I spent a lot of time refining query letters to agents for a middle grade adventure story that I wrote. I was encouraged that the book was of a publishable quality by the lady who edited the “Goosebumps” series of books. Of course, I got polite rejection after polite rejection. “Not what we’re looking for”.

Eventually I had an opportunity to send a query letter to a top agent whom I had been eyeing. He responded within an hour! “Great query letter, Mike. One of the best I’ve read in a long time. Your story sounds great, but unfortunately it’s not what we’re looking for now”.

I laughed. I had done it. I had nailed the query letter. So the F*** what!? That was the end of that. I moved on to putting my energies into honing my coaching skills and tools. I realized that writing the story was really for me. It’s a great story that I love to this day, and the writing of it was all about reconnecting with who I am, through the eyes of my inner child.