What’s to gain from a rejection?
I know, I know, getting rejected by an agent or editor never feels good, and yet rejections can be helpful. I’ve talked before about how sometimes you need rejections to push you towards becoming a better writer. I’ve also talked about the four types of query rejections and what they might be telling you.
I have two favorite rejection types. First is the “encouraging rejection” that might say something like, “Your writing is strong, but this story isn’t the right fit for us.” For years my ego lived off the meager scraps of encouraging rejections.
My other favorite is the rejection that contains actionable feedback. Not feedback like “I didn’t connect to the voice,” which is pretty vague and mostly translates to “this just isn’t my jam,” but the kind of rejection that contains constructive criticism.
If an agent or editor takes the time to give you personal feedback, it probably means they saw something in your work. It was enough to make them say, “hey, this had promise. I’ll give them a piece of advice.” That’s a big deal. When an agent/editor takes the time to do this, even if you don’t agree with their advice (and you might not!), it’s not a bad idea to at least ponder their feedback and see if there could be some truth to it.
Not long ago, I received a rejection that came with the following feedback:
I would encourage Eva to keep an eye on not overusing procedural language which can bog down a read. Instead, it might benefit the piece to narrow in on the conversations and actions that drive the plot forward.
To be honest, I was surprised. I didn’t think I’d been overusing procedural language. But maybe I was. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to read over my work and look for procedural language, as well as take a look at the overall pacing. As I read over the first chapter, I realized maybe it was dragging, and I could work to make things move more quickly.
What’s procedural language anyway?
Procedural language is what it sounds like: describing the procedures involved in an action. It’s not bad if you’re writing a how-to piece, but it can drag down a narrative with unnecessary detail.
Example of procedural language:
I walked to the sink and reached out my hand to turn on the tap. I watched the water flow from the faucet into my glass, filling it to the brim. I turned off the tap and raised the glass to my lips, taking a sip of the cold water.
A long-winded way to say, “I got myself a glass of water.”
Sometimes we writers think the more details we include the better. But you don’t have to describe every little step involved in getting a glass of water. Trust your reader and skip unnecessary procedural details that will drag down your story.
Another example:
Overly procedural: He extended his arm towards her and fitted his hand into hers, shaking vigorously before pulling his hand away.
Better: He shook her hand vigorously.
Other ways to tighten your pacing:
If you’re writing a mystery, thriller, or suspense you already know the importance of tight pacing. Chapter books, middle grade, and YA also need to keep things moving (because young people’s attention spans certainly aren’t getting any longer). Most novels, no matter the genre, can benefit from taking a close look at the pacing.
Besides eliminating procedural language, here are some other ways to tighten your pacing:
Consider where your story REALLY starts
Often in first drafts there’s a lot of “throat clearing” at the beginning. Consider your first fifty pages. Are you including lots of backstory? Do you have several chapters of set-up? Where’s the catalyst that gets the story ball rolling? Try to start the novel as close to the catalyst as possible. Often you can weave in the backstory as you go — or delete it altogether.
Arrive late, leave early
This is a screenwriter adage, but it works for novelists, too. When writing a scene, begin with the action already in place, and start as close to the main meat of the scene as possible. Don’t linger in the scene too long either. Get in, get out, and move on.
Skip ahead
Do we really need a scene of your character riding the bus to school, walking through the hallway, stopping at her locker? Maybe we can just start with her entering the cafeteria, about to have a confrontation with her enemy. Sometimes we think we have to get our characters to their scenes, but readers can make the jump.
Again, think of your novel as a movie. A new chapter or a space break is all we need to cut to a new setting, a new day. And if you really feel the reader needs it, you can add a quick transition like, “The next day…” or “Later, at school…”
Short scenes and chapters keep things moving
I don’t know about you, but when the chapters are short, it seems so much easier to keep turning the pages. “Just one more chapter…” I find this works especially well for middle grade and YA.
Ask yourself if each scene is pulling its weight
Every scene in your novel should have a purpose, whether it’s showing a character’s motivation, revealing a clue, or moving the plot forward. If you’re not sure what the purpose of a scene is… could be a sign it needs to be cut.
For fast-paced action, use short sentences and paragraphs
When you really want to speed things up, like in an action, chase, or fight scene, consider using short, choppy sentences (or sentence fragments) and short paragraphs.
But sometimes you need to slow it down!
The goal is not to leave your reader’s head spinning with a nonstop fast pace. Sometimes you want to slow it down. Maybe a character needs to reflect on what just happened, or you need to emphasize a pivotal moment in the story. Horror novels are a great example of needing slow pacing (as you build dread) followed by bursts of fast-paced action.
Look at your overall story arc and consider which scenes should move quickly and which should be slower paced. In the slower scenes, you can include more interiority (a character’s internal thoughts) and more description. In fact, this might be a place where some procedural language is useful. Think again about a horror novel, and how a character moving up a flight of stairs might be slowed down with detailed (even procedural!) description:
I gripped the handrail and gingerly placed my foot on the next step, wincing as the wood let out a groan. I stood there for a moment, heart pounding in my throat. Had the noise stopped? But no, there it came again. A low murmur, like someone was in my bedroom, talking to themselves. Except it couldn’t be. I was home alone. Wasn’t I? I took another step, the old stairs creaking loudly beneath my bare feet.
Obviously you could just write, “I walked up the stairs to investigate the weird noise coming from my bedroom.” But where would be the fun in that?
Writing News & Resources:
For All Writers:
Black Fox Literary Magazine’s free submission window is open. Or make a donation to receive feedback and/or an expedited response. They also have a fairy tale remix contest with a deadline of Mar 31. Wanna know someone who was published long ago in Black Fox Lit? Yours truly!
P.S. If you want to get a taste of things on the other side, Black Fox Literary is looking for Fiction Readers to read submissions. Apply by Feb. 29.
The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.
Curious about what can be negotiated in a book deal? Check out this post from agent Carly Watters.
The Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize is open now through March 10.
FREE upcoming webinar from The Good Story Company: Story Snobs Pitch Contest on Feb. 21.
Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.
Writer’s Digest offers tons of online classes and workshops.
Blue Pencil Agency offers workshops, online events, and writing competitions.Check them out.
The Book Pipeline Adaptation Contest seeks published books, graphic novels, short stories, and plays for film and TV adaptation. Winner and runner-up receive extensive development with execs and circulation to producers. Deadline: February 15th.
Check out all the many upcoming online craft workshops from Savvy Authors!
Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.
Need a template for a nonfiction book proposal? Here’s one from Neon Literary!
The Women’s Fiction Writers Association has a TON of free writing workshops, critique groups, and webinars, plus upcoming mentorship opportunities.
Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.
The Writer’s Atelier has a free online writing community with virtual events.
The Yale Review is accepts pitches on a rolling basis. Seeking diverse, sharp, intelligent voices on a wide range of subjects, from literature, art, history, and politics to film, television, music, & more.
The folks at Cheshire Novel Prize host a FREE group on their private app called Writers Space where you can talk about writing, ask for BETA readers, and connect with other writers.
Ready to submit a story? Check out this list of 40 Free Writing Contests! And of course, check out NewPages for submission calls from literary magazines and journals.
Check out my list of writing and publishing resources — my very favorite books, websites, and podcasts on writing, publishing, and the creative life.
For KidLit Writers:
SCBWI Members (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the in-person and virtual annual conference will be held February 9-11 in NYC (and online).
Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 100 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts.
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
For Querying Writers:
FREE upcoming webinar from The Good Story Company: Writing an Irresistible Query, February 22.
Register now for the FREE Savvy Authors PitchFest, happening March 13-15. Pitch your book online to agents and editors!
Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.
Here’s a query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.
Find a long list of example query letters on Quite the Query.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query letter and the first two pages of your manuscript, and, if you’re the winner of the month, I will send you back in-depth feedback on both. Interested in receiving a critique? Fill out the form here.
Writing Conferences & Events:
Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away?
2024 Writing Retreats at ZigBone Farm (Just one hour from DC/Baltimore area in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains). MD residents can apply for a grant to help cover costs!
April 7-12: Spring Creative Writing with award-winning writer Diana Friedman. For all writers who want help getting started, shaping and refining existing work, as well as time to write and bond with other writers.
July 28 - Aug 2: Summer Novel Writing with award-winning author Tammy Greenwood. For writers at all stages of the journey.
The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm. Open year-round, the only requirement for this peaceful retreat north of Baltimore is that you intend to use the time and space to work on your writing. The hen house cottage and barn loft normally book about two months in advance.
Writing Workshops is offering a generative workshop in beautiful Asheville, NC April 10-14. Applications due February 15!
Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers for residencies and conferences.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.
A FREE Virtual Conference from The Writer’s Workout will be held March 15-17.
Apply for the NYC Publishing Workshop, held April 4-7, 2024, and check out the other writing workshops, retreats, and events from Writing Workshops.
Save the date for the Washington Writers Conference, being held in Bethesda, MD May 3-4, 2024.
Save the date for the awesome Gaithersburg Book Festival (in the DC area): May 18, 2024.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.