I Feel Pretty, Oh Sooooo Pretty . . .

Yesterday I was sent what has to be, by far, the best rejection I have ever received, not entirely because of the content, but as a matter of timing.

Yesterday I also started a 12 week novel revision workshop with a notable women's literary fiction author. I've known all along that I was straddling the lines between literary fiction. mainstream and a romance novel; that's what I am as a person, versatile :-) But versatile is not fairing well in my efforts to find an agent and or publisher for my first novel.

This particular rejection convinces me that a revision is needed to firmly plant my novel's roots aka plot, pacing and tone into a specific category.

Here's the letter (minus the title of my novel and the editor's name. . .

Dear Author,

Thank you for allowing me to read the first 3 chapters of your novel --- While this is a really great idea for a book, I’m afraid I will not be requesting the full manuscript at this time.Your writing is pretty, but I’m afraid that the tone and style of the writing just isn’t right for the (Publisher's name withheld) list, which is quite commercial. I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you, but I wish you the best of luck in finding the right home for your project.

Kindest Regards,
Editor

I should note here that earlier this month, these very same three opening chapters were deemed as " Very awkward in writing, flawed in construction" on a judges scoring sheet in a novel contest. Apparently "pretty" is in the eyes of the specific editor beholding the manuscript!

Full Steam Ahead

I just got back from a Steamboat Springs, CO ski trip with my family. What a wonderful place!

I packed my laptop, so when I received a whole slew of e-mail rejections from agents I queried at the start of the month, all I had to do to lift my spirits was look out the window at the gorgeous winter wonderland I was privileged to spend the week in.

Then came my mail carrier today, toting an overflowing bin of mail up my front stairs. With so many queries and partials pending, sorting through a weeks worth of mail had me feeling very anxious. The first thing I spotted was one of my SASE's--a form rejection letter from an agent I queried all the way back in July. The next thing I spotted was an envelope with the Harlequin logo emblazoned across the top. One of their editors from the NEXT imprint requested my full manuscript. Then I discovered a third delight in my e-mail box . . . a request for a partial from a DC area agent I recently became aware of and took an immediate interest in. She was quick to respond to my query, but graciously cautioned that it may take a few months for her to respond to the partial material.

Regarding my response from Harlequin, they are one of three publishers I have queried to date, sans an agent. The first, Knopf, has had my full manuscript since mid August. The second, an upstart Canadian publisher, requested a partial of my manuscript in early December. It's an odd position to be in, to have placed my full manuscript into the hands of three different editors at two separate publishing houses, without any representation from an agent. I have every intent of using an agent if I am offered a contract from either of these publishers. But, in the meantime, I can't help but wonder how many more editors would have my manuscript in hand right now if I did have an agent to represent me.

I don't mean to give the wrong impression, that I'm not a team player, that I don't play by the rules etc. etc. I'm very much a play by the rules gal. And I fully understand why an agent wouldn't want to represent a manuscript that a writer had already shopped all around to the big houses.

I had three very good reasons for querying the three publishers that have now ultimately requested my full manuscript. The editor at Knopf clearly stated in a literary magazine interview that she is occasionally open to unagented authors if a query stirs her interest. This particular editor represents my favorite author, so I took a leap of faith and queried her, while still actively trying to secure an agent. Regarding the Canadian publisher, my friend has a book with them, and she knew they were in acquisition mode for their fall line-up, and they accept unagented queries. I submitted without an agent to Harlequin, because their guidelines clearly state they are open to unagented submissions, and I knew my book was a match for their target audience. And, admittedly, because the process of querying agents is painfully dull and drawn out. Submitting directly to Harlequin gave me a sense that I was actually accomplishing something, and not just waiting upwards of six months for some agents to respond to just my query!

In no way am I implying I wouldn't welcome agent representation; I WOULD! Now, or at the point of being handed a contract, I might manage to secure on my own. Working in partnership with an agent to help build a solid framework for my writing career is my primary goal, but in the meantime I do seem to be benefiting from breaking the rules.

In keeping with my "steamboat" theme for the month, I'm off to the post office to send out yet another batch of agent queries . . . full steam ahead in pursuit of someone to help me do something it appears I don't really need any help in doing--placing my manuscript into the hands of editors at large publishing houses. Go figure :-)

If You Want to Win . . .

. . . you've got to stay in the game.

OK, here's exactly why writers can't let defeat get to them. Wallowing in the misery of rejections and dejection might very well block a new opportunity.

Only two days after my recent submission setback, I got a request for a 50 page partial; I sent the query via e-mail yesterday morning--one of six. Gotta love the 24 hour turn-a-round.

It's an upstart agent, only a few sales under his belt, but he's keeping to the AAR guidelines with a goal to becoming a member. And he's building quite a reputation for being efficient and respectful of a writer's time throughout the submission process.

Honestly, I could use some respectable treatment regarding the time and effort I am putting into the process of submitting my novel. I've got over a dozen queries out to agents that I sent throughout the summer that I haven't heard a word back from yet; that's coming up on five and six months just to get a response for a query, that's ridiculous. Thing is, if these agents would just put something up on their websites stating they are running five to six month behind on responses, I would honor that and submit elsewhere until they catch up. I'm seeing several agents do just that, but not enough.

That concludes my submission blitz for the remainder of the year. I've got sufficient momentum going to get me through the holidays.

My Great American Acceptance Letter

By far, composing an enthusiastic acceptance letter has been my favorite task as a new fiction editor; and sending this newly crafted letter to a writer, who is being published for the first time, is pure joy!

Dear Writer,

I am delighted to select ??????? for publication in ???????'s May issue.

We receive a number of quality submissions—each strong in its own way, but only those stories which are well-crafted and well-suited to ???????'s progressive and innovative tone make the final cut.

Congratulations!
Fiction Editor


Future topics I plan to cover in the Diary of a Literary Fiction Editor. . .
(I am also open to other suggested topics as they are presented to me. )

Sending the right story to the right publication: Bull's eye marketing

The importance of supporting the markets you wish to be published in

Story craft vs. content/Why did you bother to write that so well?

The infamous first sentence, and why it means more than the entire story.

How I will determine what stories I select/my criteria


My name won't even be added to the magazine's masthead until the May issue is published. Open the gates and let the submissions roll in--I'm ready!

In Search of. . .

In Search of. . . The Great American Acceptance Letter

Today I will compose my first acceptance letter; it will coincidentally be the first acceptance letter for a newly published author who's work I have selected for publication in May's issue.

For an American literary fiction writer, no doubt the most coveted acceptance letter would read. . .

The Pulitzer Prize

2006

—FICTION—

FOR DISTINGUISHED FICTION BY AN American author,
preferably dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
Awarded to "March" by Geraldine Brooks
(Viking)

...

To date, the closest I've come to a Pulitzer moment, are my two consecutive Writer's Digest wins. Both acceptance letters, written by Kristin D. Godsey, Editor of Writer's Digest, were warm and enthusiastic. My favorite sentence in the first acceptance letter reads as follows. . .

...

Your success in the face of such formidable competition speaks highly of your writing talent, and should be a source of great pride as you continue your writing career.

...

In her second letter to me, the following year, once again she focused on the enormous odds facing the writers who enter the Writer's Digest's annual contest. . .

,,,

The first-round judge, had a very difficult time narrowing her selection to 25 top entries from over 8000 entries. Finishing among those top 25 entries is an accomplishment of which you can be proud.

...

Although the writer's I will be selecting for publication will not be facing the same level of formidable competition, I want the acceptance letter I compose to be no less enthusiastic and complimentary.

...

I'm off to search my files for other stellar acceptance letters from which I can draw inspiration, and I welcome any and all suggestions and sharing of other writer's proud Pulitzer-like moments that were fostered via a particularly well written acceptance letter.

...

Back on Monday to post my Great American Acceptance Letter!