Rejections

If last week's topic was frustrating, this week's topic is downright discouraging.

Rejections are also part of this business, one I had to learn to handle. When my very first book was returned with that nice letter I mentioned originally, I was devastated. My year's work - rejected. They didn't want it. I had a hard time not shedding a few tears.

I never stopped to ask why, nor think it could possibly be my fault. Nay! They didn't see talent when it hit them in the face.

After I calmed down, I took another look at what I've done. Could there have been a reason they didn't want my book? Slowly, I realized I didn't know enought about what I was analyzing to make a proper judgement. So, I tramped over to the local book store and started buying how-to books. It didn't take long to figure out I had an awful lot to learn. More books, magazines, classes, by mail and at a local college, were part of my new writing routine. In the two years that followed, I learned, I wrote, I submitted and I kept getting rejected.

Finally, the call came. They wanted not one, but the three books I had written so far. Devastation turned to elation.

Since then, oh, yes, I've been rejected. Time and time again. Wrong timing, wrong story line, the line I was submitting to was being dropped, the editor was having a a bad day.

However, I've learned a couple of important points in analyzing rejections.

Read them carefully. If two or more editors find fault with the same problem/s i.e. point of view, story line, grammer mistakes, inconsistent motivation, maybe you should take a look at your manuscript.

If it's a form letter (and that's usually what you'll get) don't send a scathing letter off to the editor. It will mark you forever in the business. Don't rewrite the manuscript - yet. Take another look. Ask someone you know (not a close friend or relative) to read your story. I asked my lawyer, who I knew read romances, if she'd read my second book. She was going on vacation and took it with her. Her comments were invaluable.

And study the business. I failed to do that. If I had taken the time to see what was selling and what was in a downward spiral I would have noticed the gothics I'd started to write were no longer being published. I missed the boat there.

One other important point. Write what you are comfortable writing. The genre may be hot today, cold tomorrow and hot again next week, or in a month or a year. Historical romance and various time periods and locations come and go so you must know the business. But it's your book, your genre, your work. So write what you want to write and keep writing.

I guess the best advice I can give is rejection happens, it hurts, but it's part of the business. As one of my kids would say - "suck it up" and start in on another project.

Next week - what I don't know about contracts.


Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
"BETRAYED BRIDE" coming in May from Champagne Books
And in August - "Lynbrook's Lady" - a Regency Period Historical Romance

Ideas, ideas, ideas

It fascinates me and probably always will, but ideas for stories
come from the most interesting places. A trip to the grocery,
a comment from a doctor, an article in a magazine.

I've started another book, this one a contemporary, about a
woman who is hurt and suffers a brain injury. I never heard
of Post-Traumatic Amnesia, but a comment by a doctor started
the ball rolling on this one.

After I finish the edits to Windsong, I'll go back to my poor
woman, who can't remember incidents that happened two years
before the accident. Hummmmm I wonder when or if she'll ever
remember. I'll just have to wait and see. That's part of the
fun of writing. You have a general idea, and it grows and grows
until your have the plot, or at least a partial plot. Then, as
the story developes, your characters will help the plot along.
Can you tell I love what I do?

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Watch for Windsong, the third 'song' book
Coming in November from Champagne Books.

More on May Day

On the first of May I mentioned I would have more to say on
May Day. But as usual, life got in the way. However,
I used some of the information I learned in Battlesong,
the second medieval romance and I want to share.

The "may pole" was used about the time of my novel.
It consisted of a large log, trimmed of branches, and
bark, lugged into the village, because by the 13th century
villages were growing all over England. The log, now an
official pole, was set in the village square.

Next it was decorated with ribbons and flowers. Dancing,
singing, eating and drinking took place in the square,
all around this May pole. On this day the girls of the
village were allowed to sing and beg for coin. The flowers
were blooming, new ale was ready, spring was in the air.
It was a time for celebration.

Next we'll look at the religious celebrations and what May
Day means to some people today.

Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch