Re-submitting After A Rejection

This is a question that I believe a lot of authors have when it comes to submissions. Let me just say, before giving you my opinion, is that the answer will likely vary a lot from editor to editor and agent to agent. As always, just do your research.

So, here is the scenario. You just sent a project to an agent or editor and got a rejection back. You got some feedback and you want to try again. In other words, you had that "ah-ha" moment and really think you can nail this. Now what?

The first thing I would recommend is to look at that rejection letter. How the editor or agent will say a lot. For example, I will often say, "If you have any other project that might work, definitely reach out to me." Does this mean resubmit? Something else? Yes.

If for example, someone says, "There are a lot of things I like about this but [insert list problems]. Should you wish to resubmit then..." This one is pretty obvious.

But what about those that just reject?

If that person gave you nothing in terms of what to fix, or, if you get something that just says it wasn't the right match, then the answer on resubmitting would be no. You have nothing to go on, and, in the case of the second response, your voice did not match with that person. I personally would recommend leaving it and moving on.

If, however, you think you know how to improve the writing. Maybe you took a writing course in between the submission and the rejection, or maybe your critique group gave you an idea, then I recommend you ask. But, there is a twist to this.

1. Send a polite letter requesting the chance to resubmit.
2. Make it clear what that person said on the rejection and clearly list the types of changes you made.
3. If you did have an "ah ha" moment, state what that observation was and clearly list the type of changes you made.

In other words ask. 

Look, asking is not going to hurt you in the least bit. The worst thing you can hear is no, but there is no harm in asking. 

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!
 

Question from an Author - Submitting to an agent a second time

How to re-approach an agent who has asked to be remembered when the time comes to pitch a new novel.

This is a great question. OK, it might not be a question but when I asked for ideas on Facebook, I just asked for topics. Still it is a great question.

Let's assume you have an agent you really want to work with. The same goes for an editor that you want to work with. You have submitted to this person and that editor/agent passed on that first project. Now what? You really thought that first project was great and you really want to work with this person. How do you go back?

The first thing I would say is to go back to that rejection letter. There is a hope that the person sent some sort of feedback other than, I am passing. Before you even think about firing off that next project, take the time to really look over those comments. Then, take the time to really examine your project with an objective eye, and see what you did. Now, look at the new project.

The odds are, you are probably making the same mistakes you did on project number 1. I have several authors who continually submit stories to me, and continually, I reject the stories for the same reasons. These people have not learned.

Now, let's assume that you did go back to that new project. The hope is that you took those revision comments and, as you wrote project #2 you incorporated those ideas into the story. That is what we are looking for, especially if we send you a lot of notes. We apparently liked something you did in the first project to see something and to send you comments. Now, can you do something with those comments.

As you write that new query letter, here is what we want to see in the letter.

First, remind us that you looked at an earlier project and passed on it. It is OK if you tell us why we passed on that project. We are going to use this to your advantage. As you tell us about the new project, take the time to highlight the things you did in this project that remedied the things we did not like in the first one. When my authors send in revisions for their current works, they always take the time to show exactly how they met the needs of the editor. You should do the same thing.

Now, let's take this to a new level. Let's assume you have now sent in three projects to that same person and are getting the same feedback. This can mean one of two things. Either you are not able to take the criticism and make those changes; or you are being told politely that this is not the place for you. The odds, however, is that it is the first issue.

We have no problem if you come to us with a new project. We are always looking. But please remember, if you continue to do what you were doing, and it is failing, you will continue to fail.

Resubmitting a Project - Why Greyhaus Frequently Avoids It

I am often asked by authors if they can resubmit a story I passed on earlier. They went back, made revisions and now think the project is better. And yet, I frequently say no to this.

There are a couple of reasons for this, some from the agent side and some from the writer's side.

From my perspective, I am pretty open to a lot of projects, I do seriously take the time to look over the material you send, think about the potential and the amount of work it might take to make it ready as well as to think about the marketing potential. If the book is honestly not going to work, then I will pass on it. In most cases this is simply an issue of looking at the amount of time to get it ready. In all honesty, looking at revisions becomes a huge revolving door. Authors would submit. They would revise. They would resubmit again, and the process would continue.

From the writer's perspective, this is a lot of time to dedicate to a single agent or editor. Remember that if one person doesn't like a story, it doesn't mean the whole thing is flawed. It could easily work for someone else.

I will be very honest. If I see a project that I think could be fixed and I am loving, then I will make the request for more.

And.... just because I haven't done this for a while, here is a token BLOG FLOG for you today.

I did get a query from someone who simply told me to "go back and read the initial query" that I rejected and reconsider. Somehow, over time, I guess my thought will change. Hmmmm?

Question from a writer: Changes After You Submit A Manuscript

I have been querying a romance novel that is the first book of a planned trilogy. However, after research I have not included that it is the first book in a trilogy. I received a rejection on a full recently because the agent said that she found the plot was left a bit unresolved and she would have liked a more satisfying ending. What would you suggest for an unpublished author to do in this case? I have 4 other fulls and 2 partials out and am now afraid I may now get the same response, would you suggest sending a email informing them or leave it be?

This is a great question. I will say, every agent may answer this differently, but here is my take on it.

I personally would say, if you are not happy with the ending of the project and think you will change things around, I would contact the people you sent it to. Now here is the twist. I would recommend simply having them pull the story from their TO BE READ pile. Let them know that you have reconsidered a few things about the story. In other words, get it out of the pile so it isn't considered a submission.

I would not recommend telling them you have some changes, or by sending those changes to them in a second submission. I often feel, when I have authors who send me a "new version" after they had the chance to edit more, that I have authors who are rushing things and probably shouldn't be submitting in the first place. You want to give the impression that you are submitting stories when the projects are finished and not still in the "work in progress" phase.

Once you have pulled all of the projects with a polite email, then go back to work and make the story exactly as you want it to be. THEN, when it is finished, re-submit the project. I wouldn't bring up in the query letter that you sent the editor/agent the project earlier and decided to change it. Just submit it as if it is a new project. Besides, unless they have a database where they keep track of things, they probably wouldn't remember you or the project.

Hope that helps!

Agents as a Critique Service?

I have had several writers ask me, since opening Greyhaus, why I wouldn't sign an author with a sotry that was sort of OK but might have the potential if the writer had the guidance from the agent? We all know that with time, writers can improve, and certainly with the guidance from someone in the business, that writer can really grow. We see it all the time with writers that have agents. So why not start now.

Although, in a perfect world, it would be great to work with every writer, crafting and molding their stories into that perfect NYT Bestseller, but there is simply not enough time in the day. This is not to say that agents (and yes, I know there are some that might not) don't want to help out, but it just doesn't work that way.

As a writer, I know it is frustrating to receive a rejection and want to grow and learn from the comments that you received from an agent. That, I have to say, shows the potential for growth in a writer, and certainly the professionalism we all want to see. With that said, reviewing all stories 2 and 3 times would beyond swamp any agent with work. For example, just in the last month, I have received over 300 submissions. Now I understand some agents receive that in a week (or sometimes a day) but remember I only look at romance and women's fiction - they look at much more. The point though is that if all 300 of those then turned around and re-submitted revisions... you can see where we are going to with this.

I will tell you though, this is not a hard-fast rule. I have asked writers to revise and re-submit to me in the past and I may do that in the future. When I do this though, it is because I saw something screamingly good in the partial or full I saw the potential. I went back and reviewed my submission log and noted that in all of these cases I requested a partial first, liked what I saw and then requested the full. Only then did I ask for a revised manuscript. The funny thing is that since 2003 when I opened the agency, only 2 writers have ever re-submitted.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A writer yesterday asked if she could submit a second story, even though I rejected the first. When I get a message like this, I scream enthusiastically, YES! This is a chance for someone, if they did their homework, to demonstrate they have grown and learned. When I get a manuscript from someone I have already rejected, I review my notes from the last time and see if the growth has happened. Yes, I also look at the story with a fresh eye. If that growth has happened, I often ask to see much more of the story.

And in answer to some of your questions, yes, I have signed an author in the past for their second project. As to the first, we can now take the time to go back and work on it, now that we all have a stake in the work.

There are also a ton of other ways to learn and grow from agents, even if you haven't signed with one yet. First of all, there are a lot of agents out there blogging away in the effort to teach and guide new writers, The Nelson Agency, BookEnds, Caren Johnson, Janet Reid, and Jessica Jackson, to name a few. Frequently, these agents, answer "Questions from Writers" so ask them! That is why they created the blogs.

Secondly, sit and talk with them at conferences. When we go to conferences, we are there to network with editors about our current writers, but we are also there for the new writers. We run workshops, we sit on agent panels. Go there and ask questions.

Finally, invite them to your groups. In the next couple of months I am off to Wisconsin, North Houston. These groups simply took 2 minutes out of their lives and sent me an email. I fly there, I talk, I teach. Has your group done that?

Can't afford getting the agent to you? Guest blogging and electronic chats are also a great way to make that connection. I have done guest articles for the Atlanta chapter, live Q&A with the RWA Online chapter, and guest blogged for the South Carolina Writer's Workshop and NINC. How did they arrange this? They simply asked.

Look, the point of this is not to say we refuse to help with your stories. We want to and there are ways we can help out.