Tuesday, June 08, 2010

And the truth shall set you free

Just got the rejection on the last outstanding full, from the agent I really, really wanted. I was expecting to be devastated until I read this:

"But when it switched up to the fallen angels and their love story, it just didn't work at all for me and it didn't seem to lend anything to the book as a whole."

And my brain exploded. I suddenly realized that it isn't me, it's them. I've been taking every bit of criticism to heart, thinking I had failed as a writer, failed these characters, but the love story between Belphagor and Vasily is the one thing I absolutely know is right about this book. So for this smart, terrific agent to simply not feel it, and to like the parts I was so uncertain about, the parts I was sure I had failed at...well, damn...it really IS all subjective!

As sad as I am about this rejection, I feel like I have a new lease on life as a writer. I can just keep querying until I find the agent that loves all of it. I don't have to crawl in a corner and berate myself for my failure and try to rewrite the entire story every time someone criticizes it.

Hell, I may just start querying on the other two books I had given up on. Someone, somewhere, may just finally get them.

8 comments:

  1. Absolutely. I LOVED the story between B and V and felt like that is the heart of the story. My mouth literally dropped open when I read that sentence. WTF? I really think there is a large audience for your amazing love story!

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  2. What an encouraging and bad ass post!

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  3. As sad as I am to hear about the rejection letter, I'm so happy to hear that you are over them. I can't imagine who wouldn't love the boys, but hey I guess they just aren't that into them. However, they are fabulous and holding out for the right person is the way to go. Congratulations on your breakthrough!

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  4. This is very encouraging to read - thank you for sharing it! Hopefully I can remember to look at it again whenever I get myself to the querying part of the game.

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  5. This is a great attitude to take toward rejection. It's a matter of finding the right match!

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  6. Thanks for the encouragement. :) Honestly, I can't adequately explain how much that one sentence changed everything for me. I am SO glad that she bothered to give me feedback (she normally doesn't), because I literally laughed out loud just as I was about to collapse into sobs.

    I'm still wavering between the usual feelings of hopelessness just because the odds really suck, but I'm not heartbroken like I usually am.

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  7. Hi! Just dropping by to let you know there's an award for you over on my blog. :)

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  8. *applause* Yes!! Best attitude. You're so right, Betty. It really is subjective. And some things aren't worth the compromise. This book just hasn't landed on the right desk. Hang in there.

    P.S. Finally found you :D

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