Sorry for getting all melancholy on you yesterday. I try to avoid that, but sometimes...sometimes it creeps up on me.
A few bright spots in my birthday jubilee were watching my children and husband sing to me through the glow of six tall candles, having dinner with my lovely and cherished friend Tricia last night and receiving an encouraging rejection letter on my novel.
An acceptance would've been, of course, supernova dazzling, but the agent jettisoning my little story did say, and I quote, "you have strong characters and a fascinating subject matter. You have a nice voice and writing style that comes across well in your manuscript."
She suggested I develop my protagonist more, which is an idea other agents never passed on to me. And the best part? She asked to see it again! She's the first to request another look. A v. nice New Yorker she is.
I'm majorly overhauling this story anyway, so, when it's fresh and sparkly and ready to go (at least in my mind), I'll send it on to her.
And hope. And try to start the next thing so I don't preoccupy myself with her response.
That sounds very promising!!!
Merry, Merry!!!
Posted by: Dara | December 21, 2007 at 08:23 AM
Congratulations! That sounds like a pseudo-rejection letter to me. I'm so happy for you!
Posted by: Tootsie | December 21, 2007 at 09:23 AM
I didn't know you were a novelist. How totally cool. And a second look? That's awesome.
Posted by: Izzy | December 21, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Wants to see it again?! That's fantastic. If she wasn't interested, she certainly wouldn't have bothered with saying that.
Go, you!
Have a great holiday!
Posted by: Madame Queen | December 21, 2007 at 10:03 AM
sounds good to me! keep pressing on!!
Posted by: mama's got moxie | December 21, 2007 at 11:10 AM
It must be nice to know that someone read your stuff... and gave a constructive critique as well! Congrats!
Posted by: Anitra | December 21, 2007 at 05:56 PM
Good for you! That is very exciting. There's no way she would waste time with those comments if she didn't think you had something. Good luck!
Posted by: JCK | December 21, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Wow. I mean, I know it was a rejection, but that level of encouragment would be fantastic for me. How long have you been sending it out? And how many agents? Please advise, because I am close to giving up and I just started!!
Posted by: Emily R | December 22, 2007 at 01:10 AM
Congratulations! A rejection letter with suggestions for improvement is a million times better than a flat-out rejection. Good luck with the changes!
Posted by: Burgh Baby's Mom | December 22, 2007 at 06:58 PM