via GIPHY
The full quote from an agent I recently queried was: “As you
know, publishing is subjective and it's entirely possible you'll find another
agent able to prove me wrong.”
Just like all things writing related, the process of finding
an agent has been an exercise in skin toughening. So far all I have gotten are
rejections with the same general statement about subjectivity. But I know (said
with hand fisted in the air and true belief) that I will get someone who likes
the book and wants to be my agent. Not only that, but they will work their
behinds off to get the book a great deal. Henceforth proving those nay
sayers wrong.
In the meantime I am revising the story, layering it with
drama and having yet another beta reader take a look at it before sending it
out to another round of agents. Wish me luck.
This post was sparked by a book club that I belong to. We
read a very highly anticipated book of short stories. Most of the stories were
speculative fiction, which was outside of my comfort zone and yet because the
writing and storytelling was good, I still enjoyed most of the stories.
Basically the ones I could understand.
Anyway, the group seemed to have disliked the book and I
can’t understand how they could have such strong negative emotions about
it.
And then the comment from the agents hit me.
Subjectivity.
It comes as a part of life. Everything we do, see, touch,
etc. has a subjective connotation to it because our perspective is the only one
that is who we are. This is why a few reviewers will detest a book that so many
others loved. It’s a part of life, just like taxes (paying or evading).
Other people’s opinions, whether good or bad, can’t be taken
personally. In the end it is the individual’s own feeling on the topic that
counts.
Lesson learned. Hopefully, I’ll accept it as my true belief
so that the rejections that are part of being an author don’t hit so hard.
