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Because Mondays suck in general, I thought I’d take the time to announce that I’m now officially a writer. I got my first rejection letter in the mail last week. Sigh.

No, I didn’t cry. My heart sank, I moped, stuffed a few Oreos in my mouth, sent out some emails so I could be reassured I didn’t suck, ate a few more Oreos, then moped some more.

Why was the story rejected? To make a long story short, the editor didn’t like the hero’s backstory (he competed on a reality dating show) and felt readers wouldn’t buy him as a heroic character.

To be perfectly honest, I was flabbergasted when she first told me this. By no means do I think I'm a perfect writer. I can point out the flaws in my writing and the story with little to no help from anyone else. I know this manuscript isn’t perfect. But this flaw is something I never considered. I conjured up this story idea years ago, and I’ve never once thought it was a bad idea.

I understand that it is very easy for reality show people to be unlikeable. Trust me, I’ve disliked plenty of them. But there are some contestants who I’ve absolutely adored, and I took some of their best qualities and imbued my hero with them. As they say, “He was there for the right reasons.” :)

No, I’m not saying the editor was wrong. She’s the editor of that line and knows and understands readers’ and the line’s expectations a whole lot better than I do. Obviously. LOL.

But I did learn a few lessons that will help me in the future.

1.    Know the line/house you’re targeting inside and out. It’s one thing to read the line. It’s quite another to study it. The editor’s point (and I’m doing a little assuming here) is that the line promises readers’ a fantasy, especially when it comes to the hero.The reality show was a little too real because readers know that world. Everyone has heard of The Bachelor and probably has an opinion on it, whether or not they watch the show, and for many people it’s not positive. I’ve read the books from the line I'm targetting, but I haven’t studied them as critically as I should. That’s going to change.

2.    Everything isn’t going to appeal to everyone. There are some topics that are going to push people’s buttons and often you won’t know until you get that rejection letter. Or, in my case as a reader, I put your book down and refuse to buy it. There’s a popular, contemporary romance writer who has a series out I have no intention of reading. I’ve read and enjoyed her books in the past, but I can’t get past the subject matter in this series. I know the author LOVES it because I follow her on Twitter, but I just can’t.

3.    Love what you write, but be willing to take advice. I’m passionate about the subjects I’ve written about, and I hope that shines through. However, the editor made some valid points that I plan to incorporate into this manuscript and future ones. If you don't take the advice, know why and be able to articulate it. Being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn or thinking your writing is perfect isn't going to cut it.

Will this book ever get published? The better question is will any of my books get published? I don’t know, but I don’t intend to stop pursuing it any time soon.

I think this story still has merit. I’m letting the rejection marinate for a while and then I plan to reopen the document and perform some surgery and send it elsewhere. I might feel differently if it gets rejected by everybody in the publishing world, but for now I choose to remain positive about it and take the lessons I’ve learned to heart.

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Write Day Friday 10/15/2010
 
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In my last Write Day Friday entry on September 24, I wrote about how I was winning the “Procrastinator of the Year” Awards and not making much progress on my manuscript.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve located my mojo and made great progress in the editing/rewriting of Second to None. I’m only halfway through the book, but that puts me a lot closer to the end than I was in September.

I attribute part of my success to FINALLY figuring out what’s driving my hero, Jeremiah. I knew Dee well because she was a secondary character in my first manuscript. I knew how outrageous and outspoken she could be, and what was driving her. When I started this MS, I thought I knew Jeremiah, but really I didn’t.

I struggled with him all throughout the first draft and into this second draft. In my gut, I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. J&D have a history and they both bring baggage from that past into the present. I knew why Dee was reluctant to get involved with him again. I gave him a reason for being upset with her, but I knew there had to be a deeper underlying reason for that anger to be justified.

I was beyond relieved when this part of his backstory popped into my head. It made so much sense and will make the book infinitely better.

If nothing else, I’ve learned that I struggle with characterization. Coming up with a basic plot is the easy part for me (so far, anyway). Trying to figure out who the characters are and what drives them is another story. But figuring that stuff out is so necessary. Plots are great, but the reader has to care about the characters in order to become fully invested in the story. The characters have to be unique and real and relatable and flawed. That can’t happen if I, the writer, have no clue who they are.

But, hey, the first step is admitting you have a problem, right? I bought a couple of writing guidebooks I hope will help me for future stories. I plan to read them after I finish Second to None. I’ll let you know what, if anything, I get from them.

So how’s your writing going? Do you struggle with characterization or is that your strong suit?

xoxo,
Jamie

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