"Dear Deborah,
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I've had another read through your script, and it's skillfully written with a convincing voice for Madeline, but I just don't warm to her. I think this is a very subjective thing, and you may well find (or have already found) an agent or editor who takes to her immediately - she certainly comes to life on the page, after all.
I wish you the best of luck with her.
Yours etc"
Now I know it's just me, but that sounds like somebody saying "Your baby looks like sh*t but I'm sure she has a great personality". And I have to take it on the chin. I carried this baby for several months, made sure I avoided all the usual suspects (raw eggs, tobacco, soft cheeeses, sleep - at times) and hoped for nothing but good things for her and now she'll be forever languishing in a bottom drawer somewhere without any daylight ever touching her lovely skin again.
I'm also not (yet) riddled with so much grief and angst and sheer upsettedness of this e-mail to realise that I am also very grateful to this lovely agent for letting me get this far in the whole Publishing circus thing. I've never been asked for a Full in my life and it has certainly encouraged me to work towards even more requests in the future.
So my baby's not likeable, eh?
Do I say so bloody what - that's just the way she is (she is a bit of a madam but I think she was borne of PMS - if that's not too much of a dichotomy) or do I temper her down a bit and see if anyone wants to give her another shot?
Ah, I think she needs a rest right now. She's been through a lot.
But she still has one more left to impress.
Keep you posted.
7 comments:
Aww, never mind, Debs. She did say "it's skillfully written with a convincing voice for Madeline," which is brilliant. Send the ugly baby back out in to the world. Just remember, Shane MacGowan of The Pogues fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on his way down and he got his break:)
LOL!
I'm with Deb. Don't change ugly baby. Today. Much better to begin a new project. Then visit ugly baby again and read her with fresh perspective.
Oooh I was distracted by the sooo sweet photo.
Well if Madeline has one more to shake her tail feathers at, see how that goes before any drastic measures. Don't they say if three people say the same thing, then it might be time to take notice? Or something like that.
I love that otter:-)
Debs,
I agree with Claire Allan- it only takes one 'yes' and despite this, you are still one day closer to that yes. Hang in there. The tide will turn in your favor.
Anne, thanks - my dad was a convert to the 'sleep on it' thing and I know I'll feel better about it tomorrow and the next day...
Lane, otter is a beauty isn't she? I'm thinking as I only approached my 'top ten' agents, maybe I'll devise a subsequent top ten and see what happens with those. I know I've done well to get this far.
Thanks ladies! x
Oh Michele, we overlapped there! Thanks, yes, Claire's always saying 'it only takes one yes' and it's been a mantra for a long time. I can almost hear the drums beating it out now - and they're getting closer and closer (visualisation, visualisation - auditory visualisation but still...)
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