Grateful & Galvanized

First week of work on Book Two gone and done, with 5,000 or so new words. Heard back on the outstanding submission from query Round One and sadly, it was indeed a rejection. BUT! It was the nicest rejection I’ve received, including generous feedback I happened to agree with. SO! I let the agent know I was rewriting, combining Books One and Two, and asked if she’d be willing to take a look after my revisions were complete.

Happily, she agreed!

A bit of background: when I first received the request for a full from this agent, I’d already begun the process of outlining a merged Book One and Two. I was actually hoping a request, if it came, would be AFTER I’d finished the new draft – because that’s the version of the manuscript I wanted the agent to see. Alas, there wasn’t time for that – so I spent a month polishing the existing Book One and sent it off, not wanting to unnecessarily prolong matters.

Happily, I think my recipient saw enough of interest in the existing manuscript to hazard a gander at my proposed rewrite. There was no formal request for revisions, and the feedback wasn’t phrased in the form of creative direction or constructive criticism. But this agent’s concerns happened to track with mine.

In short, I’ve never been more motivated to deliver a new draft. The open invite of a willing audience at the finish line is the kindest incentive I could ask for. I’m pumped to give it my all and spill the beans for this whole story – all the characters, all the narrative threads, all the mysteries and their solutions packed into one tight, but rich, execution of the Inlanders idea.

I’m looking forward to the result.

- Stephen Reese