It's helpful. However, I feel that a, "I just don't like it," is perfectly honest. As an author that has been rejected over 3,000 times, I can tell you this - rejection is rejection, no matter how you coach it. I've built up callouses over the years and simply say, "I feel rejected when I'm not rejected."
Perhaps this will clarify my perspective. Before watching (if you even do) remember that I have said that "Editors are people too."
I've definitely been on the receiving end of this, but there's another important aspect for authors to consider, and that's whether an editor's vision lines up with what *we* want from a book.
On the lucky occasions I've had a book go to auction, I've twice turned down good financial offers because the editor's vision was very, very different to mine, and instead gone with a lower offer because that editor and I were clearly aligned in how we saw the book.
(And, to be clear, I've never regretted those decisions!)
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, this is very helpful. I love listening and reading your valuable and generous insight and publishing process (I've attended three events where you spoke) and now on Substack. Thanks again! Much appreciated.
This is helpful and chimes directly with my experience. We had several publishers pass on my debut saying "this is lovely but we don't know how to sell it", which given publishers are full of literate women who read a lot of books is quite complicated to hear. And my lovely publisher did have a vision, I agreed it, the book was pushed and did get lovely reviews, but actually, the trade wasn't that enthusiastic.
I don't have permission to quote my different editor when she loved but declined the book that became my first self published book. But it's what Phoebe said.
Thanks for sharing your insight, this is really interesting and useful 🙏 I was getting encouraging words about the writing but a lot of, ‘doesn’t quite fit my list’ or, ‘can’t quite see how I position this in the market’ - I can see that lots of your points about ‘vision’ are relevant in that. I’ve just re-started querying again after six months re-ordering the plot (after feedback) and cutting words (3k are no more, whoop whoop!) Here’s hoping the ‘vision’ is clearer now!
Thanks for this, Phoebe. As an author who is currently out on submission and has received (otherwise very positive and exciting) feedback of the “I don’t quite have a vision for it” variety, this was very helpful! X
Good helpful information
It's helpful. However, I feel that a, "I just don't like it," is perfectly honest. As an author that has been rejected over 3,000 times, I can tell you this - rejection is rejection, no matter how you coach it. I've built up callouses over the years and simply say, "I feel rejected when I'm not rejected."
Perhaps this will clarify my perspective. Before watching (if you even do) remember that I have said that "Editors are people too."
Editing and Editors 6:57
I've definitely been on the receiving end of this, but there's another important aspect for authors to consider, and that's whether an editor's vision lines up with what *we* want from a book.
On the lucky occasions I've had a book go to auction, I've twice turned down good financial offers because the editor's vision was very, very different to mine, and instead gone with a lower offer because that editor and I were clearly aligned in how we saw the book.
(And, to be clear, I've never regretted those decisions!)
🙏🏻🫶🏻
Thank you so much. This is wonderfully clear - and kind!
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, this is very helpful. I love listening and reading your valuable and generous insight and publishing process (I've attended three events where you spoke) and now on Substack. Thanks again! Much appreciated.
This is helpful and chimes directly with my experience. We had several publishers pass on my debut saying "this is lovely but we don't know how to sell it", which given publishers are full of literate women who read a lot of books is quite complicated to hear. And my lovely publisher did have a vision, I agreed it, the book was pushed and did get lovely reviews, but actually, the trade wasn't that enthusiastic.
I don't have permission to quote my different editor when she loved but declined the book that became my first self published book. But it's what Phoebe said.
Urghhhhargh...yes, I get this. Honestly, how can editors not love horses and a bit of mud?!
But thank you for the encouragement, it really does help to read what might be behind the feedback.
Really interesting insight and very helpful!
Thanks for sharing your insight, this is really interesting and useful 🙏 I was getting encouraging words about the writing but a lot of, ‘doesn’t quite fit my list’ or, ‘can’t quite see how I position this in the market’ - I can see that lots of your points about ‘vision’ are relevant in that. I’ve just re-started querying again after six months re-ordering the plot (after feedback) and cutting words (3k are no more, whoop whoop!) Here’s hoping the ‘vision’ is clearer now!
Thanks for this, Phoebe. As an author who is currently out on submission and has received (otherwise very positive and exciting) feedback of the “I don’t quite have a vision for it” variety, this was very helpful! X