January 15, 2013 (Tuesday)

Well, as you know, I was turned down by Tuscany, and I asked why.  The editor finally got back to me and replied that they required the protagonist to be between the ages of 12-17.  They said teen readers want to read about someone who is close in age to them so the story can be applicable, realistic, and relevant.  They said my opening chapters are interesting and do a good job establishing setting, but the fact that my heroine is twenty-six disqualifies it.  To be honest, at first I was rather miffed; all this time I thought I had made a big, embarrassing mistake with characters or plot, and in the end it was just the age of my precious protagonist!  It all seemed rather silly.  Do they have a valid point?  Yes, of course.  However, I don’t think it really makes a difference for catching and holding the attention of the reader.  This is not a story of self-doubt and struggling with identity.  Her being twenty-six does not take away from the total awesomeness of this story (sorry, but it’s true).  In fact, even if I remotely wanted to, I could not change her age without completely demolishing the story.  Trust me, it is impossible.  Her choices and the plot itself would be so different, there wouldn’t be the faintest resemblance.  She could not be the brilliant person she is if she were ten years younger.  A sixteen-year-old should not be running around in a war, commanding over twenty men, and falling in love (twice!).  A teenager couldn’t and shouldn’t tackle the problems she runs into.  She would be a completely different person.  She’s not sheltering under her parents anymore; she’s on her own, very self-confident, and has a successful career.  She faces doubt and deep grief, but she’s steady and pushes bravely ahead.  Personally I think her ready wit and steady personality will capture the heart and respect of anyone who someday reads my book.  She’ll be a beacon of hope to any teenager, someone to look up to.  I’ve always been drawn toward the steady, older characters myself.  So while Tuscany has a point, I think it’s beside it.  But I want to know what you think!

Anyway, on a random note, the other day I heard someone reading Twilight out-loud, chapter sixteen I think.  I was shocked by how juvenile the writing was.  Meyer used many amateur ways of presenting information and her dialogue sounded like it was two eight-year-olds talking instead of teenagers.  Her handling of the heroine’s attraction to what’s-his-face was so cliched.  Her main character doesn’t sound very impressive, unlike my totally awesome heroine (sorry, couldn’t resist).  Not only that, but her main characters are pathetic and messed up.  So, sorry if a Twilight fan is reading this, but I just say it like it is.