Welcome to A Writer’s POV. If someone had told me that writing a novel would cause me to loose sleep, gain weight, snap at my husband, pull my hair out, (literally and figuratively) and kick the dog, if I had one, I never would have put pen to paper. But as they say, ignorance is bliss, and I plunged in and began writing my book with the naïve expectation that I’d be finished in a year. Needless to say, five years and seven drafts later, I’m still on my quest for the Holy Grail, a published novel. Although frustrating, I spent that time growing as a writer. Every rewrite, revision and critique taught me something. Every book I read or workshop I attended offered new insights and ways to improve my craft. My goal with this blog is to share with you what I've learned so far. To talk about issues that plague all writers, to talk about the nuts and bolts of writing. Despite the fact that it's all been said before, each of us has our own way of telling a story and hopefully you'll visit often for help, support or just for the fun of it to read the posts written from this writer's point of view.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Oh well. Time to add another layer to that thick skin all writers need. One of my full manuscript requests was rejected.

 About three weeks after sending the submission, I received a very professional and compassionate note from the agent I met at a writer's conference. I have to give her and any agent a lot of credit because it can't be easy telling a writer that for one reason or another, you don't feel the same passion for their story. And although disappointing to the writer, it's the right thing to do.

 Imagine you're a realtor contracted to sell a home, but you really don't care for the style, floor plan or paint colors. Even worse, what if it's in desperate need of re-modeling? Could you in all honesty be fully committed to selling this home? That's what I imagine it must be like for a literary agent. An enormous amount of time and effort goes into pitching a book to publishers who spend even more time and money producing and marketing it and if an agent can't put 100% into selling that book, it's not getting the justice and chance it deserves.

 During my agent query and submission process, not feeling strongly for my story has been the primary reason for passing on my book. I feel a little--and I do mean a little--heartened that it wasn't because of poor writing, plotting or characterization. They just didn't share my passion to sell it effectively. Using the realtor or house hunting analogy again, it's like shopping for a new home. The agent is like a buyer rejecting house after house. But when they walk into that special house, they know it's the one for them.

 So believe in your book. There is an agent out there who feels as strongly as you do about your baby and eventually, you'll find each other.
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