Negative Review Drama -- Oh Noes!!

 

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I'm not gonna lie, much as I cringe every time a situation pops up with an author & reviewer having an unpleasant meeting of the minds for all the internet world to see, I can't look away. Like passing an accident on the side of highway, I want to believe I'm better than slowing to gawk at the carnage as it unfolds . . . but even as I drive by, I can't stop myself from glancing at the wreckage out of the corner of my eye (and maybe snapping a picture with my iPhone).


Quite truthfully, I don't plan on reading reviews of my future books unless someone, be it agent, publisher, friend, family or fan happen to point something out to me (and they best only be pointing out the good stuff) in order to try to avoid stumbling into this trap, myself.

As a fellow writer, I can completely understand how a scathing review can cut, and cut deep. It's hard enough to hear someone didn't like what you wrote, but if the review has a potential ranting or snide feel to it (as unfortunately some are wont to do), it's hard to fight the human nature to stick up for something you love.

"Oh really, Mofo, you wants to take it there?"



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But if I should find myself or one of my writerly friends facing down a review that scalds, I'm going to do my best to dissuade the temptation to respond in any way by pointing out... a majority of people read reviews to confirm what they already suspect.

Most of the time, people know what books they're dying to read and which ones they have zero interest in. Personally, the only time I go checking out reviews is if I've never heard of the book before (which means I wasn't bound to pick it up in the first place) or, more likely, I'm on the fence about it.

When I stop to read a book review, odds are good, I'm either pretty sure I want to read it, but don't know anyone who has & want to make sure it's not a total bomb with a great jacket or . . . I'm pretty sure I don't want to read it, but there's something about the blurb that keeps me hanging in, and I need justification that I'm not being a stupid idiot & missing out on something great.


Justification.


It's my belief that, more than anything, is where reviews come in. They offer an unbiased (even if not always objective and balanced) opinion for those people who are on the fence and looking to have their own suspicions verified. Meaning: one bad review from a reviewer is NOT going to make or break your book in the court of public opinion. And it's not worth the hassle and drama -- for us or the reviewers -- to defend ourselves against their right to an opinion.


Now, I ask you all to bookmark this post for me, so I can be reminded of my current level-headedness should the above situation happen to Yours Truly. :D  And, offer up any other suggestions on how we all can avoid the car wreck of inevitable bad reviews.

Ain't No Party Like a West Coast Party...

I'm pretty sure there isn't going to be a whole lot of time for partying while I'm in Cali. That's the problem with these darn business trips, they always want you to WORK while you're there. What's up with that?

Got another rejection on a query last night, though it was one of the remainders from the last batch I sent out. I really do feel like it's best to take a little step back, adjust my first chapter, let the lovely Miss Jessica read it over for me (and anyone else who's interested -- I'm not a snob) for a little extra help and then jump back into query hell.

Though I know it probably means nothing in the grand scheme of things, I feel better that only one of my ten rejections (including the partial) was address "Dear Author" everyone else actually included my name and the story title. Easy enough to do, but at least I feel like they did read it, even if the rejections themselves are most likely really nice forms.

Oh and I think that I'm having another round of "What's My Genre Again" happening. This would be the 3rd time I've changed it -- for those of you following along at home -- if I do in fact decide to lean that way.

A friend who's recently read my ms suggested that my story is more paranormal women's fiction, than paranormal romance. (See, this is what happens when you just write the story first without giving a thought as to what you're actually writing).

There is a large portion of the story that revolves around the romance of the main character and the love of her life ... but as was pointed out to me, since the story covers a larger arc -- including her becoming a mother, etc. -- it's a little more women's fiction than straight romance. Not to mention my story is written in first person (which is a tough sell in adult romance -- though YA is cool with it, go figure) AND written from the female protag's point of view only (so again, not very romancy).

Dammit! THIS is why I need an agent. I can't even decide what genre I really belong to. I'm just going to start telling agents that my story is what happens when you combine Nicholas Sparks and Anne Rice, and let them figure out where it belongs!  ;o)

Bueller? ... Bueller? ... Bueller?

I completely missed out on the blogging "roll call" this week, and I'm soooo far behind I won't attempt to get caught up, because it will never happen. For those who've left awards for me (figures, I get more of those suckers when I'm not around!!)  I'll definitely be sure to get around and check them out before the weekend is through. And even though I don't know what they are yet -- Thank You!!

It was a crazy, emotional week (hence the reason for my vacantness). Not all good. Not all bad. Just a highly draining rollercoaster ride these last 7 days. BUT I think I've got myself back on a bit of an even keel  -- for now, at least.


Quest for Publication Update :  The agent who requested my partial ultimately decided to pass on requesting the full. 


She was complimentary. She thought the idea was marketable and well-written, but the dreaded "I just didn't fall in love with it" reasoning won out in the end. 


Is it a bummer? Of course it is, but I don't feel crushed ... as much as confused, I guess.I choose to look at the positives first. 


1) This agent is one of the bigger names out there, and she's constantly swamped with queries. Simply having her request a partial, means I got farther than 95% of those who submit to her.


2) She responded to both my query and my requested partial super quick --- less than 24 hours on the query, and less than 3 weeks on the partial. Both of those response times were well under her stated "expected" times. 


So I do believe I have something there on the marketability side, she just wasn't overwhelmed by my writing style. That's how I'm choosing to look at it, so shhhh, don't try to talk me out of my delusions.


The only thing that leaves me feeling kinda unsettled -- and I know I'm not alone in this boat -- is the fact that she didn't "fall in love with it". 


Understandably, most agents are far too busy to read full submissions for all the story ideas that intrigue them. They truly are doing the best they can! They're in the business to make money, so they ARE on the lookout for the next best selling author, because it is in their best interest too. 


But it is extremely difficult (and I'm saying this as a reader, not just a writer) to find a book/manuscript that makes a person fall in love from the first chapter -- or even three -- alone. 


Just for my own curiosity I did a mental checklist in my head of a bunch of my most favorite books, and I can honestly say that I didn't fall in love with any of them THAT early on.  I found them interesting . . .  or funny . . . or  entertaining . . .  or there was a character I wanted to know more about, etc. Not once however, did I know I was in LOVE with the story until I'd gotten at least 100 pages in.  I've only devoured, in one sitting, books that were further along in a series -- never the first one.


So, I think now I really understand, it IS an uphill battle to find an agent who connects with your story and wants to read enough of it to get TO the falling in love point. It's a necessary challenge, but a tricky one that sometimes requires nothing more than luck.


With that said: I'm going to try my best not to stress out over the things I have no control over!!


That doesn't mean that I haven't already had -- or won't still continue to have -- those moments of crippling self doubt when it comes to the world of publishing and my eventual place in it. I've just come to realize that I will suck all the fun out of this whole journey if I allow myself to live and die with every request and/or rejection. Being a writer is a marathon-type lifestyle. I'll burn out if I try to tackle it at a sprinter's speed.


Okay, I'm done being all philosophical and introspective. Next week I start my new job, so bare with me if I'm still a little erratic, until I get accustomed to my new schedule!


For now, let's party and have a wicked-awesome weekend, shall we?!?

Friday Catch-All

Last night, I received a rejection on another query. This one didn't bother me as much, since the only material sent was the query letter & she wasn't one of my "dream" agents. She's still an excellent agent, but I think it hurts a little more when it's one you reeeeaaaally wanted.

It didn't sting like some of the others before it did (maybe I'm growing more tolerant of rejection?), but it does cause the doubt weasels to pop-up. Was it my query letter? Did she open it at a bad time? Is my idea not anywhere near as close to interesting as I thought it was? What if no one else asks to see my partials?

Instead of letting it get inside my head though, I'm using it as proof that I need to get on the ball and send out more queries!! I've been far too casual about the whole process. I need to be more aggressive going forward.

Current Query Stats (including the stats from the OLD query letter):
Queries Sent: 9
Rejections: 6
Partials Requested: 1
Fulls Requested: 0
Rejection of Requested: 0

Blog Update -- Starting next week, I'm cutting back to posting 3 entries a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). I want to be able to spend the off days catching up on the other blogs I don't get around to as much, because I'm spending so much time on my own. I LOVE blogging, but I have to find a way to cut down on how time consuming it can be, so I can spend more time on the silly thing we call writing. I think this way will work -- however, I allow myself the opportunity to change my mind whenever I choose!

Happy Friday, All!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Sharing is Good

Last time out, of the 4 queries I sent, 3 went via snail mail. This time around, I've decided to go with emailing whenever possible. Today I learned the one drawback to that method.

The rejections come back to you a little quicker.

It was only one, and quite truthfully, I was shocked when I found it in my inbox this afternoon. Not shocked to be rejected (I' m not that vain), but that I'd get a response in less than a day. It was for a query submission only, so I didn't have to fret as much as if I'd sent a synopsis & sample chapter with it. Plus, I already knew this particular agent was super picky. At least it was a polite, nicely worded rejection letter.

I don't know if I'm dense, or I just bounce back quickly. It stung, like a bad sunburn, for about an hour ... and then I let it go. I've got more out already, and more going out before the end of the week. If I get up to a dozen or so with no nibbles, then I might begin to fret a little.

In the meantime -- I'm such a follower!  At least three of you have posted snippets or sample chapters of your story on your blogs, and I liked them so much I decided to follow suite. So if you'll direct yourself to my sidebar, I now have the first chapter of my paranormal romance "Gemini Cursed" posted for all the world (okay, only those of you who read my blog) to see.

Or if you're lazy and don't feel like looking to the right (like me) you can just click here to read it.