Two things have got me thinking about this subject right now.
The first: A recent rejection for BLOOD WILL TELL that said the agent “was not very strongly drawn into your opening pages.” This agent read only the first five pages. To me this may mean one of two things. I’m already considering whether this story was actually young adult all along, as I’ve said in earlier posts. It could be that the voice was off. It could also be that I’ve started in the wrong place. I’ve got reasons for starting where I do, but I’m going to have to get some more readers and get some feedback. Maybe the starting place is all right, but I need to cut down some of what comes next.
The second: At least one first reader of MAGE STORM agrees that the epilogue goes on a little too long. I’m going to poll the readers after the last critique is in, but it’s one of the things that bothered me from the beginning. I want the MC to come to the realization that home isn’t “back there” any more, but I may have to find another, shorter way to do it.
I’ll gladly read those 5 pages if you’re looking for additional feedback. I have a pending crit for tonight so I should be free around somewhere tomorrow.
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Thanks. I’ll take you up on that.
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