News
Will finally got back to me this morning with a very sensitive and insightful critique of After the Twelfth, and the decision not to publish it. Am I disappointed? A bit. Am I surprised? Not really. His comments mainly touch on elements of the book I found difficult - obviously they still need more work.
But he also said some very nice things about my writing - delicate, ingenious and frequently very compelling - are the words that stick in my mind.
So now I have to make a decision. I’d like to press on with Thin Ice. My thoughts turn constantly on the characters and the story of it; I go to sleep with it in my mind and when I wake up the images are still there. But I want to finish my second book too. I’m just afraid that the rewrite will turn into something huge and that in the midst of it I might lose my zest for Thin Ice.
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February 21st, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Hi Sam,
This seems like synchronicity - though not of the most positive kind! In a maudlin sort of mood I was just revisiting my admission of rejection on my own blog and found your comment for the first time. I immediately turned to yours to find out if you had heard.
I’m so, so sorry. You sound very phlegmatic - much more than I was when I got his email. I hope you are taking it as much in your stride as you sound, but if there’s part of you that feels as devastated as I did, you have all my sympathy. I know Will’s critiques are indeed both insightful and positive, but I really don’t think there was much forward planning about publication space for second novels - and of course the more firsts they publish, the more seconds are going to come along!
I decided to leave Kindred Spirits as it was and send to agents, while getting on with novel no.3. My reason for this was feedback on KS was mixed and contradictory and ideally I want an agent to say, I can sell this if you change it in this way, and give me specifics. This may not happen, of course! In the mean time I’ve failed to get on with No 3, but will do. Today. Really!
It’s also occured to me to put Kindred Spirits on the web as a free download for the moment - free apart from giving me feedback - and see what happens. Just not sure whether there’s some major downside to this which hasn’t occurred to me. Perhaps we should start a website of rejected MNW 2nd novels - and direct other agents and publishers to it…. There are at least 3 others who could join us there, and maybe more I don’t know about.
I’m rambling. Stay in touch. Feeling for you.
Lucy x
February 21st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Hi Samantha
For what it’s worth, I’ve suspended work on my third novel to re-work my first for a new edition, and I think it’s quite possible to abandon a novel in mid flow. You should be able to come back to it a few months with (i) a bit more perspective, (ii) a bit more skill as a novelist and (iii) because its ideas interest you because you’re you, you’ll probably find that you can plug right back into it. That’s my opinion anyway…
Best of luck
Ian
February 21st, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Thanks for your comments and kind wishes, both of you.
I know really, that I need to put Thin Ice to one side - if I’m serious about my career as a writer, then I need to actually finish Book 2. And I’m sure you’re right about coming back to it - indeed, I’ve already done it once with Thin Ice. It’s just Thin Ice is where my head is at at the moment, the changes I have to make to After the Twelfth are quite daunting, and by nature, I’m not a natural finisher-off of things - I enjoy the initial story telling part the most!
Oh well, all part of the process, I suppose…
February 21st, 2007 at 11:21 pm
God, I’m sorry. Glad to see you’re keeping your head and best of luck with Thin Ice - my fingers are crossed for you.
F
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:51 am
I’m sure it IS all part of the process, but it’s got to be a disheartening experience anyway.
I do have one piece of advice for you–take it for what it’s worth.
It sounds as if you have already finished your second book, even if it may need rewriting. I think you should follow your enthusiasm and get on with the next thing if that’s what’s calling to you.
When a book needs substantial reworking, I find I can’t do it when it’s still warm. To give you some idea, I am just starting to revise a book I completed in late 2003. A number of agents loved the opening…and hated the middle. I can see now that what I really needed to do was just throw away three-quaters of the book, rethink everything, and rewrite everything but the opening from scratch. But it’s only now, around three years later, that I’m distant enough to do this.
I think writing needs to be done passionately–but that major rewriting needs to be done in cold blood. So if the new one calls to you and the second one seems too difficult right now, I think your insticts are telling you that forging ahead into new territory is a logical course.
So, I’m siding with Ian here.