The good fight

First off, thank you for all of your kind words on yesterday's post. You talked me off a ledge, so to speak. I'm going to keep fighting the good fight. Because I HAVE to believe that several someones, somewhere, want to read a book not for it's gimmicky vampire dystopian universe where all the animals are zombies and all the vegetables talk in full sentences (not that those can't be fun) but for its characters and story.

I believe in arcs and climaxes and plot. I do! But I also want to write something true to life. The kind of fiction I like are stories and characters I can relate to in scenarios that seem somewhat plausible. And I hope others do, too.

I've done a lot of soul searching over the past 24 hours...trying to figure out why getting agented and published by a big NY house is my holy grail. I really don't know, except that it's the ultimate in validation for a fiction writer.

That said, the industry is obviously changing. E-publishing is growing like crazy and the gatekeeper's walls are starting to crumble, for better or worse. This is exciting. But throwing my manuscript up on Smashwords still isn't going to satisfy me.

Anyway, I just wanted to let the eight of you who commented know that you helped. Very humbly, thank you.

Comments

[Vanessa McGrady Spiller]

We will NOT let you fail. xo

[Laura from the Chi]

I had written out a comment yesterday and never ending up posting it because I got busy at work. I wanted to tell you that, for one, you are a fantastic writer. If you didn't have interesting things to say I wouldn't have followed your blog for all these years all the way from Chicago. Your blog is the only non-foodie blog I read. I'm so glad you have it linked from Half Assed Kitchen!

Secondly, please don't give up on your YA novel. I don't see why "relatable and real" can't be YOUR gimmick. As a girl who was an avid reader AND writer from a very young age, I devoured many YA and non-YA novels, but the books I reread and treasured near to heart were the ones with relatable protagonists (oh Holden, you were my rock!). I had a rough adolescence for many reasons, and I clung to these characters who were like ME and who were dealing with similar struggles as ME. I didn't always want to lose myself in fantasy worlds. Sometimes -- MOST times -- I needed to know that I wasn't alone and that things could and would get better. Please don't abandon your non-gimmicky fiction. Millions of girls everywhere need more than sparkly vampires.

HUGS!

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

Angie,
I didn't get to read or comment yesterday but I do know what I like to read, and it isn't fantasy fiction. Now and as a YA (we won't talk about how long ago that was) I want characters I can relate to, authentic voice, and real situations. Therefore, I disagree with the agent's rejection of your work.
Keep going!

[Tamara Paulin]

And they call those gimmicks ... high concept. And you're right--that's what's selling, and that's what the agents want.

My 3rd novel does have a high concept premise. I didn't choose it because of the agent-appeal, but because I'd done 2 realistic books already and wanted to try something with some magic. Ironically, now that I'm enthusiastic about self-publishing, I've probably produced a book that would have had a small chance at getting picked up. :-P

Ah, life. Always the learning. Always the painful lessons! Always the soul-searching and the lack of answers. You just never know, do you? The only answer is to keep writing. :-) I'm glad you're keeping at it!