You Liked My Story And Now You Don't???

I am sure a lot of authors have felt this same way. You pitched a story to an editor or agent and they totally loved it. Maybe you even sent in a partial, and they totally loved it. After the pitch you sent in what they wanted. After that awesome partial you sent in the requested full manuscript, and then something happened.

They rejected it.

What happened?

This is a fairly common occurrence and it happens to everyone at some point or another in their career. So, let's talk about each of those scenarios.

The Pitch to the Rejection

This can happen for one of two reasons. The first is that your pitch really was great. The story concept itself sounds like it is something that could work out really well. But when we looked at the project, it was all about the execution. You simply did not have the writing ability to produce that story. Think of it this way... you can describe a perfectly gourmet meal, but if your cooking ability is limited to take out food and boxed mac and cheese... well, I think you can see what happened.

Now the second reason is one I am often frustrated with. There are editors and agents out there that really have a hard time telling someone no to their face. It is easier to say things like, "Well, you know that we really can't make a decision during this small pitch time so send it in. I think it sounds really good!" but in the back of their head, they are already saying this story would never work. I remember one conference I attended where the editor sitting next to me requested everything. After the session, we were walking out and I asked if the editor had heard some really great projects. The answer was  - no. I know this is tough and a lot of people say they can handle the truth, but hearing it from the mouth of an editor or agent right to their face is tough.

I am one of those agents who has no problem saying no to a project. I think it is fair. I do remember attending a conference and I had told a couple of people no. We were out in the lobby and I over-heard an author, after being asked if she had gotten a request from me, and she was still in shock, she simply said, "He said no... I don't understand, I was told they always request."

The Partial to the Rejection

In this case, it comes down to the fact that your initial material was good. But think of this, we work really hard to make those first three chapters golden. We know that is where the readers just get hooked. You have worked on those pages over and over again.

But then you went past chapter 3 and you could not hold it together. If you are pantster and you don't plan out your stories, this is where you lose that focus and forget your goal of the story. Now the story goes wrong directions, you start adding things that don't need to be there, you leave off things that you had set up in those opening chapters. It happens. But that is the reason.

Another potential case

I wanted to add this one as well. If you take forever to get that material to an editor or an agent, the opportunity they saw in the story may have been lost. They saw a need and you waited to long. The market shifted.

Hope that helps!