So, I finished writing a novel. It’s called Hebrew Lessons, and it’s a love story between an American Jew and an Israeli Jew, including all of the cultural divides that have to be overcome, or can’t be overcome. I’m really happy with the story, and my Beta readers gave it a thumbs up, but now that means I have to go on the agent search again, and I’m dragging my feet. The publishing world has not been an especially welcoming place for me, and I’m dreading the rejection, and the critiques, and the roller coaster of hope and disappointment that I went through last time, with Yeshiva Girl.
But before I can even get to all of that, I have to sit down and write a query letter, and a plot summary, and research potential agents, and my brain is not letting me go there. I’ve come so close to acceptance by the literary world, but never close enough, and there’s no guarantee that this time will be any different. Part of me wants to just self-publish the novel and maybe get a few nice responses and leave it at that. Another part wishes I could hand the book off to someone else – to query agents and write a synopsis and copy edit, etc. – and move on to writing the next novel. But I’ve worked hard on this novel, and I want to give it the best chance to be read, and loved, if at all possible.
I wish I had the self-confidence to send my work out as consistently as other people seem to be able to do, but it takes me a long time to recover between bouts, and each small step feels like hiking a mountain range. Even the tiny steps I’ve already taken to research the changes in the marketplace have been overwhelming; there has been an explosion of critiquing sites, and self-publishing companies, and writing and publishing blogs with wildly contradictory advice that have appeared since the last time I investigated all of this, and it feels impossible to figure out what’s legitimate and what’s a scam, what’s necessary and what’s irrelevant.
I don’t understand how other authors make their way through all of this chaos, but then again, the publishing world has never really made sense to me. I’ve never been able to understand the rules of the business of writing: the very specific categories each book needs to fit into, or why one author gets lauded and another can’t even get published. Despite years of effort, the mysteries of the publishing world are still mysteries to me, and yet, I can’t stop being a writer and I can’t stop wanting people to read my work. Believe me, I’ve tried. So, I guess I’m diving back into the deep, dark, possibly shark-infested waters.
Wish me luck!
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
Congratulations, Rachel on completing the book. All the best with the process necessary to get it out there and published.
Thank you!
Congratulations on finishing your novel. I wouldn’t know where to begin with publishing and distributing a book. I hope some of your blog readers have productive ideas for you.
Thank you!
Wishing you all success. Agree that the publishing world works in mysterious ways and the deck always seems to be stacked against the author. You have talent and something to say. I’m betting on you!
Thank you so much!
Congrats, Champ
Thank you!
Yay for you, Rachel!! Very exciting news! You can do this. 🎆
Thank you!!!!
Oh, that is a scary business, but your heart is leading you. Good wishes.
Thank you!!!
Mazel tov, Rachel I will look for it! Busy getting out my fifth book as well. No agent either!
Good luck to you too!
That is outstanding! Like you, love writing, dislike publishing. I have to work on that. I remnd you and me, Stephen King’s debut novel, Carrie, was rejected 30 times. Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help, racked up 60 rejections. Donal Ryan, Spinning Heart: 47 times. Madeleine L’Engle‘s A Wrinkle in Time was turned down by 26 publishers who decided the story was too deep for young readers.
It requires PEP to make it: Persistence, Energy, Perseverance. I reckon faith, too. You can do it. We all believe in you.
Cheers, Michael
Thank you so much!
I can’t wait to get a copy! J K Rowling was rejected 12 times. Here’s an article that might encourage you.
https://litreactor.com/columns/5-famous-bestsellers-that-were-rejected-and-50-more
Thank you!!!!
Congratulations! 🎉
Thank you!
Wow, Rachel!! Congratulations and good luck for everything to follow.
Thank you so much!
What you’ve done is wonderful! It’s easy for any of us to say not to let your insecurities take over now that you have a finished product to send out to the world. Do what you know you need to do. You know because you have done it. The explosion of critique sites and especially writing blogs is just a collection of others’ opinions. You have the experience. And you know your work. We know you will get it out there. Make your lists of who to solicit. The ones who don’t like it, cross them off for the next time. You’ll show them! Best of luck to you!!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! Just finishing a novel is a big deal. Best of luck pushing your shoulder against that big bad wall of rejection. It doesn’t mean anything personal. You’ll be fine. 😊
I hope so! Thank you!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
I can’t wait to read it, so good luck!
Thank you so much!
Wishing you so much luck! It’s hard to put yourself out there (ask me how I know) but I think your writing is so good it would be a shame not to have your novel out in the world for people to read.
Thank you so much!!!!!
Mazel Tov on your new book!
Thank you!
Congratulations on your new novel
Thank you!
Wishing you loads of inspirations and oodles of good luck.
Thank you!!!
I hope the process with the new book works out for you, and look forward to seeing it published.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you!
Congrats. Just remember that there are no qualifications to be an agent. They often quit and go back to being librarians or sales clerks in book stores. Pulitzer prize winning novels have been turned down by almost every agent out there! It’s really just one person’s half hearted opinion because they base their opinion on a tagline or summary and it’s not even their opinion, they have their assistants do that part as well. Don’t take any of it personally. The entire way the industry works needs to be changed. Best of luck!
Thank you so much!
Yes, there are writers who send their work out with greater frequency–and there are also others who do so with less. My first published piece was almost 30 years ago, and I just submitted my second last year. So if you are looking for a comparison that will make you feel better about your submission rate, look at me. I admire your commitment and perseverance.
That IS helpful. Thank you!!!
Congratulations and best wishes for you!
Thank you!
I loved Yeshiva Girl and am looking forward to reading your next book. I also struggle with the process. My first book, Raising Jess, got so many 5-star reviews and beautiful comments (and they were not all from family and friends- LOL!) – but I was never able to get it to the next level. I think that blocks me from working on my second book – Yet, like you, I need to keep writing – Wishing you all the best, I know you will get it done! Congratulations!
It’s amazing how powerful rejection can be, and how much grieving needs to be done before new growth is possible. But it IS possible. Thank God!!!!
The very best of luck, Rachel! I really enjoyed Yeshiva Girl – you have real talent and deserve to be published.
Thank you so much!
I thought the purpose of an agent was representation ? You can’t use the same agent ?
I lost my agent after a lot of rejection from publishers, and when I tried to reach out again, I never heard back. But agents often specialize in one genre, or age group, so I would have needed someone new for this book anyway.
Oh gotcha
I wish you much success w/ the new book, Rachel. ❤
Thank you so much!
Exciting news! Best of luck with your next steps…you go girl!
Thank you so much!
I can’t wait until you get it published! I read your first book, and will definitely be reading this one, too!
Thank you so much!
Good luck!!
Thank you!
Good luck with your book, Rachel. At least you should be satisfied that you completed it. And if anything , you could always turn it into one of those ebook sites and see what kind of interest it might draw. There’s always some topic for somebody.
Art
Interesting option. Thank you!
Congratulations! What a struggle to publish a book!? Look at the famous authors of the world and how they did it and learn some lessons from them about the companies…national or worldwide publications and self publishing. Keep it up! 👍😊
Thank you!
Sounds great, congratulations! I keep my thumbs up that you get you novel published 😁
Thank you!
I’ve been out of circulation for a while and lost track of things. Glad to see you are still around… and have written a new book. It would be great if writers could just write and not have to deal with all the business and promotion involved. Good luck navigating the publishing world.
Thank you!
How exciting! And scary, too. Ugh, I remember sending out my query letters and how daunting it felt. I didn’t bother with my sequels but maybe I will when I make the time to write again. Positive energy coming your way for this!!!
Thank you so much!
Thats great✨ Youve come this far: the greatest feat is this one. You’ll see. 💜
Thank you!
I guess you could say recently I’m taking the Father Role brought up Christian, excommunicated, discovered Wiccan, met a good Retired Israeli army man, making me more of a fuzzy bearded Macabee American, Now growing Jerusalem artichokes in our Garden and they are flourishing here in the sunshine.
Sounds like a good life!
Congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back for having finished your novel and come this far. You are right about the publishing world, and I’m afraid I have no advice to give you. The traditional publishing world was so harsh to me that after 150 rejection slips and the publishing company that published my first two books going belly-up, I turned to self-publishing. Self-publishing takes a lot of work to market and I often wish – like you said – that I could just write my books and turn them over to someone else to publish and market them. God bless you and your writing. You are an amazing overcomer!
Thank you!
Hey Rachel,
My agent is Linda Langton of Langton International Literary Agency. She is an amazing person… wouldn’t hurt to try!
Linda Watts
Get Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef
Thank you so much!
I’m in the exact same boat. No advice just sending my congrats that you finished and my best that you find representation
Thank you! And good luck to you too!
Good luck on sending off your manuscript, Rachel. Be strong and brave. And write a query that sells that book!
Thank you! I will try!
Wonderful to hear, Rachel. Well, we all know that you are a great writer. I am following a young woman hiking the Appalachian trail. What I’ve noticed is that, she is often criticized for her decisions and choices. She has experience but people can be mean with their comments. I think that it might contribute to second guessing herself. But there are also many cheering her on. I will pray that the right door open for you. Don’t lose heart. 💖
Thank you so much!
You can do this, Rachel! I know you can! I have read your first book, years ago. I have total confidence in you. Congratulations on finishing the novel! 💜🤗
Thank you so much!
I enjoy writing too, but as far as publishing goes, I’ve heard pretty much the same that you mentioned from other people in the literary world. And I have not tried publishing because of that. To me, it was enough to be able to write it down.
It’s a tough world to find a place in, it’s true.
You have an incredible list of followers even here, Rachel. Thanks for looking at my blog–and good luck, like everyone else is saying. I have finished a novel and it is being proofread, but I think I’ll go the self-published route (after 10 books published by religious publishers over many years). God bless!
Thank you! And good luck to you!
I am thinking the same way about publishing my blogs into a book. I do not wish to do this task alone being retired. So I just keep writing
The writing is the best part!
I do wish you luck and I know it can so hard to switch gears – from writing and letting the story flow, to then moving into query or marketing mode – sigh
Thank you! I definitely need all the luck I can get.
;o)