Schrödinger's Rejection

I’ve had the nearest of misses with The Matchmakers.

So near in fact, that I’ve flatly refused to accept it as a rejection.

Usually, I take the thanks-but-no-thanks emails with grace and file them away (and if it was from an agent I’d fallen a bit in love with, cry a bit, pour myself a drink and buy mail order brownies with a pep talk to myself in the gift card.)

And that’s not to say I wasn’t gracious here, but after a very polite follow up with an agent who’d swiftly asked for the full manuscript earlier in the year, I received a long and lovely email saying that it was up there with the best writing she’d been sent (I mean… 👀), and she couldn’t believe she wasn’t scheduling The Call, but that there was something editorial that needs bringing out to make the book shine and she wasn’t sure quite what…

So here’s the thing. I’ve had feedback similar to this from another agent for this very book. ‘I’ve been thinking about this for a while. The writing is beautiful, but I’m not into TV books.’ Okay, cool, that sort of transparent feedback is genuinely helpful and appreciated. And, ‘there’s a lot to love about your prose, but it’s not quite right for my list.’ Again, perfectly helpful and encouraging.

And for another book. ‘The writing is great, but the antagonist wasn’t quite awful enough.’

Okay, I did giggle at that.

Anyway, I quite like data. And by quite like, I mean, I love data. Unless it’s in relation to how much I weigh and how that number simply never changes. And this is suddenly data I can work with, and what it’s telling me is pretty dang validating. Needless to say, I was encouraged. So, I sat on it for a couple of days, and then put my big girl pants on and emailed her back with the ask that I could resubmit if I used my best guess on how to bring out the story and revised the manuscript, suggesting that this might help bring clarity to any further edits that are recommended. I also threw some information about the book I’m currently plotting (and, as of last night, have begun writing 💥) because why the fuck not? It’s good to have your next few ideas in hand and this gal ain’t no one trick pony; I can do reality tv romcoms and rockstar romcoms, and all being well, sports romances about men cycling around France in lycra and socks pulled up their calves.

Ooft, those quads. Photo by Árni Svanur Daníelsson on Unsplash

Reader! She said YES! And that she was very interested to hear more about the TdF book. Maybe a secret Pogi fan? One can only speculate.

So I guess I’d better get a move on. If nothing comes of this, at least I’ve given it my best shot, and kept the communication open.

And as I began serialising Esty Mackie, the fresh eyes on the manuscript helped me to see what I could do better, and I’m not above saying it’s a lot. Amazing what a few months of not looking at something can do. Hopefully this opportunity will offer up the same. Wish me luck?!