Month: September 2019

I have given up on worrying about the word count for Ma’rama, Daimyo’s Daughter. Sources indicate agents and editors cringe when aspiring authors pitch lengthy first novels. Supposedly this is an indication that the author has not adequately revised the work and may be too in love with his/her writing to accept editorial recommendations.

Science fiction and fantasy settings are generally unfamiliar to the reader and must be adequately described for the story to make sense. These alien landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them may be wildly imaginative, or familiar with creative twists. Either way, describing an imaginative world and its occupants often requires more words to establish an image in the reader’s mind.

Not to say sf/f writers don’t become enamored of their world building to the point of sharing pages and pages of detail unnecessary for the story action.

That said, I will continue with my current revision to aim for emotional honesty and appropriate pacing without cringing at the word count. It seems like I tighten up one paragraph only to expand one a following page. Just tell the story as best I can.

Graph: Nicola@ThoughtsonFantasy

 

I finally heard back from Not a Pipe Publishing. The brief but kind rejection indicated they “had some serious discussion about the book,” however “we came to the conclusion that we’re not the publisher that’s best positioned to market your novel.”

Things to keep in mind:

1. Benjamin Gorman’s immediate response to my sample first page was: “I want to read this.”
2. “We had some serious discussion about the book.” The publisher didn’t dismiss my 10 pages out of hand.
3. “We came to the conclusion that we’re not the publisher that’s best positioned to market your novel.” Which means, maybe another publisher is.
4. I wasn’t even pitching my novel, yet it caught a publisher’s attention.

I’m halfway through yet another edit of Ma’rama, Daimyo’s Daughter. I will complete the effort and make additional changes I have in mind.

The novel turned out to be the first in a two-book series (duology). So — I’ll start writing Ma’rama, Emperor’s Emissary. 

This episode should be encouraging rather than disappointing.

 

Can I cut this scene?

Hmmm. What is its purpose?

Well…we haven’t seen this character for awhile. I don’t want the reader to forget about him.

Does it move the story forward?

It refers to events in the previous scene and has a kind of funny moment.

And?

Um, no. It doesn’t really add anything. But wait! Maybe I can revise it to reveal something about the character in question. > > > Hmmm. Not sure that helped. Plus, I’m trying to trim the manuscript, not add to it. Ugh! I hate this! Oh, alright. I’ll delete it.

_____

Wait! Maybe I can salvage the scene.

…

Okay. You win. It’s gone.