The Word Cloud

Got to that depressing "Why am I wasting my time when my writing is obviously rubbish.." stage when I got a lovely long email from an agent, containing FEEDBACK and encouragement, and another email to avoid the slush pile when I have reworked the book. Hurray! Anyway, for everyone else struggling I just thought I'd share a couple of his agently pearls of wisdom....
In a nutshell he says you must work on your individual voice, and style. The voice must be distinctive and likable and draw the reader in and that is what stands out from the hundreds of others. If you have another world it must crackle with reality in every paragraph, and your style and voice must match your creative imagination.
So hard to get any feedback and this really helped. Time to get another WW makeover methinks...just got to save up first!

Wow, that is really something, Dolly. So, if I interpret the feedback correctly the story line is good, the characters are suitable, it's just how you work on the presentation that needs attention, to make it come to life. All positive stuff, and very encouraging and supportive.

You must be well-pleased. I am (for you).

A suggestion, before you go down the make-over route once again. Why not post one or two scenes/extracts on critiques and ask reviewers to suggest what would make this scene really crackle and come to life - examples accepted, or similar.

Many WC are very good at this, and in between the responses, you could find your distinct voice - the one that suits you best.
Then it's all downhill...

Great news - thanks for sharing the tips, and best of luck

That is indeed good news, Dolly. Congratulations. And an invitation to go direct, avoiding the slush pile, when you've crisped it up - just brilliant!

Thanks Guys!
Funnily enough ST I posted the first couple of paragraphs on here, and on your advice changed around a few things before I sent it off, so many thanks for that!! Tony - yup, off to do some crisping (I like that!!) x

Just heard back from the publishers and its a no. But after my begging email did get some feedback! It took six months tho..... They said they don't give feedback unless they want to publish you, but then gave a little bit - gist of below;
...cannot provide feedback on work that we are not going to publish – but I do think that hitting the right tone with the narrator’s voice is key – for imparting information about both them and their situation, whilst leaving space for the reader to come to their own conclusions.

Hi Dolly -sorry to hear about that, but good guidance. Voice is a difficult one to get a handle on. The two bits of guidance you have been given so far do refer to that.

Now I could be miles off target here, but is it as simple as making sure that the writing doesn't come across as having been written?

In other words, and especially in dialogue, does it sound natural, does it flow and trip easily off the tongue and onto the page?

What I do is to imagine a situation that I can easily fit into e.g. a pub for me -but it could be a church for you - it doesn't really matter, as long as you are familiar with the people you're likely to meet. Then start a character conversation in exactly the same style as you would in that environment - then transform that tone into your current situation.

That's simplistic, I know, however you can probably get where I'm coming from.

Cheers ST! Thanks for that - will keep working on it

That's a shame but it looks like you have something and it's just a matter of tweeking it. Good luck!

Thanks - going to redo the whole thing so fingers crossed. Also working on two others - maybe that is the problem.....!