Tweets That Open The Writing Door

This morning executive editor Angela James shared (via twitter) notes from the editorial submission rejection reports over at Carina Press. James tweeted a number of reasons why a submission is passed on; why the story doesn't fly out of the editor's hand and straight into the presses. Below are a sampling of the many turn offs that cause a story to stymie. While these honest critiques may cause some writers to cringe - especially at the thought that it could have been their work inspiring such a response - the notes are a surprising and advantageous foot inside the door of publishing parliament. They can serve as a magnifying glass into the think-tank of how books come alive. This sharing of knowledge allows us to  peek inside and study the why's of what to do and what not to do. There are few greater gifts we penmonkey's could have bestowed upon us. It is, after all, for the love of our craft (and the betterment of it) that we write and persevere in creating a written world of story we hope for others to one day hold.


Rejection tweets of infinite value:


"There was an initial promise for deep, intriguing characters. Yet, the author gives away way too much, way too soon" #editreport 1/2


"Within the first fifty pages, readers have already gone over the same memories, info-dumps, and backstory multiple times." #editreport 2/3


"By end of 2nd chapter this story was starting to sound familiar, then I realized we’ve rejected this before, under diff. title" #editreport


"I found this so implausible it almost offended me" (editor describing a scene where the heroine has insta-lust) #editreport


I see "I really wanted to like this" from the editors a lot. They go in to submissions very hopeful! #editreport


"I really wanted to like this, but ultimately after the first couple of chapters I found it too jarring. " #editreport


"Pace moves too quick, rather than allowing the reader to feel the emotion and heartbreak, the author skims over them" #editreport


"first 70 pages were filled with narration, and the little dialogue that appeared read as “as you know, Bob” convos" #editreport


"ending is too easy and the author breezes over the significant moments—" #editreport 1/2


"It’s a fairly common plot and nothing about the writing stands out" #editreport (is this one starting to look familiar?)


"Overall, I loved the hook for this. Yet, I couldn’t engage in the characters or the plot. " #editreport


"characters would repeat conversations from previous chapters, nearly word for word" #editreport


"writing lacks depth. Lots and lots of narrative. Action doesn’t start fast enough. POV wobbles" #editreport


"There were moments that sparkled,but also scenes that dragged, prose plagued by grammatical errors, & a long, contrived ending" #editreport


"There was no connection between the two main characters and their interaction did not ring true" #editreport


"This contemporary romance was never really compelling enough to keep reading" #editreport


"I kept noticing the writing instead of getting lost in the story" #editreport


"opening chapters filled w/dull, daily details that get across sense of pervading discontent but don’t encrage extended reading" #editreport


"could be considerably shortened...too many scenes do not serve a purpose, contribute neither to character development nor plot" #editreport


And to end on a good note:


"the unusual setting and heightened tension of the plot make it a compelling read" #editreport


I certainly found the tweets heightening my awareness and compelling me to reread, revise and rediscover. 


Thank you, Angela.

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