progress on the novel front-

[mary_j_59]

Well, yesterday I got my first official rejection from an agent. Of course, I felt (and feel) a little sad, but not as much so as I had expected. Then again, it's only the first rejection! But -

I thought almost at once: Well, this is an opportunity. I sincerely believe that, at the time I sent it to them, my book was good; maybe even really good. They actually said in their rejection letter that it was beautifully written. But now I have a chance to make it even better before sending it out again. I'd been feeling a little lost, and wanting some professional feedback to help me improve my text. I didn't get it, but, somehow, at the time I got the letter, I'd heard a couple of things from my beta readers that gave me a path to follow. And - now I can make a good story even better before sending it out into the world. As I said, it's an opportunity!

It also shows that I have actually set out on the journey to publication. I must expect to get rejections; probably more than one. And sometimes people will actually reject stories, even though they agree those stories are beautifully written. A rejection really, truly, isn't personal. It's not a judgement on my story (though, as I said above, I do think I can make it even better than it is now.) It can sometimes just be a statement that people come at the world, and at stories, in different ways, and that they want different things from the books they read.

This agency told me that they were not as excited about my story as they had hoped to be. This is very fair. Ideally, when I find an agent, that person will love my story almost as much as I do. And they will know, better than I do, how to find a publisher who will feel the same way. That's what I want - and also what the agency who rejected me wanted. It's too bad that they didn't feel that way about my book, but, since they didn't, they were quite right to turn it down.

Sooner or later - hopefully sooner - I will find an agent who truly loves what I've done. Then I will have a guide and teammate to help me navigate the publishing process. In the meantime, there are a lot of positive things I can do - like cleaning up the book a bit and making it tighter, researching agents, sending queries, and finishing my synopsis. So - onward we go! I have reached another milestone on my journey. :)

Comments

Egads, Mary!

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope it WILL be your last rejection! (Silly agent!) But anyway, don't worry -- it's an awesome novel, and so is the new one. I'm quite sure you'll be a published author before too long. <3~ D.

Re: Egads, Mary!

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I think I will be, too - thanks for the vote of confidence. But, really, the agent isn't silly. Think of it this way: I'm just reading I Shall Wear Midnight and enjoying it immensely. Pratchett is very entertaining to me, and often thought-provoking and sometimes chilling. I like his characters, and I can usually visualize his settings. I think he's a very good writer. But - he just doesn't move me the way Tolkien does. I expect, to this agent, my book was what Pratchett is to me. That is, good, but not emotionally engaging to them. It happens. I'm sure I will find someone who is truly struck by it and wants to work with me. Maybe it will even happen quite soon! I just have to keep trying.