More about rejection...
Currently Watching
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Special Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
By Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Kiran Shah, James Cosmo, Judy McIntosh, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Patrick Kake, Shane Rangi, Brandon Cook (III), Cassie Cook, Morris Lupton, Shelly Edwards, Susan Haldane, Margaret Bremner, Jaxin Hall
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I rejected a book this week. Well, more than one, but I actually requested the full on this one. And I felt bad about it, because the premise and the book weren't that bad. Well written? Sure. I requested it after reading the first bit, and it pulled me in. Then there were these other parts, and the POV character of those parts was... less than thrilling. Boring. Didn't want to read it. So I rejected it. I told the author why, and I invited him to resubmit if he made changes. He doesn't have to - maybe someone else won't feel the same way about that character that I do.
And that's publishing. So much is subjective. For me, if you can pull me in by page five, that's good. If I get to the end of the three chapters and haven't lost interest, I'll request the full. If I read until the end and find no major flaws, I pass it on. Major flaws include plots and characters that have been done to death as well as bad writing with misused words and overused cliches.
Is that a weird way to pick books? My biggest qualifier is that I think about the book when I'm NOT reading it. If I find myself wanting to get back to it, to find out what comes next, then you move on. Even if it needs some polish. Sounds random, eh? Not really. I have eclectic tastes in books, I write fantasy, but I have read romance, thrillers, etc... I LOVE a good mystery. Not so much dectective, but murder mysteries are one of my favs. So I have a wide range, and if a book that's out of my genre is well done, then I'll recommend it.
I'd rather have an imperfect book with a great story than the most well-written one that bores me to tears.
Oh, and I've gotten rejected by both of the first publishers I sent my fireman picture book too. Concept book. Anyone have any ideas on where to send? I could re-write, but would rather not yet. Thanks.
Finally got the DVD thing to work. At long last got my hands on a copy of this yesterday. Yay - great movie, makes me want to work on my next Zandria book. Patience, Crown is still on the blocks for a final tune-up.