Think Before Resubmitting To An Agent or Editor

The question I think most editors and agents hear the most is whether or not it is OK to submit again to an editor or agent if their first story was rejected. The answer almost always is a resounding yes. But, before you immediately go out and start hitting send on all of those other manuscripts, it is important to stop and think.

When I read a project, I log my thoughts in on a database about what I thought about that project. Might not be a lot of information, but it is enough to know I have seen this person before and, if I passed on that project, what the problem was. This is important, because when you submit that new project, you better not make the same mistake again.

This means that whenever you get a rejection from an editor or agent, keep a record of the thoughts and comments (assuming the editor or agent said anything). If there was any nugget of information in that rejection letter, make sure that the new project is not making the same mistake. Let's consider a few of the reasons I pass on a project and what you should be looking for in that new manuscript.

Just not what I was looking for (the generic not right for me)
This is a tough one and, unfortunately, the one I send out the most. This is also the one that is probably most common for most editors or agents. There needs to be a strong connection through the writing for that editor or agent. It isn't that the writing is bad, but it just is not our favorite.

THE SOLUTION: Spend time reading other things that the editor or agent has signed. Spend time on social media seeing what that person comments on. In other words, do some research.
 

Conflict not strong enough
This is where you need to examine how you write your story. Too often, we see some great writing, but, in the end, there is just not a lot there keeping the characters apart, other than external complications. This is where we talk about "high stakes." We want to see that conflict of the characters wanting to get together but then seriously struggling with why they cannot be with that person.

THE SOLUTION: Look at what you believe is the conflict. If this is just a matter of the characters giving themselves permission, then it is not a conflict. If it is something on the outside, for example, they work for the same company, but one can easily change jobs, then this is not significant.

Character and plot depth
In this case, I have passed on your story because it is really 2-dimensional. You have a plot, you have characters, you have a setting, but in the end, it is just like reading a Wikipedia entry. For stories like this, I have to honestly say "adding more" is not enough. This is more of an issue of the writer still learning to tell a great story and learning to write.

THE SOLUTION: Spend time learning the craft. Again, DO NOT just add more. You can also take the time to read the story as if you are someone on the outside. Is there really enough to see a full picture in your head? Are you assuming your reader will get the big picture?


Story length
This is very much like the character and plot depth issue. Too often, authors tell me they are writing this amazingly complex story (after seeing the synopsis) but then have a story that is too short. This means that the person is not developing the story enough. In this case, there is a pretty good bet that adding the depth may help. There is also another side of this and that would be stories that are too long for the style of writing. I see this a lot with authors who have a category voice but trying to write a single title story.

THE SOLUTION: For too short, look at the earlier Depth Solution. For stories too long? look for repetition.


Voice not strong
This is all about the writing. Have you ever read a story where there seems to be no emotion or passion in the story. Sure, the author has used adjectives and adverbs to describe the emotion, but that is about it? This is the voice issue. When we read a story, we want to be drawn into the lives of the characters.

THE SOLUTION: Unfortunately, this is an issue of a writer being new at the craft. This is where you need to keep practicing and keep reading the writing of other authors. Dissect that other writing and see what it is that made you laugh or cry. It will be something beyond the plot of the story. 


Forced plot or writing
This is where the author is trying too hard to make the story work. When it comes to the plot, the authors are often putting in random plot devices just to make things work. When it comes to the writing, they are often inserting techniques they probably learned at the latest workshop. This is also about the writing being natural.

THE SOLUTION: Unfortunately, this is also an issue of a writer being new at the craft. This is where you need to keep practicing and keep reading the writing of other authors. In this case, you have to know WHY that technique is necessary in the story or WHY that plot device is necessary. If all you are doing is using that scene to move the characters from one scene to the next, it is forced. 
 
Not genre represented
Pretty basic. Did you bother to go to the website and do your own research? Probably not


THE SOLUTION: Duh, do you research

More of fiction and not quite romance or women's fiction
In most of these cases, this is an issue where you really do not know what to write. You have written something and waited for someone to tell you what genre it really is. Big mistake. You need to know what genre you are writing BEFORE you write it.

THE SOLUTION: Go to the bookstore and read those genres. If it is romance, would your story really fit on that shelf? If not, then it is not romance!