David B. Coe, author of nine (and counting) fantasy novels, tells us what’s going on in his head as he is having difficulty getting what he calls “the best book he’s ever written” published. Despite his track record, despite his being an established author, he can’t even get editors to offer a contract for the thing, and it’s driving him a bit crazy.
The big question he asks is, when, after all the rejections, revisions, setbacks and roadblocks, when does he accept that the book just may not be viable at this time and leave it alone? When does he shelve it to work on something else, or does he persevere despite the publishing naysayers? How does he objectively decided whether the story has some fatal flaw that he’s just not seeing, or does he wait it out, hoping the subjectivity of the industry shifts his way?
I’ve experienced part of this, and I mean part because I haven’t sold any of my novel manuscripts yet, so I don’t know what it’s like to be past that and still not get some of my stories accepted. Hopefully I’ll reach that point someday. But I do know what it’s like to realize a story that I truly love and enjoy just isn’t ready yet, even if I don’t understand why.
It’s hard to take something you had so much fun writing and stick it aside. I still very much believe in the story and the characters. I believe it is a unique plot and can be lots of fun to read. But there are some big issues crippling the tale, and until I take it into major surgery and fix those, I have to give up on sending it around or trying to get it published. And there are other stories that are more polished and structurally sound that I should focus on.
But better to recognize that and back off then to waste even more time and effort. I’ll chalk it up to the whole learning experience.
Anyone else gone through this as well?
I see that smile.