"A friend of mine submitted his young adult fantasy novel to a publisher. After initial encouragement, the editor had the kind of talk with the author that authors don’t want to have with an editor. This is how my friend reports what the editor said:
“Your book does not meet reader expectation for a YA fantasy. YA readers expect fantasy to be plot-driven, not character-driven. They expect the protagonist to be self-confident, to meet distrust only from other people. They expect the magic in the book to be overt and direct, not subtle or metaphorical. They expect no moral ambiguity: all characters or magic powers should be clearly good or clearly evil. They expect the story to move very quickly with no slowing down at any time. A novel that does not meet reader expectation will not sell.”
The editor’s final reason for rejecting the book: “Your book isn’t fantasy, because it’s open to interpretation. It’s literary." (end of quote)
Well now. My mind is sputtering. And I want to read this author's book very very badly--it sounds like just what I look for in YA fantasy!
(Have any of you who read my reviews noticed that when I don't personally care for a book I call it "plot-driven?" edited to add: well, no, you wouldn't have noticed, because I never actually seem to have used that phrase. But I think I do come across as preferring characters and gradual development to action and plot. I tend to skim sections that have too much Action, because it's not as interesting to me as the small events).
Wow! I'm guessing that editor has never heard of magical realism... But what this does seem to confirm is that a lot of editors (and agents) are looking for so-called "hot" commercial properties rather than more literary storytelling. Apparently hot means plot. (E.g., I had an agent tell me recently that I was a really good writer and storyteller, "but that's not enough these days.")
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and revealing anecdote. I like action okay, but I absolutely have to love the characters to love a book, and my interest in action is only in that it gives a great character a chance to show his or her true nature.
ReplyDeleteMy existence as a writer is predicated on my firm belief that I am not alone in my preferences for books about thoughtful characters and books that use magic to help the reader think about deeper issues. Unfortunately, I guess LeGuin's anecdote just confirms me in my decision to go the self-published route - because I want to be able to write for the children who like what I liked (and still like), not for the publishing machine that's only interested in the next possible action movie.
I sincerely hope that the writer found another editor.
ReplyDeleteThis is ... really ... worrying. All of my writing tends to be character-based; that's what I prefer to read, thus that is what I write. I love action -- I want the book to appeal to the active, assertive reader, and the less so -- I usually try to vary the characters portrayed so that there's something for everyone.
But I'm worried now that because my SFF novels are more character based and their journeys are subtle and that magic may or may not be overt... Huh. While I've been told that a novel is "too quiet," and asked if we could "work on that," I have not been told such ridiculousness. Clearly, the writer needs to work with better editors.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteI too prefer character driven to plot driven and it is the characters that will determine my enjoyment level of a book. That editor basically described everything I try to avoid when looking for a book.
Oh my gosh, Kate, I think it's enough! And Anne and Tanita, I feel for you too. I suppose, that until I get a job as an editor in a major publishing house, that it's little to comfort to say "I will like your books!" but I probably will...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Kate, I think it's enough! And Anne and Tanita, I feel for you too. I suppose, that until I get a job as an editor in a major publishing house, that it's little to comfort to say "I will like your books!" but I probably will...
ReplyDeleteWaht a disturbing comment! I don't understand why an editor would be so prescriptive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you: characterization and detail (ie, the quality of the writing) is more important to me that a swiftly moving plot.