Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the most difficult words for a writer to hear from an agent or from editors who’ve looked at his or her manuscript is, “Not this one”.
I can almost see the words running through the writer’s mind, “What do you mean, ‘Not this one?’ This is the book I researched for the better part of five years. This is the manuscript I spent two years writing. I even spend a couple thousand dollars getting it professionally edited before I even showed it to you. ‘Not this one?’ Like I have a whole shelf of manuscripts?”
It feels like that proverbial moment when someone looks at your precious child and pronounces her ugly. But it’s usually not that at all. Let me outline some of the reasons an editor or agent may be meh about your manuscript:
- The story doesn’t feel fresh. Too many similar stories or books are on the market right now.
- The book doesn’t fit any recognized genre. Yes, it’s fun to create a genre fusion and yes, if it were successful you might be able to double readership but generally the blending of genres doesn’t work. I mean Christian Erotica isn’t going to be successful any time soon for a number of reasons.
- The story is just too edgy, too outside of the box. If you are writing in a genre or a category that hasn’t yet found an audience, your book is going to have trouble finding a home. Publishers do not buy books with the hope of finding an audience. They buy books to put in the front of the avid reader groups that already exist.
- There’s another book too similar already in the pipeline. You couldn’t have possibly known.
- While the writing’s good, it just doesn’t sing. The market is unbelievably tight these days. Good is not good enough.
- The subject or era has limited appeal. We don’t know why certain eras in fiction, for instance, just don’t have any traction. But that shifts, so hang on.
- Let’s be brutally honest here– if your book makes the reader feel guilty or feel pressured, it’s not going to work, no matter how much we think it should. Especially fiction, which is largely entertainment. In other words, if you write about child abduction, horrible physical or sexual abuse, evil in the world– it’s going to make your book a harder sell.
- The market has moved away from your voice. For instance, if you brought me a sassy Bridget Jones-type manuscript now that Chick Lit is dead, I’d have to turn it down no matter how good it is.
So what’s an author to do when no one wants the book you’ve slaved over?
- Quit writing. And if you can successfully do this, I’d recommend this as the route you should take. If you are like the rest of the writing world and you can’t quit no matter how much it hurts, read on.
- Put that manuscript in a drawer and start immediately on the next one. Take all the feedback you received on the first book and apply it to the second. Ask any professional you can corral about your idea for this next book. Try to get feedback on the idea before you commit to writing the whole manuscript.
- Pull that first manuscript out of the drawer periodically. Polish it up, applying all the new techniques you’ve mastered.
- When the book you finally end up publishing becomes a hit– maybe your second, your third or your tenth– your publisher is going to come looking for anything else you already have. Just this morning I received word that a series my client wrote ten years ago and eventually consigned to a drawer just made it through pub committee at a top publisher. I’m waiting on an offer.
- Take heart that the market is constantly shifting. What is meh today could be marvelous tomorrow.
So what will you do if the answer to that book you love is, “Not this one?”
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Shirlee Abbott
After the tantrum, after the tears, I hope I could honestly pray:
Well, God, I learned a lot writing this, and I am better for it. If that is enough for you, Lord, it is enough for me. What’s next?
Wendy Lawton
Good point, Shirlee. There has to be time to grieve, doesn’t there?
Anne Love
Great post Wendy. This is the point where it’s crucial not to take things too personal. Yes, we might have to mourn a bit but seriously, this whole journey of writing is so often not that much about me. I heard a quote on Castle once, supposedly by James Patterson that went something like this: “so you wrote a book? So what? I wrote a book once, then I got over it and wrote twenty-five more.” It made me smile and gave me perspective. 🙂
Jenny Leo
Love that quote, Anne. My brother is a professional ceramic artist. When he finishes a bowl to his liking, he sets it aside, slaps more clay on the wheel and begins again. As a result his shelves are groaning with beautiful pieces, and he has a good selection to offer the market. Among novelists, occasionally we hear of a one-hit wonder like Harper Lee or Margaret Mitchell, but that’s rare. Of course we prioritize quality over quantity. But the way I see it, until my shelves are groaning with finished projects, I’ve got plenty of work to do.
Wendy Lawton
Perfect. Groaning with finished products. . .
Jeanne Takenaka
Love that quote, Anne!
Meghan Carver
I remember that episode. Classic line! Thanks for the reminder, Anne.
Wendy Lawton
Love that, Anne.
Melodie Harris
Congrats to the writer of that decade old manuscript. Wow, what a feeling of vindication that must be. Best wishes in that area.
If this were to happen to me about my WIP (I just began the study of getting published this summer), I keep the thing for my 20 or so great nieces and nephews and their kids.
I enjoy reading what my dear Aunt Mary, the grandma I never knew, and even my mom wrote years ago. Most families have a sentimental fool that will cherish the ramblings of a wanna-be author.
Wendy Lawton
And, of course, nowadays, the author can publish the book himself. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities if you are entrepreneurial.
Jenny Leo
I’d lovingly deem it my “starter novel,” set it aside, and start something new. I’ve heard many published authors say that their “debut” novel was not the first novel they wrote. Sometimes the third or fifth novel to be published was actually the first one written. Better to build a body of polished work than fuss over one single project until it gets “loose in the joints and very shabby,” like the Velveteen Rabbit.
Wendy Lawton
I heard an ABA editor at an RWA conference mock a writer who she said came to every conference with “the same beloved, dog-eared manuscript clutched to her heaving chest.” Ouch.
Jenni Brummett
Gulp. Glad I’m working on the next project and have a great critique group to bounce ideas off of.
Jenny Leo
That’s a sobering thought, Wendy. I sometimes wonder if I’ll still be tottering around writer’s conferences thirty years from now, in my support hose and sensible shoes, something of an industry legend, as the younger generation murmurs, “There she goes. She never gives up, bless her heart.”
Wendy Lawton
So funny, Jenny. I’d say park your walker next to mine and we’ll talk but in thirty years I’ll most likely be part of that great cloud of witnesses pulling for you from on high, bless your heart.
Chris Schneider
Has there ever been a writer who didn’t suffer through rejection? Wonderful advice Wendy. thank you
Wendy Lawton
Not me. During my days as a writer I collected all responses and even divided the rejections into categories– form rejection, personal rejection, encouraging rejection, rejection with promise.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Interesting serendipity for me – because I just went through this with an agent. As it happens, I DO have a number of other manuscripts, so all is not lost.
I do have a few thoughts –
* Agents make mistakes, and what one turns down another may embrace. Keep trying.
* Pub boards make mistakes. Look at “50 Shades of Grey”. Sure, it sold, but the writing is pathetic and the premise is immoral. Success buys the Rolls, but integrity gets you into Heaven.
* Self-publish (under a pseudonym, if you want to protect your eventual brand). You won’t have the support of a publishing house in setting up publicity, significant reviews, and bookstore placement, but you’ll probably be doing about the same amount of self-promotion through social media if you’re SP’d or TP’d.
Besides, do YOU read Publisher’s Weekly reviews when looking for something to read? I don’t. I read the reviews on Amazon.
* If you SP, write a blog that supports your platform or worldview. Give it time, and eventually you’ll have a built-in audience.
Finally, quitting is an option. I used to feel driven to write, but now that each day is a sharper reminder of mortality, perspective is different.
Writing is about ministry, about the communication of values through the medium of stories. If the connection simply isn’t being made, there are other types of ministries available (including the ‘social media ministries, that keep you writing).
If we write what no one reads, are we ignoring the call to be Christ’s hands and feet? We can say (and I did) that we’re contributing to God’s glorification even through the manuscripts that never see the light of say, but is that a self-serving shibboleth?
And how may sunsets and grandchildren’s smiles and wagging tails and blooming flowers are we willing to ignore in the service of Art?
Wendy Lawton
Good thoughts, Andrew. And nothing is as subjective as our preference in books. As an agent I’ve seen that powerfully. What one editor rejects, three others may fight over.
Kristen Joy Wilks
Argh! I started my first book length ms. in 2003. I have been working on it off and on since then. I’ve set it aside several times to write other mss. But I keep coming back to it. I’m plotting something new for next month, putting that old one aside. But it knows I’ll be back.
Wendy Lawton
And I hope you’ll have a special celebration when that one finally gets published. There’s nothing like our firstborn, is there?
Jeanne Takenaka
Great post, Wendy. I appreciate the reality you shared, as well as the suggestions. My first two manuscripts were “been there, done that,” according to the people I pitched them to. When I prepared to write my current ms, I had it all plotted out. Then I talked with a few mentors about how to make the story unique, and I asked for ideas on how to make future stories unique. That really helped me. And it changed my story around significantly. This story is gathering more interest, but of course I still need to revise and polish it before sending it out into the world.
If this one too finds no audience? I’ll begin the next story, which is beginning to percolate in my brain even as I write this. 🙂 Sure, there’s disappointment to work through, but I don’t stay in that place for very long. I’m learning my strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and I’m working on those weaknesses, in the hopes of becoming a stronger writer, and hopefully one day, published. 🙂
Wendy Macdonald
Jeanne, I admire your persistence. Your writing journey is inspiring.❀
Jeanne Takenaka
Awww, thanks, Wendy. 🙂
Wendy Lawton
But those first books are still possibilities. In ten years the market will have changed and those story lines may no longer be too familiar. Plus you can always take those books apart and turn them on their heads, playing the what if game. The characters may just need to suffer a little more trauma and some unexpected twists and turns.
Jeanne Takenaka
Wendy, you described what they need. 🙂 More trauma and more unexpected twists. 🙂 I get a little better at those story aspects with each book I write. 🙂
Jenni Brummett
I too admire your determination and willingness to seek wise advice, Jeanne.
Jeanne Takenaka
Thanks, Jenni. 🙂
Christine Dorman
“So what will you do if the answer to that book you love is, ‘Not this one?'” Cry. Pray. And get on with the next one. Eventually.
Thank you, Wendy. I know that this post is meant to be encouraging. And basically, it is. Your themes of don’t take it personally, it’s just the nature of the business, learn from your mistakes, and keep trying are all realistic and true. At the same time, it is heart-rending to invest not only time, energy, and money, but also one’s own self into a project only to discover that no one’s interested. That said, there is a lesson in humility and trust in the scenario you’ve discussed. I can do everything in my ability and power to “get it right” with a manuscript, not just with the craft of writing, but with the business end: checking market trends and competitors, working on platform, studying how to right a brilliant query and proposal, and so on, but if God says, “Not this one” or “Not right now,” I have to accept His will. If I have seriously done everything in my power to get my manuscript publication / market ready and I can’t sell it to an agent or a publisher, then I have to hand my powerlessness and my pain over to God, ask for the wisdom to understand whatever lesson God is trying to teach me in the situation, and ask for guidance in regards to my next step. Oh yes, and ask for the grace not to bury the talent God has given me out of fear of future failure or rejection. Then, as I said above, get on with the writing and let God decide what He wants to do with that effort. That’s the hope I cling to: as long as I’m using the talent God has given me, whether or not I achieve MY goals, the effort will never be wasted. God will use it for some good purpose, even if I never know what that purpose was.
Wendy Lawton
That kind of relinquishment is often the prerequisite to finding a whole new path open up for that which you surrendered. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this happen.
Wendy Macdonald
Wendy, I love the hope in your words: What is meh today could be marvelous tomorrow.
Even if an MS never makes it out of the drawer, it was not a waste of time. The more we write–the more our writing improves. And like you suggested, we can go back from time to time (as our skill grows) and polish up the rejected project.
If I am told, “Not this one,” I will write another one.
Thank you for always giving us the real picture.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac ❀
Wendy Lawton
If I am told, “Not this one,” I will write another one.
And the funny thing is, nothing helps propel that first manuscript into the spotlight faster than a successful second manuscript.
Wendy Macdonald
So true, Wendy. I keep coming across stories about resurrected rejects. I won’t be burning any of my books. ❀
Lori Benton
I did get that answer to the first 18th century historical I wrote (as you know, though that answer wasn’t from you, Wendy, bless you!). I haven’t given up on that book and never will. I’ve gone back to it and tweaked it now and again in between working on other stories. Even if that book never finds its way into the hands of readers, as I hope it does, it cemented my love for the 18th century and paved the way for books like Burning Sky and The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn to be born. It was during the research for that first book, set in North Carolina, that I ran across mention of the “lost” state of Franklin, which forms the historical backdrop to TPOTL, and a character that has a significant secondary role in TPOTL was first created in that as yet unpublished manuscript. I still believe it will have its day, but until then, there are so many more stories to tell. Moving on to write Burning Sky was a bit of a wrench at the time, but I’m glad now I did.
Wendy Lawton
And we will sell that first manuscript once the editors all see that Lori Benton can get away with all kinds of things the market says don’t work– like length, like Native American historical settings, like a male main character. 🙂 Just had a talk about that book a week or so ago. . .
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Ummm, hmmm, your comment, and Lori Benton’s work, gives me inspiration and hope. Because I have main characters who are male, Native American and I think my books are going to run slightly over 100K.
Wendy Lawton
The only problem, Jennifer, is that for a new writer all of those things are potential stumbling blocks for publishers. It makes your journey to publication even more difficult. That’s always the tradeoff. Do you write what you are passionate about or do you write what today’s readers want to buy.
No easy answers for sure. But who can tell if you are going to be that one that defies the odds (like the J.K. Rowling anecdote or Lori’s journey)?
It’s just that in telling the inspiring against-all-odds stories I want to be careful not to encourage our blog readers to write out of the box. It’s hard enough if you are writing in the sweet spot.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
That’s part of my uphill climb, that I’m an “outside the box” kind of person.
WAY outside.
Like, down the block and into a whole different neighbourhood.
Thankfully, I also know when to listen to wisdom.
Kiersti
I love all that you’re “getting away with,” Lori (and Wendy!). 🙂 And I so look forward to reading that manuscript in published form someday!
Lori Benton
That makes me feel like such a rebel. I get to feel like that about once a decade, so thanks. 🙂
Seriously though, I find that encouraging, and I’m beyond thankful you took me on, out of the box and all, and stuck with me for the time it took to find a home for my books. I’d long since come to the conclusion that I’d rather write what I was passionate about and never be published than write what I didn’t want to write to be more acceptable to the market. That conclusion made my journey a longer one, but I have no regrets now. Not to say that’s the best or only way to go about this, it’s just how I worked out my writing journey over the years, between me and God.
Lori
Here a story for you:
Once there was a writer who found an agent, the agent sent the book to 12 publishing houses and they ALL said NOT THIS ONE. After a year there was a publishing house that said yes because of the chairman’s eight-year daughter who was given the first chapter of this children’s book to review by her father and immeidiately demanded the next. The pulblishing house agreed to publish the book and told the author not to quit her day job since this author would have little chance of making money in children’s books.
The author was J. K. Rowling and the book was “Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone”.
Wendy Macdonald
Lori, I love happy endings. ❀
Did anyone else get goosebumps?
Wendy Lawton
I love to hear these kind of against-all-odds stories because we all feel we are pushing against the odds. If God be for us, who can be against us, right?
Meghan Carver
Great encouragement today, Wendy. Thank you! You’ve described the first book I wrote a few years ago. It needs to be resurrected from that drawer and polished up once I finish a couple of other projects. Those characters and their difficulties refuse to leave my mind, despite the other characters that are moving in and claiming space of their own.
Wendy Lawton
Those books are the sometimes the raw material for something wonderful.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
If I hear “not this one”, I won’t keel over.
If I hear “no one reads anything about Native Americans” I’ll laugh and point to the B section in historical fiction and whisper “Lori Benton nailed the Christys, just sayin!”
The iron clad rules of “What doesn’t work” always get broken. I plan on being part of the tear down crew.
Wendy Lawton
May God bless the work of your hands and let your story hit the market at the perfect time.
Susan G Mathis
Thanks, Wendy! I needed that reminder. Bless you!
Marti Pieper
I know writers who cling so tightly to that first one that they’ve stopped writing altogether. May this post serve as a reminder to all of us to hold our work–as all things–loosely.
In my experience, there are almost always good reasons for “not this one.” And sometimes “not this one” prepares us for “THIS one.” Thanks for your wisdom.
Wendy Lawton
And that’s true for everything– hold it loosely. Great wisdom, Marti.
Barbara Tifft Blakey
“If God says ‘not this one’ or ‘not at this time’ I have to accept his will.”
Years ago, I learned a wonderful lesson (that at times I must relearn). My husband and I took in foster children. We did our best to show them a better way of life than they had previously experienced, and we have some great success stories.
But not every child responded to us as we hoped. One in particular was especially trying. She was only with us for about two weeks before she was transferred to a home for unwed mothers. While we didn’t typically take in teens, the case worker was desperate and we agreed to give it a try. Besides being pregnant, she had an STD and warped ideas about right and wrong.
Our first “line of attack” to make a difference to these wounded children was to provide security and stability surrounded by an environment of love and acceptance. We never raised our voices or used physical punishment, but there were consequences for bad behavior. In this case “Gina” demonstrated a lot of bad behavior. Again and again in the short two weeks I found myself asking God for wisdom to deal with her. I must admit relief when the case worker came to take her to the next home, one more suitable than ours.
it was frustrating when we discovered she’d stolen jewelry, make-up, various do-dads, and items from other children living with us. We prayed for her and moved on.
Fast forward six years. Our pastor received a phone call from a single mom who had recently returned to the area. She didn’t remember the family’s name, but they attended this church and she had stayed with them before her daughter was born. She said it was her first experience seeing Jesus reflected in people’s lives and wanted to know if she could come to church and bring her daughter.
Gina was never included in our success stories about the children we cared for until that call. I learned that what appears a failure to us might be a wrong perception. We just might not know everything.
And so the book with lackluster sales, or the “not this one,” and “not this time,” just might mean God knows something we do not.
Wendy Lawton
Oh, Barbara, I love this story. We were foster parents for six years early in our marriage and I so understand.
Sometimes we don’t see the whole picture until we step back and some time has passed.
Loved seeing you– if only in passing– at ACFW.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Ohh, wow. I’m sitting here, crying like a baby.
“And so the book with lackluster sales, or the “not this one,” and “not this time,” just might mean God knows something we do not.”
I know a few Ginas. Thank you for persevering.
Jeanne Takenaka
Barbara, your story brought tears to my eyes. I love that God gave you glimpses of what He did after Gina left your care. Just had to say that. 🙂
Terri Wangard
The era I’ve been writing seems to have gotten too crowded. Last year at conference, editors didn’t want to step on the toes of authors in other publishing houses in the same parent company. I’m still hopeful. This year four editors asked me to send something. As Lauraine Snelling said, “Take a deep breath.”
Roger Panton
I failed to get MR ALEXANDER published as a short story (30,000 words), in 1972. Because of self-publishing, I re-wrote it as a novel (73,00 words). The handful of publishers I contacted said things like: “Too short for us,” or “Not the type of work we publish.” Others made comments that suggested they preferred if I came through a writing workshop. Then I saw the price of some of the workshops.
It is refreshing to see that you suggest that the ‘stubborn’ could just write something else.
I guess folks like me need to read that because of the experience of Richard Bach who had so many rejections with his book Johnathan Livingston Seagull.
Jenni Brummett
I’ve hesitated to answer because I’m not sure what I would do.
I’d be disappointed.
I’d mentally ask a plethora of ‘what if’ questions.
Then I would open my idea file, pick up a shovel, and continue to unearth that long-fallow category you mentioned a few weeks ago.
Annie Riess
Wonderful post once again Wendy. I know we can’t let anyone criticize our ‘baby’ without being hurt.
But may we be brave enough to tuck it away, learn from it and start again.
Becky Doughty
Hi Wendy and gang,
Great post – and yes, there are so many, many other ways to take those words. I like to think of them as only half the sentence:
Not this one … for our house, but you should try that house down the road. They’re looking for just this one.
Not this one … at this time, but in two years, we’ll be bugging your agent for it, and everything else you’ve written in the meantime. So write more!
Not this one … because I’m afraid to make any mistakes right now. As much as I think this book is fantastic, my job is very precarious, and I’m afraid to take any risks. I need to feed my family this winter. (This one always helps me see the PERSON behind the “Not this one.”
Besides, nothing is final until the fat lady sings, and even then, if I’m not in the vicinity of her singing, my glass will remain unshattered and half full. But I digress.
I don’t believe a story is dead until the author kills it. Period. And no words/research/editing, etc., is ever wasted. There are so many options these days, and yes, many of them require tenacious entrepreneurial efforts, but those words do NOT mean what they used to mean in this industry. The key, as you pointed out, is to write the next book. And the next one. And the next one. Keep writing until the right doors open. Yes, doors. Options. We have options in this wild and wonderful world of words. There is always a way.
Always love reading your words, Wendy. Thank you.
Ann H Gabhart
When I began writing novels long, long ago, I read several writing advice books and magazines that introduced me to what other writers did. One of the most useful bits of advice was from a mystery writer. I think her name was Dorothy Unblank. That may not be right because that looks like a really weird name. Anyway, at that time, if you didn’t have an agent and most new writers didn’t, you packed up your book in a cardboard box and sent it off to the publishers with a good dose of hope. Or even if you did have an agent, they did it the same way. One publishing company at a time. It took a long time to get a dozen rejections. Her advice was that by the time that first book landed on your doorstep for the thirteenth time and you were ready to give up on it, you had a new book ready to send out with a whole load of new hope. The more we write, the better we get and someday we write the book that finds a loving editor. Nobody ever promised any of us that writing was easy. Not even when it looks easy for others. All of our writing roads have different bumps and potholes. I’m blessed to have some of my books in print, but I spent a few years without those loving editors. But I could never quit writing. Two of those multi-rejected manuscripts have eventually found a publisher and readers. One after over 25 years on my rejection shelf. That one was about Shakers. It took a while for the market to be ready for that book and of course, I did have to do some rewriting. I had learned a little in 25 years. 🙂
Peter DeHaan
If all the traditional publishers say “no” it could be an indication to let the book go — or a nudge to take control of the book and self-publish.