The middle grade novel I had sent out is something I've been working on forever. It's not new to rejection either. But most of the comments I've gotten about it have been about plot structure or something like "it's not right for my list." But this last one targeted the one thing I thought I had right - the voice! Other writers (and an editor or two) have always told me that the voice was great and that they really loved the main character. Then...this.
"I'm just not connecting to his voice quite enough to take on this project."
Ack! Where does one go now??? It's hard not to dwell on the fact that every single aspect of your novel may have issues. But I'll try to remember that is only one editor's opinion. And then I'll go take a walk with my novel-rejection playlist. And finally, I'll find some awesome quote on Pinterest to make me feel better. Or read that last pin, "How NOT to Write A Novel."
And then, who am I kidding, I'll send it out again.
(reblogged from swoonreads)
Ugh! So frustrating. But where one goes from here is back to the drawing board, back to the agent list, and back to the post office!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a fantastic rejection. What is says to me is that he/she read your submission, and liked the voice enough to put into a "give this a second read/has a great voice" pile. Only then did they make the SUBJECTIVE decision that it wasn't quite right for them.
You're looking for a needle in a haystack in a field of haystacks. But it's out there. And one day, this post will be title, "It happened - I got an agent!" And your readers are waiting. I'll be one of them!