Out of the Pan

I once received a five page critque on a five page submission. I had it published somewhere else the way it was. Thanks for sharing your experience. Gail

Hi Jim,

Thanks for sharing your experience with Andrew. One thing I've learned in the writing game is that an editor/publisher/agent is one person and they give one person's opinion. Your comment about seeking two other opinions was wise. If all three give you the same opinion, then you know you're on the wrong track. I've had writing that was given bad reviews at my critique group but ended up being sold and enjoyed by readers. One thing all writers need to develop is a tough hide. Rejection is no fun, but I've always felt that I can turn a rejection into a lesson learned. So, keep on working on your novel, and I wish you the best with it.
Nancy Kopp

Nancy, Your bio says that you are a "former teacher". I think you should consider changing that after reading your comments on my "Out of the Pan" story. You are still very much a teacher and I appreciate your advice very much. Thank you and keep on teachin'! Jim Rambo

Whoever said writing was easy? If I had a nickel for every person who said, "I could write a book better than that," then I would be very wealthy indeed. Do any of these "wanna be's" ever do what they profess than can do, "better than that?" I think not. Then there is you, Jim Rambo, future best-selling author, who not only reads between the lines but sees through them. You had a valuable experience with that publisher, even though the results may have been quite different from what you expected or wanted. But perhaps you had no expectations. You did learn something though. Get more opinions, trust your gut feeling about people, and find a way to hang onto your check if at all possible.

I very much enjoyed your depiction of the meeting with that publisher. Let the writer beware.

Maria Harden

A piece lots of us can identify with. I'd be tempted, though, to make the next-to-last paragraph the final paragraph, and end: "Smiling, I answered: 'Seek at least two other opinions.'"