It happened again. I received a rejection on one of my books.
As it went, it was probably the nicest rejection I ever received, but it was still a rejection. Or maybe it was more of a revise and send back letter. At least that's what I'm going to do: revise the book and send it back. I've already begun the revision. Maybe I'll even complete it today.
Although not an ego booster, it's all part of this business. What writer hasn't received a rejection or two? It keeps us humble. It keeps us on our toes to produce our best work.
But this isn't only about me and my feelings. This ensures that you, my readers, will get the very best books possible. You don't want to read drivel or mediocre stuff. You want great romances and adventures you can't put down until you've read "And they lived Happily Ever After" and you go away with a big smile and a big sigh of contentment. You want unforgettable characters. You want a story that will transcend the ages.
At least that's what I want as a reader. That's what I try to give my readers in each of my books.
As you may have noted, my poll ended yesterday. Historical and paranormal tied with 8 votes each to win. Vampire novels and comedy romance tied for second place with 6 votes each. I'd hoped to have more votes to get a better picture of what my readers like.
I'd love to hear from all of you what types of books you enjoy reading and what elements you want to see in stories. Kelly Kirch has been conducting reader interviews which gives us authors a lot of insight into what you want. Way to go Kelly!
Meanwhile, I will work hard to revise and edit my just-rejected story to make it be all it can be and more. Editing was never my bag. Just ask my critique partners. But it's a necessary evil.
No, it's not an evil. It's a golden opportunity to polish the story until it gleams. That's what I'll be doing most of today. Polishing the story, making a happily ever after that will make your heart melt and your knees go weak and make you believe in soul mates.
It's also that time of the month when I need to award one of my books to a lucky poster from the month of March 2008. And I've made a nifty award banner to go with it. This is also available to my past winners, so please save it to your computer, paste it in, and if you would be so kind, link to my blog. I'd really appreciate it.
Drum roll please...
And this month's winner for a free download of one of my books is:
Worn Out Woman at: http://wornoutwoman.blogspot.com/
Here's my new award banner. What do you think?
DJ Kirby and Crazy Cath please email me so I can send you your copy as my winners from the last two months.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Rejections, rewriting, edits, and my monthly book contest
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25 comments:
Sorry to hear you are having to put more work into your book! I like the winner's badge, will email you pronto. You asked how my book was going? Well it is finished and at the publisher awaiting his comments. I did a post about it below the post you last commented on.
Hello and thank you for stopping by my blog. I would love to be a published writer but somehow doubt that will ever happen I just don't seem to come up with a plot although I have begun several 'books I never seem to get past the 2,000 to 3,000 word mark before self doubt creeps in.
Anyway the reason for this comment is that I would have voted in your pole had I made my first visit here before it closed. So I am just going to tell you the kind of books I enjoy. I love a good romance that I can revel in the story line but at the same time learn something about either a culture or period. For that reason I love historical romances but also contemporary if they give a lot of information about a place or a religion or industry.
LiR
Hi Ashley - thanks for stopping by my blog.
Good luck with the new book. I will look for it in Canada when it comes out.
Hang in there, Ashley:) You'll get that acceptance letter!
So, what you're saying is if you can't take rejection, you shouldn't try to write a book? What if my kids reject all the food I make them? Does that count as rejection training? How about if my husband rejects my ideas for fixing up the house? My sister rejecting my advice? How about getting a credit card rejected? I hope, that if I can ever finish a book, that all this rejection will have done me some good!
No Momo Fali, I'm not saying that at all about rejection. Please reread. I said I'm going to revise this book, polish it, and resubmit, that maybe it'll even be done today to resubmit.
But rejection never feels good, even if it's sometimes for the best, to make us strive to do our best, to make us improve.
This wasn't my first rejections. In fact, the book coming out in five days, WILD FANTASIES was at first rejected. I used the editors suggestions, revised it and resubmitted. And voila! It's being published.
I'm sure you'll do a fine efort with your rewriting!
BTW, I've managed to do one of your memes.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, I have never been to your blog before. I think that is great that you post about the rejection letter though, it has to inspire other writers. I have to be honest, I'm not a huge romance fan. I was looking at your poll though & I am totally interested in both paranormal & even romantic suspense/thriller. I will have to look through your books & keep an eye out for what you come up with! Thanks again for commenting, I'm happy to have found a new author to read!
Thanks Ginny. My book, Wild Fantasies, coming out in five days (April 7th) at total-e-bound is a paranormal romance. There's a werewolf fantasy among others in it. I have some other paranormal romances, too. Look around my main website at www.ashleyladd.com to see a list and description of my other books.
Writing a book is a big accomplishment! I'm very impressed.
That is a wicked cute banner. I'm afraid I'm one of those women who always wants to know what the heroine in the romance novel had to eat and what did the hero do when her dog puddled on his boot. I think you might just tempt me with your werewolf book, though.
Thanks for stopping by to comment at Canned Laughter. You have been entered to win in the stationery give away. Good Luck!
Awwww, thanks for the shout out Ashley. And good luck on those rewrites. Honing our craft is what makes us better but then you already knew that.
Oh, I'm so sorry. I did read your post. I was just kidding around...trying to make light of the fact that I feel rejected every day, so that if I can get a book completed maybe a rejection won't hit me so hard. Though, I know that's not really true. I'm sure it would hurt, even though I know to expect it, because I hear that's what happens to everyone.
You are great for sharing this. I hope I didn't insult you in ANY way...I'm just a goof!
Momo, don't be sorry because I didn't get it. Usually I do, but sometimes its hard to tell the meaning in writing. :)
And thanks also, Corky. Writing books is what I've always longed to do. I've tried to quit, but like an addiction, it keeps pulling me back.
Kelly, I'm honing the craft right now. :)
I'm working on my rewrite. But this danged cough medicine with codeine is making me drowsy. I really want to finish the project or at least dig deeper into it today so I can hurry and send it back, but then maybe I shouldn't as I might make a lot of mistakes writing under the influence. I think I just answered my own question. I think I'm off to take a nap and maybe after I'll be refreshed enough to tackle the edit.
Ashley! No! Go with the codine flow. You'll crack up when you come to. Heh.
Yeah, maybe I'll write BETTER under the influence. hehehe
I don't think that's possible, my dear. ;)
I'm sorry about the rejection. Good for you for jumping right back in there again.
Robin and Kelly, thanks for the kind words.
Kelly, let me know if (when) you interview Zelda.
LOL, Ashley. I sure will. I doubt she'll allow it though considering the slamfest over there. I'd be fascinated to see her hang herself in an interview. I know, I'm a gawker, but seriously the woman lit a fire, didn't she?
Didn't she ever, Kelly. I've never heard of her. I didn't see any mention that she's had a book published. For those of you who have no clue what we're talking about, a blogger I'll just call "Z" told everybody that ebooks suck eggs. Well, she was a little less polite about it. Last time I looked, about 23 people had jumped on her to defend ebook authors. Kelly asked if she could interview her.
More than 53 now.
Mrs. Ladd,
Thank you for your comment. I wonder how u found me though. I'm sure every writer has been rejected, but hey hardship makes us stronger.
Good luck!
Southern Sage. I don't remember how I surfed into you. I was blog hopping from one blog to another and also looking at blogs through my NaBloPoMo, Working Moms group, and a couple other new groups. I'm at home ill this week so pretty much chained to my computer so I'm amusing myself this way.
And Kelly - 53 really?!? She's really incited a hornet's nest.
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