Helpful suggestions all, Alison. Of course, these days it's difficult to know the reasons for rejections. Agents and editors are deluged with stories and often don't have time to explain why a story or book is not right for them. With magazines, a good story that might have been accepted a year ago may be rejected because the publication has changed editorial focus. In book publishing, novels may be rejected because the query (an art in itself) doesn't sell the story in a single page. Or because the author failed to address the editor/agent by name. Sometimes the author has failed to help the publisher identify where his/her book fits vis-a-vis the competition. These marketing concerns can mess with your head and make you think you're no good as a writer. It's difficult to separate that business part of writing from the creative necessity of writing your weird. But your suggestions in this post should provide some relief from the head games we play. Thank you!
The best ever post, from Alison. Plus,thank you for the introduction to Stephanie Duncan Smith. Yes, I'll get creative and borderline ridiculous with this and showcase it in an article, then cross post where gifted professionals and communicators gather. It's exactly who we are and how we see the world, with our Alice in Wonderland "too muchness."
"There’s something about writing a long-term project that gives me something to sink into—or sulk and slink into—when the Outside is getting too close" This comment is golden. There's always a slump after I've written something really big and I need to sink into another project. Someday I'll get back to knitting. I'm never done with knitting--there's always something new to learn.
Helpful suggestions all, Alison. Of course, these days it's difficult to know the reasons for rejections. Agents and editors are deluged with stories and often don't have time to explain why a story or book is not right for them. With magazines, a good story that might have been accepted a year ago may be rejected because the publication has changed editorial focus. In book publishing, novels may be rejected because the query (an art in itself) doesn't sell the story in a single page. Or because the author failed to address the editor/agent by name. Sometimes the author has failed to help the publisher identify where his/her book fits vis-a-vis the competition. These marketing concerns can mess with your head and make you think you're no good as a writer. It's difficult to separate that business part of writing from the creative necessity of writing your weird. But your suggestions in this post should provide some relief from the head games we play. Thank you!
All solid points here, Andrew! Thank you. You're right--we need to remind ourselves of this at times.
The best ever post, from Alison. Plus,thank you for the introduction to Stephanie Duncan Smith. Yes, I'll get creative and borderline ridiculous with this and showcase it in an article, then cross post where gifted professionals and communicators gather. It's exactly who we are and how we see the world, with our Alice in Wonderland "too muchness."
Thank you, Georgia--glad it's useful! I love Stephanie's newsletter. The reads always feel spot-on and timely.
"There’s something about writing a long-term project that gives me something to sink into—or sulk and slink into—when the Outside is getting too close" This comment is golden. There's always a slump after I've written something really big and I need to sink into another project. Someday I'll get back to knitting. I'm never done with knitting--there's always something new to learn.
Yes, to be working on a novel is to have a little cabin out back to retreat...
“Owning my weird” 👏👏👏