Amra Pajalic

I’ve been planning this blog post for ages. But now that it’s here, it still feels kind of unreal. Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown Australia represents me. Yipeee.

Whenever I read about a writer getting an agent or getting published, I want to know all the excruciating details. So working on that premise, I’ll tell you all about it.

In October 2006 I was between jobs. I’d finished The Wog Manual in May 2006 and moved back to Melbourne in July 2006. In October I’d landed a full time job and was waiting for the start date on 31 October.

One day I woke up with this urge to submit my novel. While I’d finished it, it hadn’t been read by anyone other than my husband or undergone any revision. I ignored the urge. The next day I woke and the urge was still there.

Without waiting for breakfast I called Curtis Brown and told them I’d like to pitch my novel. On their website they’d indicated that they preferred writers to pitch over the phone or via email. So I asked if it was ok for me to pitch over the phone.

Somehow I got through the pitch. The woman I spoke to, Vicky, asked me questions and made it easier. She requested the first three chapters as well as photocopies of my review mentions etc. I submitted these.

I also sent a submission to Donald Masss who I’d had the opportunity to pitch in August 2005 during a writing conference. In November 2006 I received a knock-back.

In February 2007 I received an email from Pippa suggesting that I cut the story down from 86,000 words to 65-70,000 words and she suggested which angle to cull and which to focus on.

In March 2007 I resubmitted after cutting down the novel to 70,000 words.

In May 2007 I attended the Literary Speed Dating event through the 2007 Emerging Writers’ Festival. I told editors I spoke to about my submission to Curtis Brown. One of the editors was meeting with Pippa and said she would discuss my novel.

I emailed Pippa giving her the heads up and telling her I would not be following up on the opportunities during the event before I heard from her.

On the 25 June 2007 I received the email from Pippa indicating she’d like to meet to discuss the next stage. During the meeting she discussed how she would proceed with the submission process. I went through my list of questions and we each made a to do list.

While my novel is going through the submission process you won’t hear a peep from me about it. Only when/if I have an announcement will I blog.

At the moment I’m struggling to make the transition from aspiring to almost professional. In order to keep going I’ve had to focus on writing for the love of it and not think about it as a career. Now I have to start doing things like headshots and working on a website.

I have to rejig my way of thinking and it’s a slow process. I still feel hesitant because while a publishing contract is now a possibility, it is not a certainty. So I’m still scared to believe in it. But I’m working through that and trying to throw myself into the process. Small steps.

Received an email from the ever-lovely Sandra Ruttan that the new issue of Spinetingler is out which features a story by moi.

Some goodies to look out for are:

In an author interview four pack, Sandra Ruttan speaks with Rick Mofina, Steve Mosby, Julia Buckley and Jon Papernick.

Stories by George M. Burden, Steven G. Childress, Nikki Dolson, Seth Hardwood, Grant McKenzie, Amra Pajalic, Steven D. Rogers, Pam Skochinski, Robert Wangard and James R. Winter.

Author profiles by Helena Stawicki, JB Thompson, Cornelia Read and Julia Buckley

Website profiles of Heliotrope and Pulp Pusher

Bonus Features: Special Feature on Podcasting with Shannon Clute and Seth Harwood.