Friday Feature: My Favorite Thing I Read this Week and Why
My favorite thing I read this week: a rejection letter.
Now, let's get to the why.
I want our novel to be someone's favorite read. I'm not asking for Depression Cookies to make us millionaires, be made into a movie, be on Oprah (especially since her talk show is ending), or become a literary giant taught in public schools for years to come. Don't get me wrong, those things wouldn't be horrible, but our true intention was for people to read it, enjoy it, and let us know.
[image error] I love reading and the wonderful feeling of a good book, being transported and caring about the people in a new time, place, or situation. We want passionate reader reactions more than industry acceptance. We knew the odds. Not only is it our first novel, it doesn't fall in line with the current writing trends. We won't be competition for the paranormal writers, although teenage girls seem paranormal at times. Still, women make up between 60-70% of book buyers according to various data crunchers. Our story is written by women, about women, and for women.
Industry acceptance would be wonderful. If nothing else, it would get our novel into more hands. We won't lie, it felt good to be named a Finalist in Chick Lit of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A little industry approval, but it also meant people read and enjoyed the book.
This week we received a rejection letter from an agent. We've received many. I've become numb to them. I understand agents can only take on so many books and they need to pick something they love and can sell. I don't envy them their jobs.
The letter stated, "we have read and discussed your work at length, and although it is, indeed, a moving and original mother/daughter/family discussion, we don't feel we would be the appropriate agent for it." As far as rejections go, I'll take moving and original any day of the week.
We are not discouraged. We believe in our little story and we are pushing forward.
Has a rejection ever encouraged you or motivated you to keep going?
Now, let's get to the why.
I want our novel to be someone's favorite read. I'm not asking for Depression Cookies to make us millionaires, be made into a movie, be on Oprah (especially since her talk show is ending), or become a literary giant taught in public schools for years to come. Don't get me wrong, those things wouldn't be horrible, but our true intention was for people to read it, enjoy it, and let us know.
[image error] I love reading and the wonderful feeling of a good book, being transported and caring about the people in a new time, place, or situation. We want passionate reader reactions more than industry acceptance. We knew the odds. Not only is it our first novel, it doesn't fall in line with the current writing trends. We won't be competition for the paranormal writers, although teenage girls seem paranormal at times. Still, women make up between 60-70% of book buyers according to various data crunchers. Our story is written by women, about women, and for women.
Industry acceptance would be wonderful. If nothing else, it would get our novel into more hands. We won't lie, it felt good to be named a Finalist in Chick Lit of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A little industry approval, but it also meant people read and enjoyed the book.
This week we received a rejection letter from an agent. We've received many. I've become numb to them. I understand agents can only take on so many books and they need to pick something they love and can sell. I don't envy them their jobs.
The letter stated, "we have read and discussed your work at length, and although it is, indeed, a moving and original mother/daughter/family discussion, we don't feel we would be the appropriate agent for it." As far as rejections go, I'll take moving and original any day of the week.
We are not discouraged. We believe in our little story and we are pushing forward.
Has a rejection ever encouraged you or motivated you to keep going?
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