But?Because there was a hugebutin those unspoken words.
“But I don’t have a realsenseof who these characters are or what they want most. I’m not invested in their story.” Taylor sat back against the chair. “I’m not sure what your heroine’s motivation is. What her main goal is.”
“Oh.”
“Frankly, I don’t much care for your hero. He’s flat. Uninteresting. Two-dimensional. I had higher hopes for him after the way they met at the dinner party with your heroine spilling a bowl of cocktail sauce on his suit. But I don’t buy why your heroine is eveninterestedin him.”
“I see.” Trish fought back the tears. She wouldnotcry until she was alone in her room. No one would see her dreams shatter around her. This was exactly the kind of feedback that Henry would use as an I-told-you-so moment.
“Your heroine, she intrigues me,” Taylor said. “Can’t say she won me over. But she has hope. She did make me nearly spit out my coffee on the first page.”
Trish perked a bit at that comment.
“But axe your hero.” Taylor leaned forward. “Sorry hun, but you need to start over on him. He’s . . . just not a likable character.”
When one considered her hero had been loosely based on Henry, that sort of made sense. Henry was also flat and uninteresting outside of his job and golfing hobby. “You’re right. He’s completely boring.”
“A real dud, I’m afraid.”
Trish sputtered a burst of laughter and had to cover her mouth. Of course he was. “Sorry, it’s just that that word’s been tossed around a lot lately. You’re absolutely right.”
“Trish, your writing is strong. You have a great ability to pull the reader into the story with your prose, but if your characters aren’t cutting it, readers don’t keep turning the page. I’ll email you my notes once I’ve met with everyone. It was great to meet you.”
Uh-oh. She was being dismissed already. They’d been talking for hardly ten minutes. “Would you be interested in taking another look?” Trish asked, desperate to keep the agent on the line. “If I fixed it?”
Taylor stirred the contents of her mug again as her eyes dropped to something offscreen. “I think you should definitely keep writing, Trish. But I’m sorry. I just didn’t fall in love with this story; I’ll have to pass.”
A wave of defeat knocked Trish right in the chest. “Thank you for your time, Taylor.” She’d have to leave now, while most of her dignity was still intact. She was tired of crying in front of everyone.
“Trish?”
Halfway out of her seat, Trish stopped. “Yes?”
“You’re talented. I’m just not convinced thatthisis your story.”
“I-I started another one. One about a romance novelist and a brooding cowboy.” It was a long shot, but at this point what did she have to lose? “I’m halfway through it, and it needs some polishing, but—”
“That sounds more interesting already.”
“It does?”
“Sure.” Taylor tapped her spoon against her mug. “Why don’t you send me your first chapter of that one? And a synopsis when you’re finished? I’d be willing to take a look. Can’t make any promises, but I could at least give you some feedback.”
“Thank you! That would be wonderful.”
Trish slipped out of the office, feeling better than she expected considering how big a flop her first try had been. Didn’t even seem salvageable from what Taylor said. But Trish thought she might be able to fix it. Take out the CEO and replace him with a good cowboy stuck in the city against his will? Sure, there just might be hope.
With several ideas already brewing, Trish made a beeline for the stairs. But two steps up, she was stopped.
“How did it go?” Glenda asked, hands clapped together at her chest. “Did she like your story?”
Trish dropped back down to the main level. “Nope.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know what I have to do to fix it.” Before Trish could tell her about the agent’s interest in her next book, Glenda cut her off.
“You know, you don’thaveto go the traditional route. There are plenty of talented, successful writers who self-publish because of the creative freedom they get with that choice. Some even making a living at it. I know at least one anyway.” Glenda winked at her. “It’s a lot of work, but if you decide to try it on for size, let me know. I have a great editor I can recommend. And my cover artist is dynamite.”
