Thick Skin

I think I've developed the requisite thick skin that writers need in this publishing game. I received another rejection yesterday.

Although I'm disappointed, I didn't stew over it. Well, maybe a little bit. I had some chocolate, vented to Rene, and then promptly forgot about it by immersing myself in a mountain of laundry.

The phrasing in this rejection letter played to the tune of several others I've received. "The historical market is tight right now and we're being extremely selective on what we take on."

Here's the thing I don't understand. Why is the historical market tight right now? Is it because (gasp!) there are only a few locales that publishers will even look at publishing? Is it because readers are getting tired of reading the same locales over and over again and want something fresh and thus are not buying historicals? Face it - that is the bottom line - money. If something is selling, publishers will print it. And taking a chance on something new is, well, taking a chance.

I could be wrong, but I really think that this is where RWA needs to use their powers for good instead of gossip. Romance writers have a wonderful ear bent to the needs of romance readers. We know what they want to read. Why can't we convey that to the publishing world through the power of RWA?

I had an idea last night for a really cool series set in the 1940's. But the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want to even try writing it. Why? Because, as we all know, titles set during the World War II era don't sell. Funny, because I devour titles (what few there are) set during this time period. Surely I can't be alone.

All this griping aside, I'm still going to play the publishing game. I'm still going to write what I like to write and read. I'm not going to write to the market because I don't believe in that particular philosophy.

So where does that leave me?

The same place I started - a keyboard and a blank screen just waiting to be filled with the magic of my imagination.