Christy English

Siren Song

Friday, October 3rd, 2008 | Selling Your Work, The Writing Life, Uncategorized | Comments Off

 Last week I had the unusual experience of reading the comments an editor made while passing on my novel.  The Queen’s Pawn is being looked at by editors in nine houses in New York. Three of these houses have passed so far, which is to be expected. I have been at this awhile, so I am never surprised by rejection. I am, however surprised by compliments.

Last week’s pass was particularly surprising. The editor, a well respected woman at a house I have always hoped to work with, was so pleased with my style that she would read the same novel again with an eye toward buying it, if I were to make major changes.

I am still considering her comments. To hear anything complimentary in the subjective and often acidic business of publishing is rare. I will admit that I am tempted. Temptation is a new concept for me; this is the first time someone has asked me to modify my original vision to this extent.

The comments offered by the editor would add strength and dimension to the novel, would take it into different territory than I ever conceived for it. It would be a different book.

While this is not a bad thing, I hesitate. I have a pact with the protagonist to tell her story to the best of my ability. To make changes that might take the novel away from her would defeat the purpose of writing the book in the first place. (Alais, for those interested in historical fiction, is the young French princess who makes a small appearance in both the play and the film, The Lion in Winter.)

Like most women in history, Alais was silent during her lifetime. No one makes movies about her, or write books or plays in her honor, as they do for the people who surrounded her: Philippe Auguste of France, Henry II of England, Richard the Lionhearted, and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She lived and died in silence, her reputation forged in the fires of the actions of others.

In The Queen’s Pawn, I hope to give Alais some semblance of a voice. It is not possible to speak for the dead, but I hope to honor her.

But I digress. The question remains, to change the novel, or to leave it intact?

It is a question I will have to answer. But if I make changes to The Queen’s Pawn, the novel will remain Alais’ story. She and I have been partners in the work for two years. The story will remain hers, no matter what else is added to it.