April 29, 2009

The book club I started last fall (for writers to discuss current children’s books) has been eye-opening. The club members have widely divergent tastes sometimes, and it’s been a good lesson for us all not to take rejection personally. With any title we’ve read so far, at least one or two people hated the book while as many absolutely loved it.

I’m finishing a middle-grade novel right now for Thursday’s book club. It’s a Newbery Honor Book from a few years ago, and it deserves the honor. At least, that’s what I think today. Last week, as I struggled through the first 70 pages, my thoughts were less charitable, like How in heaven’s name did this thing win an award? If I had been reading for pleasure, or if I still had my old job of reading “slush pile” submissions for a publisher, I would not have finished it.

And that would have been a terrible shame.

A Diamond in the Rough

You see, this book (unlike many others I’ve read) really did get good about Page 75. It turned into something focused instead of fuzzy, funny instead of slapstick, with deeper themes and real tug-at-the-heart moments. If I had not had to finish the book (I’m in charge of the book club, after all), I most certainly would have quit along about Page 25.

The opening chapters were all over the place, I couldn’t figure out what the conflict was supposed to be, the humor was stupid, the hero was a combination of a ninny and whiner. If the author hadn’t been very well known, I wonder if this book would have been given a reading by an editor or agent at all. Maybe not–and a really terrific book would have been rejected.

At the Starting Line

All this is to say that first impressions do count. We can’t expect editors and agents we query to be like a child forced to read a book for an assignment. They won’t–and they’ll never know that your book really DOES hit its stride in another fifty pages or so. Instead of hoping for that particular miracle, take extra time to make your opening its best. Study books like Hooked! by Les Edgerton or Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress.

First impressions count in other areas of our writing life as well. How you present yourself to other writers when you first attend a conference or meeting counts too. If you’re unsure of yourself, study books like Networking at Writer’s Conferences by Steven Spratt and Lee Spratt.

On the Right Foot

There’s an old saying: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Even Jane Austen knew this. She changed the title of her famous book from First Impressions to … Pride and Prejudice.

3 Comments »

1. 

   I hope this isn’t off topic, but I’m puzzled. If the book that your group was reading was that difficult through the first 70 pages, why didn’t the editor work with the writer to change it? With the challenges of publishing as they are right now, it would seem like they would have to in order to improve the salability of the book, because most kids DO read for pleasure, and publishing a book is a tremendous investment for a publishing house. They really want to make money on it. Even if it got an award, do you think kids would give up much sooner than the first 70 pages, or just a discerning adult?

   Comment by Beth Mac — April 30, 2009 @ 8:37 am

2. 

   Beth, that’s a good question! Of course, the book was published several years ago, and probably sold a couple years before that, so the economic realities of today wouldn’t apply. But…a publishing house is very, very happy to win a Newbery or Honor Book or national book award–it’s prestigious. But most librarians will tell you that a high percentage of children don’t read the Newbery winners–they read the children’s choice winners and those books that make the children’s choice lists. (e.g. the state children’s choice award here in Texas is the Bluebonnet award) And to answer your question, yes, I think kids would give up a LOT sooner than 70 pages into a book. That’s the point I wanted to make actually–that just because you see occasional books like this win an award doesn’t mean most kids will read it. And you WANT your audience to read it!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — April 30, 2009 @ 9:00 am

3. 

   Kristi – You were a reader for slush pile materials. Are you saying that editors don’t read and comment on a slow slow beginning? I an well aware that no one is reading for homophones (they’re there) or misused idioms (I’d just assume do something v. I’d just as soon do something), but if the beginning is a downer, why do you think the chance to trim it was ignored?
   IF the book turned out to be rewarding, why didn’t you give us the title? It may be a lesson in itself for us to read it too.

   Thanks.

   Comment by Kate Lacy — May 3, 2009 @ 5:38 am

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