about continuing with your goals, no matter the obstacles like automated submission forms with automated responses. I hope you have a great weekend.
Forward by John W. Howell © 2020
It’s your goal after all,
No matter the obstacle. . .
Your own choice to quit.
Fiction Favorites 
I hope many things will not go back to the way they were. But like you, I also wish automated response forms weren’t quite so prompt! Gosh, they could at least pretend to read the submission, right, John?
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Hahaha. Of course, with automated responses you don’t have to wait. Also, you can say “oh well,” as opposed to thinking your stuff is not up to snuff. Thanks, Cynthia. 😁
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There are so many agents out there it must be like fish in the sea. If you want to choose another one, all the best, John. I see your guards are on the alert. We’re locked down here until May 15th. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I think a continued lock down is the best thing.
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I think they don’t read much works right now (if at all), its all on the hold because of the uncertainty in the world.. good luck! You should send at least to 50-100 to get the result you desire (I think)… it will be fine at the end! Persistence!! .. and have a great weekend! ✌️☕️
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Thanks, coach. Have a great weekend as well. 🍦
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🍪🍩🍫✌️
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Is your instagram account down? While reading Sophia Von X I wanted to got there to see if you had visited Istanbul since your descriptions were so good. I couldn’t find the account. Also on your site when you click on the Instagram Icon it say removed.
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Nope lol but I’ll check… I had troubles with my Wp-page, maybe that’s why 😩😩
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Yeah… I never been in Istanbul:) but my husband been tho. Well, Google is my friend in this case – I watched videos inside of Hagia Sophia and I work with Google maps closely 😂🕺 step by step
Thank u 😀✌️
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😁
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I hadn’t heard about delivery mixed drinks, John. You’re right, it could help with the problem of drinking and driving…unless the delivery person takes a few sips. I was fortunate not have to go through the dreaded query experience…hang in there. Any agent would be a fool not to snatch you up! Happy May Day!
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What a sweet thing to say, Jill. Happy May Day to you as well. 😁
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I have yet to see if they’re doing the mixed drink takeout here. You do have a point that it could reduce drunk driving a bit. I’m a little leery of the whole thing since you have a stranger transporting it.
3 hour turnaround is fairly dedicated. Suspicious too.
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The rules are the drink has to be sealed. One place was putting duct tape on the covers of carry out containers. Pretty funny. I have to be grateful for a three hour turn around. No waiting for a shoe to hit the floor. Thanks, Charles.
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That’s not a bad idea. Duct tape is incredibly useful. Hope the next agent works out.
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Thanks, Charles. I don’t expect much so I won’t be disappointed much. 😊
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Whatever you decide, you’ll have readers like me who look forward to your story. Have a great weekend, John. 🙂
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What a nice thing to say, Gwen. A three hour rejection is not something I take with any seriousness. In fact it makes for good stories later. Have a great weekend. 😁
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Hopefully the quick turn-around didn’t contain the condescending, It’s-not-you-it’s-me-Keep-writing-Grasshopper that literary magazine editors seem so fond of these days. Bah!
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No it was straight forward and fast which I liked. I also hate the it’s not you it’s us thingy. My second wife used that one. I had to laugh out loud. Also, I had to wonder then why we were splitting everying 50/50. 😁
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Good point about the 50/50 split . . .
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Sorry about the agent. Working overtime, I’m sure. We’ve allowed alcohol takeout, but we didn’t throw the switch on delivery. A new business born out of pandemic. Whodathunk.
Best of luck with the next agent, should you decide to continue, John.
Enjoy the weekend. Deliver yourself three fingers and let the dogs run.
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I have a whole list to send. Each one requires a little different submission, so yes, continue on I will. Thaks, Dan. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you at the bar tomorrow.
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Good luck, John.
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Thanks, Dan
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Yep – restaurants at 25% might as well stay closed (other than carryout). My governor hasn’t said anything about restaurants here. Offices have a start date. Food trucks should head into the city center! There’s another agent out there for you!
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Thank you, Frank. Have a super weekend.
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I remember when I first came to Houston in 1973, drive-through stands serving mixed drinks were common. Then, they disappeared. Now, somewhat modified in form, they’re back. Who knows? Maybe that agent had ordered a little too much take-out before telling you ‘no’!
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Hahahaha. I’m betting the agent never even saw the submission. It was probabily an auto reject which is okay wth me. I would rather have one of those then the silent treatment that most agencies give you. Yes, on their website they say, “If you haven’t heard from us in 12 weeks, consider that we are not interested.” Such a business. Thanks, Linda.
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In Florida things are loosening up like you said, except for the 3 counties with the high numbers. Reports here say that as owners and managers call their employees back, they are refusing because they say they’re making more on unemployment!! Now we have a new problem!
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I was expecting that kind of reaction, GP. It is a tough problem when you pay people for not working.
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Rejection. Plus convid-19 economics. Hmmm spend money we don’t have or reject ? Quick check the Pulitzer prize candidates – is it on the list ? Darn – sorry rejected. Oh and when they do have money they will be only slightly less picky. Happy Friday John. We have made it to the weekend. What ever the blur that might be.
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I agree on the blur, John. I sure wish I could figure out why my comments don’t show up on your posts. Ah well. Know I’m reading them (for whatever that is worth)
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Technology is a curious thing. There are so many levels where things take a left turn and decide not to come back. I use the WP reader to follow the blogs. I will be liking and commenting along and suddenly notice the like button has taken a turn for the teflon. The little star will change color as I click and then come back empty no matter how firmly or how frequently I click on it. At that point I surrender for the day. Not sure whether it is WP, something in the network, or some other obscure subroutine going kerflouie. And I have a similar issue attaching tags to own posts. It only takes several tries to attach them. I am pretty sure that it is my fault. No doubt sacrificing the wrong breed of chickens before hitting enter. Or forgetting to click the right heal to the left instead of vice versa and then spinning 3 turns to the right on Tuesdays. Changing the spin direction to match the day and the phase of the moon. So far after repeated attempts it does finally take.
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Maybe you aren’t holding your mouth right.
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Sorry about the rejection, John – don’t give up! I hadn’t heard about mixed drink delivery – not an option here, but it does put a damper on drinking and driving. Always a good thing. Have a great weekend!
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I don’t expect anything to come from the queries but i’ll never know till I try so yes, i’ll keep going. The nice thing about a three hour rejection is one can move on quickly. Thnaks for the support, Teri. 😊
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👍📚❤
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😁
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Minnesota is ridiculous.
Our governor feels it is necessary to continue to bankrupt a lawn mower service in Baudette, the seat of Lake of the Woods county, even though the county has yet to report a single Covid case.
On the other hand, he has no problem with Target, Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot remaining open in the Twin Cities.
It’s the Minnesota way, he tells us.
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Sounds like a candidate for tar and feathers. Thanks, Greg.
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Bushwa! What a sham. That’s even worse than form letter rejections with check boxes. Making somebody do the work of putting that package together, and then doing a half-a$$ job of pretending to look at it… And this is just an agent, not even a publisher? Dante needs to be in charge of their after-life. Hugs on the wing, my friend.
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Hahahaha. Love the Dante part. I agree on the Bushwa. Hugs, Teagan.
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John, I’m so sorry about the rejection, but you probably wouldn’t have wanted to work with somebody just sitting at his/her computer on a Sunday night waiting anyway, right?! There are a LOT more fish in the sea, my friend — you hang in there and catch the right one! In Illinois, we’re locked down another month. Downstate, we’re starting to chomp at the bit — the bulk of the virus cases are in the Chicago area, so we’d prefer a gradual return to normalcy (whatever that might look like now!)
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Yes, the problem with state wide mandates is they sometimes are not needed uniformially. I’m not worried about rejections since that is the norm. My belief is it just takes one so that is my target. Thamnks. Debbie.
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Dear John, these agents seem to me aliens…I wonder if they ever give a positive answer to anybody. Anyway, any goal deserves its own Friday!
Cheers! Have a nice week-end in the crazy week-end world! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, Maria. Alien Agents. I like the concept.
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Ha-ha-ha! Always at your service, dear John! I have shared some personal experience with you. 🙂
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I could tell. Thanks again for sharing.
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I’m getting use to the restaurant delivery. I’ll definitely keep ordering from them after this mess called Covid 19.
I love your agent story. That’s a super quick reply! It may mean that your query letter rocked, which is super important when entering the slush pile. It’s all about finding the agent who is looking for your book. They are out there!!
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I think you have the half full version, Susie. Yes, going to keep looking.
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Don’t I know it. 😂😎😂
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Maria’s comment had me wondering if there ever are positive “bot” agent letters…
NEXT!
I could not see myself ever ordering a mixed drink. What do they do? Send the ingredients and you mix them yourself or they mix ’em up and you just add ice? I’ll stick to making my own, thank you very much. I am also rather proud that I have not resorted to ordering any food, either. Yes, it would be nice to support my local restaurants, however, I need to manage my own pocketbook, too.
Have an excellent Friday, John!
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Lots of margaritas sold here. Each place has it’s own recipe and following. Not for me either. Tkae home food is never as good either. I don’t think there are positive bot letters. Habe a great weekend, Dale.
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Coz they are SO hard to make yourself… 😏
Nah… take home food is for desperate times – not saying they can’t come in handy.
You too!!
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My reciepe includes fresh key limes, agave necter, Grand Marnier and top shelf tequila. Yum.
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Yes, please.
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Uh huh. 😊
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You da best. 🍸💝
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❤️
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💖
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Sorry about the rejection, but since it wasn’t read it really wasn’t:) Hope you find the perfect agent! Still waiting here for things to go back to a new normal.
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I understand about the new normal, Denise.
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Interesting about the drinks. I had no idea! I wonder if that’s offered here in California. And even more interesting about the dedicated agent. If you’re going to be turned down, the pain is eased knowing it was done after careful thought.
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Three hours on a Sunday I don’t believe was careful thought. It was a robo rejection. 😁. The good part is I don’t have to worry about this agency again.
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I’ve arranged a hit on that agent, but we’ll keep that strictly between us, okay? I wish I’d been able to frame all my automated rejections, they’d make quite a display and perfect for using as a dart-board when the mood strikes me.😁 Our lockdown laws remain stringent with one small exception; we have now been allowed to have up to two adult visitors per day. I consider myself so fortunate to be living here in Oz. Our Prime-Minister Scott Morrison is a strong leader and a man of the people.
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I’m gald you are staying healthy, Soooz. Have a super weekend.
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Getting back to normal? What’s that?
Nah, there won’t be a normal, not for a while if really ever. What we have and what we do going forward will be different, because of course it will. And I’m okay with people taking the time, really.
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Me too. Thanks, Marc.
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Be safe, and have a great weekend.
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Thank you Marc. 😁 Too bad I’m not doing something danderous like juggling knives.
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You need all your fingers, Boss.
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Well I only need tow to type. 😁
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You are so adaptable.
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And am challenged. That should be “two” DUH
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Hahahaha!
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I hope someone picks you up. I’d like to see one of my indie friends make it big. Someone should start a bar truck, kind of like the ice cream truck. Chase him down the street for a whiskey sour.
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Thanks for the encouragement. As one agency says on their website, “The odds of getting an agent and winning the lottery are the same.” My wife reminded me of what I said the last time I queried agents. Something like “Cold day in Hell I’m doing this again.” This too will pass. I like the idea of a booze truck. The attention grabbing song could be “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet instead of bells.
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Perfect. I forgot about music.
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😁
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You’re right about the restaurants, John. And I think the majority of people will still err on the side of the caution and continue to do take-out. Yeah, the to-go alcohol is interesting. I’m not so sure it will cut down on drinking and driving. 🙂 John, I’ve been pitching for three years. Finally, this week I have a publisher who says they are interested, but I have to come up with a different title because there are several books on Amazon with the same title I had chosen almost four years ago. I’m working on it. Their email said they would send me a publishing contract as soon as we agree on a title, but I’m not doing the happy dance until I sign on the dotted line.
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I am so happy for you since I know this is what you have been working so hard to achieve. I hope you have someone who knows what they are doing help you with the contract. 😁
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Publishers are being inundated with manuscripts at the moment, so I hear. Have a good weekend.
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I hear the same. So I’m joining the deluge. Thanks, Guy.
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I applaud your resillience, John. Writing is a tough business.
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Hahaha. It is Mark as you well know. Thank you. 😊
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Somethings opened up and loosened up yesterday here. Golf being one. The course was very busy and everyone looked very happy to be outside playing their game of golf, and no one hit the house! WOOT! There are a lot of bad golfers out there. I just gave away a clay pot full of golf balls collected from my yard to my neighbor who is an avid golfer. He was happy and upon inspection very thankful that none of the balls were his! 😁
There’s a Mexican place in Carson City that’s been advertising take out margaritas for weeks. One of my friends tried it with a take-away dinner order and she said it was all good!
My hairdresser texted me last evening canceling my appointment for the 3rd time! She didn’t even reschedule this time. I trimmed my own hair recently, but can’t wait to see her!
I’m sorry about the manuscript, John. Aren’t there lots of agents in the sea? Keep plugging away at it, that right publisher will come along.
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yeah don’t worry about the manuscript. I expect many rejections. That is just life in the writing world. Have a super Sunday, Deborah. 😀
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Our little county in Nebraska has cases rising so we have to stay put a little longer. Glad y’all are doing well.
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I think everyone has gone crazy. I’m watching people on TV bunching up and no masks. There is going to be a rebound for sure.
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At least you know the agent’s rejection had nothing to do with your writing. That’s something. Keep forging. Our state has yet to open anything. We’re still doing pretty bad. As of this coming Wednesday masks in public will be mandatory. Hey, spring is here!
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We have had manditory masks and now that has been lifted. Maybe for everyone but not me. I’m due out on May 12th and will wear my Zorro outfit. 😷
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