Tej Rae 2020 4th Place - on dealing with rejection, finding your own way

Tej Rae - 2020 4th place, Bush Babies 

What made you decide to submit your work to the First Pages Prize?

I can't remember where I saw the post for the prize, but the name appealed to me because I tend to think of some of my novels as a series of first chapters. I thought I had a lot of 'first pages' to choose from.

How did you decide what you wanted to submit?

I chose a section of my novel that stood alone as a short story, a unified piece with an arc. I also chose a section with a lot of drama to get the judge's attention.

And then, what was it like to be one of the final winners?

I had evacuated Ethiopia a month before I got a call from the prize and was living in my mom's basement in New Mexico. My usual routines and work had been disrupted, there was a lot of fear and panic as those were the early days of Covid, and the news brought me a lot of much-needed joy.

What changed for you as a result of being a final winner?

It definitely built my confidence. One of the take-aways from the prize was the new understanding that my novel, which is about a failing intercultural marriage in modern-day Zambia, could be appreciated by a judge like Sebastian Faulks, who tends to write novels set during World War II. 

What was your experience with the editorial guidance that came with the prize—how was the process and what impact did it have on your work?

Lizzie’s feedback was both sensitive and practical, and steered my novel towards greater marketability. I mean that in the best sense -- of making the story more appealing to a broader reader base.

Similarly, what impact did the agent consultation have? What did you learn from it?

One thing I learned from the NYC-based agent was that a first chapter should raise one big question, and avoid raising multiple questions as that could confuse the reader.

What has surprised you most about being part of this prize?

That the first-place winner decided to self-publish. Her decision had a profound impact on me. Since them, I published a children's book in Ethiopia myself which has been a fantastic experience. I learned to stop waiting for 'permission' from the publishing establishment and bend the circumstances to my advantage.

What advice or tips might you have for people thinking of submitting to the FIRST PAGES PRIZE this year?

Keep sending your work out! Let the rejections slide off. Recently, I had a story that was rejected multiple times, and then one editor told me it's the best thing he's published—ever. You never know!

www.tejrae.com @TejRae