Angela Scott
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Books
    • ANYONE?
    • ANYONE ELSE?
    • ZIA The Teenage Zombie & The Undead Diaries
    • Zombie West Trilogy
    • WANTED: Dead or Undead
    • Survivor Roundup
    • Dead Plains
    • Desert Rice
    • Desert Flower
  • News/Awards
  • Luv Zombies?

When Editors Hate Your Face.

3/12/2011

11 Comments

 
Picture
Voice.

“Ugh, no,” you say while pulling out your hair. “NOT another blog discussing writer’s voice. Blah, blah, blah. I’ve heard it all before. I’m moving on to Creepy Query Girl’s blog post on getting naked in France.”

But wait, don’t go! Not yet. I’m not going to discuss what voice is or even make an attempt to define it, since there are several hundred blogs out there that try. No. I’m not going to discuss what it is or what it should be. I mean, that’s like asking how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop—nobody truly knows.

But we’re all supposed to have one. Kind of a catch twenty-two, don’t you think?

No, what I want to discuss today is more along the lines: so you think you have a great voice—unique, different, super cool—only to find out that editors “just aren’t that in to you.” What do you do and where do you go from there?

Those are the types of questions that have been floating around in my head for the past couple of days since receiving a rejection from an editor saying, “I hate Angela Scott’s voice.” (Okay, it didn’t quite say that exactly, but the gist was pretty much the same).

I’ve worked hard to create a pretty awesome thick-skinned coat—it’s multi-layered and deflects criticism so my heart and soul will not be crushed—yet, somehow, this rejection found a weak link in my armor. It’s now an irritant, like when you get your haircut and the trimmings fall down the back of your shirt, inside your collar. Itchy and annoying.

Tell me my story stinks. Tell me my characters are unbelievable. Tell me my anything other than my voice reminds you of the time you accidentally drank a glass of water while on vacation in a third-world country (No, they didn’t say that, but it felt that way).

My voice is my voice. It’s me.

It’s like telling me you hate my face. It’s my face! Right there on the front portion of my head. Unless I do major plastic surgery, I will always have this face.  I can temporarily put some makeup on it—a slew of rainbow colors on my lids, lips and cheeks. I can even add sparkly glitter to my eyes or put on a red-balled clown nose, but it’s still going to be my face.  Just weirder looking.

Darn me and my stupid face!

My voice is ALL over my work in progress as well.  Every single page—80,000 words of my voice. Shoot!

Logically, I know it’s all a matter of preference and subjectivity. I get that. I do. But I think voice is a very personal thing, a character trait, a part of your personality. It’s me.

Can voice be changed? Is it even possible?  Could Stephen King, JK Rowling, or JRR Tolkien change their voices? I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m in no way comparing myself to this fine league of writers. I would never do that. All I’m asking is if it’s possible to change?

And more importantly, should I?

(Oh, and go check out my previous blog post below for a chance to get your hand on some free books I'm giving away).

11 Comments
Cindy Borgne link
3/12/2011 01:47:18 am

Oh.....that is a hard piece of criticism to take. Not only that it doesn't tell you why or what they don't like about it. It would be kinder on their part if they could elaborate.

But don't even think about changing your voice because of what one person thought. Ask others. Get second opinions. Writing is art. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like your writing...as I'm sure you know.

Best,

Cindy.

Reply
Anne-Mhairi link
3/12/2011 04:33:33 am

If that's her voice, that's her voice. Your characters will have different voices, but if that's the voice they should have then you shouldn't change it. Another editor will love it. It's just a matter of time.

Reply
J E Fritz link
3/12/2011 04:48:56 am

That is an ouch if I ever heard one. Even having a thick-skinned coat on won't deflect that one.

I'm sure you'll find someone who sees the beauty in your voice.

Reply
Michele Shaw link
3/12/2011 09:55:16 am

I hear ya, I feel ya! Got a rejection on a partial the other day and was told by an agent that after a few days she couldn't remember a single thing that happened in it and I didn't "astound" her. So, there you go. All rejections suck in their own way. Keep going, Angela. No matter what!

Reply
Patricia Leaver link
3/12/2011 10:48:26 am

No! Don't change your voice at all. It is who you are, what makes your writing uniquely your own. As for the submission process, it is hard and full of waiting and hoping. I have been there and know exactly what you are going through. If you ever need a person to vent to or somebody to commiserate with, you know where to find me.

Reply
tanya reimer link
3/12/2011 12:10:17 pm

I like your voice. You had me giggling like a fool. Even my kids are curious what I'm reading.

Long ago, once upon a time, a publishing house told me my characters had no depth. This had never come up before. No depth? How could this be? I took this seriously. Very seriously. To later discover this was their bloody form rejection. What? Yup. It was their nice way of saying not for us, my characters didn't fit into their cookie cutter world.

Thank God times change. How many people killed their characters off after getting letters like that? yikes.

No. Your voice is what makes your writing special. Trust it. Believe in it and others will too. Besides, the more you write, the more your voice will evolve on it's own. There is no way I write the same as I did fifteen years ago, or hell, even yesterday.

Reply
Clay Morgan link
3/12/2011 12:45:35 pm

Super stuff and happy to find you. I don't think our voice can be eliminated any more than we were able to make it suddenly appear. It's us. It evolves. The goal is to find the match for the voice. Nice post.

Reply
LadyJai link
3/12/2011 10:07:00 pm

I loved this post. I think I am trying to still understand (or find) my voice. Not sure I understand what my voice is just yet...if that is even possible. But hey, thanks for sharing...I like you face, rainbow colors, glitter and red ball nose and all!

PS: everyone knows that it takes 1.....tahooo....three licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsy pop!

Reply
Jodi Henry link
3/13/2011 12:03:45 am

Voice is so tricky. I can never hear my voice in my writing. My writing group says I have awesome voice and I still don't hear it.

If you've got it and you know yopu do don't change it. I like the metaphor of your face b/c the voice of your book IS the face of your characters.

If this editor didn't like the voice. I say- OH WELL, the editor that picks the project up will be in love and that's all that matters.

It will wash out. Things will be good. Just dobnt TRY to change your voice.

J

Reply
Brenda Drake link
3/13/2011 12:12:10 am

That is a hard pill to swallow and it's happened to me before. You say that your voice is your voice and it can't be changed, maybe so, but it certainly can be developed better. By the words you choose and how you structure your sentences.

This is a great interview by Natalie Fischer here http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2011/03/literary-agent-natalie-fischer-on.html and is so easy to understand. Not saying yours need it, especially since reading this post, I like the voice of it and snorted a few times at your humor. Great Post! :D

Reply
Joy link
3/13/2011 11:03:01 am

My guts say keep what you have and work harder to make it sparkly. Your day will come.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    NEWSLETTER

    Now Available!
    It's HERE! Get your copy today!

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    My Books

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Click for more info about Mallory Rock, Cover Designer
    Picture
    Click for more info about Megan Harris, Editor
    POPULAR BLOG POSTS

    Write under a pen name? What are you hiding from?

    The Jekyll and Hyde Aspect of Editing

    What kinds of WEIRD stuff have you researched for your WIP?

    Wow. Some book reviewers can be NASTY! Check it out

    Do you view other writers as friends or foes? (Conquering the green-eyed monster)

    3 reasons most writers give up & 3 reasons why YOU shouldn't

    My Twitter Pet Peeves

    How can I promote my book without ticking off the masses?

    10 Ways to promote your book and get surefire results!

    FUN LINKS
    ZOMG SO COOL


    DUDE I WANT THAT

    ALL THINGS ZOMBIE

    ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS

    Fun Stuff

    Picture
    Pixel of Ink
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    If you're ready for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for any emergency. emergency.cdc.gov
    Picture

    My BLOG Awards 

Photos used under Creative Commons from revolution540, Jonathan Rolande, Leslie Richards, Su--May, mugwumpian, Say_No_To_Turtles, pedrosimoes7, tiannaspicer, comedy_nose, Lord Jim, corcell_usa, keepitsurreal, Dushan and Miae, Martin Pettitt, Chill Mimi, THX0477, Svenstorm, Grzegorz Łobiński, tsakshaug, Richard Elzey, epSos.de, ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓, Asim Bijarani, Eddie~S, paul-simpson.org, ilovememphis, Sweet Dreamz Design, HockeyholicAZ