Hello all, I'm a newbie, I was hoping those with a little more experience could help me out.
So, love books, always have, always will, natch. I've had the secret ambition to be a writer for years and years. I don't talk to anyone about it, family or friends, with the exception of one friend (who I met at university while studying the most unliterary subject of computer science), he also harbours the secret desire to be a writer. I'm very, very shy of showing my work to anyone, but I let him read my stuff and he gives me notes.
A couple of years ago I wrote my first novel (historical fiction). I sent it off to a few places, and one gentleman asked to read the whole manuscript (he's a proper agent, not a vanity publisher, he has some famous clients), and he said.......
"This is one of those submissions where it is easily possible that I am making a dreadful mistake in declining! The story is related from a most unusual perspective and there is much that is original and worthwhile. Overall somehow, it just doesn't grip, though. It should be a real page-turner and for me, doesn't quite achieve that."
I understand it's quite rare to get rejections with positive feedback, and I was very grateful to him for the kind words, they gave me real courage that perhaps I'm not as hopelessly deluded as those poor fools at the early auditions for 'The X Factor".
I wrote a second novel after that, but didn't send that out (it's sci-fi). Now I've written a third, again historical fiction (as if I don't have enough problems already, I'm also a history geek), and I sent that to the same gentleman as before, and this time he said.........
So, love books, always have, always will, natch. I've had the secret ambition to be a writer for years and years. I don't talk to anyone about it, family or friends, with the exception of one friend (who I met at university while studying the most unliterary subject of computer science), he also harbours the secret desire to be a writer. I'm very, very shy of showing my work to anyone, but I let him read my stuff and he gives me notes.
A couple of years ago I wrote my first novel (historical fiction). I sent it off to a few places, and one gentleman asked to read the whole manuscript (he's a proper agent, not a vanity publisher, he has some famous clients), and he said.......
"This is one of those submissions where it is easily possible that I am making a dreadful mistake in declining! The story is related from a most unusual perspective and there is much that is original and worthwhile. Overall somehow, it just doesn't grip, though. It should be a real page-turner and for me, doesn't quite achieve that."
I understand it's quite rare to get rejections with positive feedback, and I was very grateful to him for the kind words, they gave me real courage that perhaps I'm not as hopelessly deluded as those poor fools at the early auditions for 'The X Factor".
I wrote a second novel after that, but didn't send that out (it's sci-fi). Now I've written a third, again historical fiction (as if I don't have enough problems already, I'm also a history geek), and I sent that to the same gentleman as before, and this time he said.........
"I really liked this and kept reading for far longer than with less well-written submissions.
The characters are intriguing, the story-line appealing, but just not a page-turner for me. I am really sorry to say this, but I have absolutely no doubt that in time you will turn out a best-seller!"
Again, extremely nice of him, and I really appreciate it (the gentleman is more or less my favourite person on planet earth, even though I've never met him), but it has made me think that perhaps he's just a really nice man who doesn't like breaking people's hearts, and prefers to let 'em down easy! My mate who reads my stuff also said my novel is really good, but he would say that wouldn't he? He's my friend.
I don't know if I should send it out to other places or not, or where I'm at. I've read a few books on "the process", but I'm still a little confused by questions such as, should I send my book to just agents, just publishers, or a combination of both? If I get a rejection with positive feedback, should I have a complete re-work of the book, or should I try other places first? Can you send the same book, re-worked, to the same agent/publisher after they've rejected it already, or is that considered bad form?
Sorry for the long post, if anyone with more experience than me could offer advice, or thoughts, or anything, I'd be very grateful. Thanks
The characters are intriguing, the story-line appealing, but just not a page-turner for me. I am really sorry to say this, but I have absolutely no doubt that in time you will turn out a best-seller!"
Again, extremely nice of him, and I really appreciate it (the gentleman is more or less my favourite person on planet earth, even though I've never met him), but it has made me think that perhaps he's just a really nice man who doesn't like breaking people's hearts, and prefers to let 'em down easy! My mate who reads my stuff also said my novel is really good, but he would say that wouldn't he? He's my friend.
I don't know if I should send it out to other places or not, or where I'm at. I've read a few books on "the process", but I'm still a little confused by questions such as, should I send my book to just agents, just publishers, or a combination of both? If I get a rejection with positive feedback, should I have a complete re-work of the book, or should I try other places first? Can you send the same book, re-worked, to the same agent/publisher after they've rejected it already, or is that considered bad form?
Sorry for the long post, if anyone with more experience than me could offer advice, or thoughts, or anything, I'd be very grateful. Thanks
