Post-Rejection Analysis
Sometimes you get a rejection that makes you erase the play board and start over.
I drank too much coffee yesterday and was awake too late, thereby putting myself at risk of the dreaded unexpected late-night e-mail rejection. It was one of those rejections that's hard to set aside, because it was personalized and it came from a place I'm already familiar with: obvious writing talent and not a commercially viable project.
I know this about the book I've been querying. It's too big, too convoluted, a bit too smart to be straight genre, but I love the book. I want people to read the book, but I'm not without a certain amount of pragmatism. After eleven rejections, knowing what I know, I'm putting this one on indefinite hiatus. It's time to move on.
The next book I'm querying is distinctly more commercial, so at least I don't have that hurdle, but that whole issue is weighing on me pretty heavily as I try to decide what project to work on next. I always have about half a dozen things waiting in the wings, but as I work on a decision, I thought I'd ask my Voxy neighbors what kind of things you're interested in reading these days. What sorts of stories, issues, people are you interested in?
Comments
Sorry to hear about the late e-mail.
What about 30 somethings married couples, trying to get through balancing work and home life? Actually - that's probably not that humourous, or interesting..
Are these agents or publishers you're submitting to?
RG: What about semi-chick lit in which the girl realizes she's not with Mr. Wrong, but that she's Ms. Wrong? 'Cause I got a project like that ;o)
I don't know that I have specific general interests--wait, that doesn't make sense---
anyway, I am a slow reader as we know, and I kind of go by author or specific subject that I might be interested in and lately it's been more non-fiction that I have been interested in. I am kind of a retard when it comes to finding good reads, I rely mostly on recommendations, authors I already know, classics, or just finding the subject matter/bio subject. Movies and music are easier for me to 'discover' on my own. So--I don't think I'm actually answering your question, but I think a good writer can interest me on the history of dirt.
You have such a wide knowledge/interest base, though, I think that is a good thing for you. Send one of your sci fi things to Terry Gilliam or something like that! ;-)
Does it have to be fiction - because I once wrote to Marie-Claire (and never got a reply!) asking them to do an article on the women hidden under the Burka, and how they felt about being hidden and what went on underneath... it would be good as a book too... but would require sooo much research, I know!
So, I just read two Khaled Hosseini (sp?) books (kite runner and splendid suns) - and apart from the burkas and other fascinating culture-shocking stuffs... there was something I really liked. The characters had such a REAL development in their relationship with parents, friends, partners and kids... where most books just have one main problem or one main relationship and it can be as interesting as it can, but it's too tidy for me. These characters had much more complete setting and development.
(Did that make sense?)
Oh, and I like IG's suggestion.
Sorry to hear about the rejection. From what I have read here, you are an immensely talented writer. I suspect I would read your work even if I didn't like the genre you were writing. I actually really love historical fiction and tend to lean towards things involving horrible dictators, prisons, that sort of thing. Perhaps I should seek counseling.
You know I'd read any of your stuff. I would *love* to read your feel good abortion story. That's got to be edgy enough for the publishers, right?
Like I said, probably totally out of your genre, I was just brainstorming.
try Belle de jour, El and L'Âge d'Or by Bunuel. and anything by Lorca.
Oh, and a "jaded 40-something Indian bombardier prisoner of war with Bollywood good looks"? Awesome!!! LOL.
Lately I've been reading a lot of history and scholarly biography.
Otherwise, I'd like, for once, to read a book about Southeast Asians in North America that doesn't involve any of the following: domineering, disappointed mothers, emotionally repressed, professorial fathers, wise old grandmothers who dispense advice and food, arranged marriage, dutiful daughter, wild-child sister who gets disowned, dutiful son who marries the quiet girl from his parents' village only to have an affair with a white medical student. Oh wait--since every Jumpha Lahiri short story contains at least three of those themes, I guess I'll have to write it myself.
Hmmmmm.... I'mma have to consider this one.... (twirls villainous mustache in full Snidely Whiplash mode)
You know, I loved Interpreter of Maladies, but I thought it to be a thematic book. Then it kinda went on and on and on.
Redz, I'll think about it, but I'm a big proponent of something, well... less literary (since that's all I've been reading lately) but clever. Like... that show Reaper on TV. Some foolish situation but the characters take themselves seriously.