A good rejection

Yesterday I got another rejection, but I didn’t feel too bad about it.

I sent the query out for Mythos at least a year ago, and since then, I’ve learned a lot about writing. I’ve learned about developmental editing and beta-reading and about taking out the cherished bits that don’t do anything to further character or plot.

In fact, Mythos as a book doesn’t exist any more — part of it has been cannibalized for the book Apocalypse, which is the next book to go into dev editing. There’s been lots of editing there already. So I’ve gotten a rejection on a book that no longer exists.

Every time I think I’ve learned nothing, I can look back on what Mythos was before its editing and incorporation into Apocalypse. In effect, Mythos was an idea with a lot of character development and a plot driven by nebulous bad guys and disconnected portents. The bones, however, were good enough to develop into a different story.

So all in all, this was a good rejection.

revamping Mythos

Richard (my husband) and I are sitting down and discussing what to keep and what to get rid of in Mythos. Here’s what we’ve come up with so far:

Get rid of: The creepy prologue, The B plot with James as her dangerously possessive husband, first person point of view (with two different parts and two different protagonists!), all those jumpy scene cuts, the word “engendered”.

Keep: The A plot — Lilly’s identity, the A+ plot — the importance of Lilly’s identity, the now B plot — Lilly’s and Adan’s relationship, the Nephilim (half-Archetype cannon fodder), Adan and Lilly’s daughter Angel and the Archetype cats.

I think I’m going to write it from scratch with only an outline. Or maybe not. I don’t know when I’m going to write it — probably NaNo in November. Wish me luck!

Dealing with the Problem Child

I think I’m going to rewrite Mythos from scratch. Ok, from near-scratch.

Mythos is the book I just put through querying that is currently gathering even more rejections than before. Even I think the book is a problem child at this point, and I’m just patiently waiting for more rejections.

I don’t blame the agents for rejecting it.

I don’t want to abandon Mythos completely, because as far as worldbuilding is concerned, It’s beautiful worldbuilding. It’s just that — well, my beta-readers can’t get through it. It has some convolutions that aren’t adding to the plot, as if it was two books smushed together. It is two books smushed together, actually. It was my second book, and the first book is even more problematic.

So what I’m going to do when it’s time to write again is take the outline and rewrite the whole damn* thing. In third person. Without some of the convolutions. Without my tendency to put in too many scene breaks and without the word “engender”** and maybe a few other words that drive my readers crazy …

* “Darn” will not work here.
** Sheri, this one’s for you!

What am I going to do with Voyageurs after the beta-reader revision?

Probably go through the cycle of submitting again. If I don’t get an agent, I can at least say I tried. And if I get rejected, I know I gave them the best product I could.

Now for finding beta readers for Mythos, the first book in the Barn Swallows’ Dance cycle (Duology plus one related book)… anyone want to volunteer? Please let me know at lleachie.

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But for now, I’m going on vacation! It starts with a seven-hour drive to the hinterlands of Wisconsin, where I will stay in a cheap hotel with my husband so that we can spend the last night in a spendy boutique hotel. I will fish, eat bratwurst and brick cheese (think limburger without the stink and strong flavor, although I like limburger too) and visit my dad, and collect more stories. My sister and possibly her husband and possibly my niece will be there, and dad will cook a crockpot dinner and mix drinks for us and all his friends. My father is very introverted, maybe even shy, but he finds his human contact through sharing. And he is an incredible cook, even now.

I hope this recharges my batteries toward writing. My computer will be going with me, so expect some missives from the road.

Love you all.