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Question: How would you take this rejection letter authors!? Published and not!.!.!.!?
I'm fairly new to the publishing world (as I still don't even have an agent) but I'm keeping my chin up!. My question is that I have just been rejected by a literary agent who said quote:

I thought the concept was so rich and the writing is lovely -- but I thought the writing was so formal

This is the first time I actually got feedback, and I wanted to know what others think!. How would you take this!? Published authors!? Not published!? Do you think I'm on the right track!? I'm probably being overly touchy about this, but I'd like your thoughts!. Thank you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Thats good that she likes your work but i think what shes trying to say by the "but i thought the writing was so formal" is that you probably changed from formal to casual or vice versa without realising it!. Maybe you should give that publisher a call and maybe talk to her some more!.

xxxWww@QuestionHome@Com

I'd say you are definitely on the right track!. For an agent to give you any feedback is a good thing!. A writer has to have really thick skin to survive the criticism, and this sounds more like advice!.

If I were you, I'd either try to find a writer's group, where I could share my work and get advice on how to make my writing more approachable (which, I'm guessing, is the opposite of formal), or I'd hire a professional editor to read my work and tell me more precisely what needs to be fixed!. Professional editors are not cheap - however, not only are they experts, they usually have contacts within the industry and can pair you up with an agent or publisher, with their recommendation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If someone told me my writing was formal, I'd assume that my writing was too dense like the type that you get from a textbook!. So make your writing more casual but still well written!.

Find a popular book that is similar to yours and look at the style of writing!. Don't completely copy it, but make your writing easier for a reader to get into!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

You actually got feedback!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
You have NO idea how rare that is!

I've actually done quite a bit of editing!.
For a publisher to actually take the time TO write a little note!.!.!.!.!.you are doing WELL

I would take that book and do a re-write ASAP!
Good!.!.!. or rather "rich" concepts!.!.!. are hard to come by!.

Just the fact that they thought you were WORTH a note as a writer should tell you something there!

Get back on that computer and get busy!

Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it seems encouraging!. I like that they've complimented what you've done as well as given you criticism to improve!.
I think it means you're on the right track!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it means "re-write it less formally and we might be interested" ;D

gogogo :D Good luck! <3Www@QuestionHome@Com