A Chance to Revise

I heard from an editor at one of the publications at which I've submitted a story yesterday. The word was a "no-but-if-you-care-to-make-a-change-we-might-be-able-to-talk." I'm taking this as an opportunity to learn and grow and what's more, get another story published. The editor felt that my story Hamilton's Pond was too adult (where have I heard that before?) in that it features an adult with an adult problem solved by an adult "albeit with humor" (her words). She feels that I need to write some children and childish thinking into the story. I couldn't agree more. But I just didn't see it before she said it.

Take one of my favorite children's books: Officer Buckle and Gloria. Officer Buckle is an adult who has an adult job that he loses, which is a very adult problem. However, it is a child, Claire, who states the theme of the story in one of her star-shaped notes to Officer Buckle: Always stick with your buddy. So now the question before me is whether I can accomplish this with Hamilton's Pond. Stay tuned.