shelving my book | leaving the query trenches . . . for now

[@aneesabodiat2656]

This was like watching a nostalgic coming of age movie and I felt like crying at the end 😢I’m sure you’re a great writer because your storytelling skills in these videos 🙌🏼

[@akossiwak]

That annoys me so much. If you write stories you're an author. Being called an author shouldn't hinge on whether you're published or not. There's already so much gate keeping and the need for external validation in this industry. Ugh... That agent should get off their high horse and sit down. 😆

[@zillawrites]

What an incredible send off. Loved this video, and I can’t wait to hear more about your next jump into the trenches.

[@tyhbvft1218]

I would say, although I'm late to the video, for the discussion at the beginning that you could say novel, just not to an agent. They are, technically, receiving manuscripts of a novel which is then probably going to be revised and edited, and they only count the finished, polished, published product as a novel. However, if I have a first draft and I'm talking to a group of people none of which are agents that I'm submitting to, I'm calling it a novel.

[@artistarchives4747]

I hope you revisit this one day! Sounds amazing

[@sherrylalonde5719]

This was too cute, RIP shelved book! The one advantage of shelved books is that you can then pick the carcass for your next work. I've lifted sub-plots, character names and bits of description I like for my following projects. No writing is wasted!

[@76kilosofshade81]

I'm on page 919. It's a goddamn novel. 😑 This is my surprised face that a trad pub editor is gate keeping terms now: 😐. Editing to say, maybe not isn't the time, maybe later. But by letting go, I guess you can make room for the next thing which will only be stronger because of what you've learned from June's story.

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

100 percent agree, it seems very out of touch to gatekeep the word 'novel'

[@iluvSchleeping]

It’s just semantics and most agents don’t care. Some don’t care if you forget to include their name and say, “Dear [Agent].” I misspelled my agent’s name (I don’t recommend this, haha) and my query was not personalized and she still signed me, so they’re not all super militant.

[@PhoebeWritesFiction]

This was so lovely, and I wish I could let go of books in this way (with some nostalgia, affection, and recognition of why they were important). Instead I'm more in the dissociation and disgust camp! Which leaves me always feeling like my writing is starting at ground zero, because I have such a strong distaste for old projects and even old drafts of the same project.

[@johnnam1380]

I’m in the midst of querying my second ~manuscript~ I have about 20 queries remaining until I probably shelf it. I’ve been querying in batches since march ‘23. It is rough out there for us 😅❤ good luck with all future books! I write adult romance

[@johnnam1380]

Also! Lots of agented authors I know end up getting to work on past books they’ve shelved, even if that isn’t the book that got them the agent. So no book is ever really over!

[@ReadableMarie]

If you’re shelving it I want to read it!!!! Please let me know if this is an option before it goes into the abyss 😢

[@ReadableMarie]

I’m not an agent by the way, I’m just a fan who is so interested in your pitch!!!

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

For sure! Email me and I'll send it over (my email should be in my chanel profile!)

[@miaramck6746]

Publishing doesn't make a book a book. That's absurd, possibly elitist, nonsense. Boo.

[@MrVlandus]

Dont feel bad. One day you could circle back to it.

[@danahaagenson579]

Aww - I love June! I hope she comes back in the future.

[@malikamaybe]

You know? Now that you mention it...I think I must have heard that sentiment somewhere too because I always call my works a manuscript or story, but rarely ever a novel. I also call myself a writer rather than an author (aspiring or future author is something I call myself sometimes). It doesn't bother me?? But now I'm wondering where the sentiment came from lol. And I'm gonna say congrats on perseverance! Congrats on fighting through the querying trenches and reaching a point a ton of people don't! You having a trunked/shelved novel means you join the ranks of most published authors (this is so cliché to mention lmao, but Brandon Sanderson had legit 10 of them before he got an agent). I've queried twice before so I feel you so, so hard. Rooting for you with this next one!

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

Thank you! This is so sweet!

[@ser2952]

I saw that literary agent critique and when she said that, I was like "nope". I wholeheartedly disagree with her opinion on that, and so do most agents.

[@teabooksgirl854]

I'm just here to comment that that agent was talking BS! If you put in all that work to write and revise and create a whole finished product, that is a freaking book! Even if no one ever reads it. I don't care what that agent says!

[@OnefortheBooks]

Publishing isn't what makes a book a book. It's just the process that makes the book available to strangers. Saying you haven't written a book if it isn't published is utter nonsense.

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

Fully agree!

[@writerjesseridley]

Highly recommend trying to self publish some shorter works under a secret pen name. You can get them out quicker and put them for sale right away. Only write about stuff you personally find entertaining and enjoyable and others will, too. You may not get rich but you'll make extra cash, and from something you love? Why not try? Your confidence will be boosted 100000% like me. Wishing you luck and love from the writerly realm.

[@janmorrison4141]

Please read my response (just written to your post called 50 queries). As to w.i.p., manuscript, book, novel - fuhgedaboutit! As to writer and author they will be different to you. You are a writer ‐ that's the gold.

[@katherineleiseth6433]

omg the footage of younger you made me emo!! rip end of june ☹️

[@mycuprunnethover8062]

I think the book sounds interesting. You could always self publish.

[@ALTZIMATE]

WOw, it took you 1 minute and 5 seconds to say the dumbest thing I've heard all week. "It is technically-Legally a manuscript." Short bus passenger are we? Cool. But no. Gate keeping the word Novel or Author for Technically and or legal reasons is the most absurd thing ever. The word legally doesn't even fit into the equation or make anysense to any degree, I'm not even sure why you said that. Legally just means copywritten material, and doesn't make or not make your work a Novel. So Imma just ignore that nonsense. But to gatekeep the word Novel, because it's not published is ridiculous. Anyone can publish a book, in only 5 minutes. It's called self publishing. So declaring ones work NOT a novel because they didn't do a couple button presses on Amazon or ingram is comical. Anyone can become a published author at any given moment. SO UNLESS your saying Self published books don't count (Which no one will agree with), then what are you trying to say? That a self published author is selling hundreds to thousands of manuscripts and not Novels? LMAO. Because it's easy to publish, it's hard to get a publishing deal. And there is a difference Alyssa.