Revision Based on Feedback?

CaroGirl · Dec 30, 2009

Isn't there a saying that goes: When God closes a door, He opens a window? I think I've heard of such a thing being said and it seems it might have happened to me.

Last week I received a rejection from a very respected small-press publisher who'd had a requested full of my edgy YA ms for so long, I'd given up on it (since the end of May). Needless to say, I was very disappointed in the rejection, but the managing editor made it clear my ms was thoroughly evaluated by the editorial team and came VERY close to getting accepted to their list for 2010. She went on for four paragraphs with some insightful editorial suggestions for the ms, gleaned from the evaluators who debated about accepting it.

I realize these editorial comments and suggetions are their opinion only, and some of them I do recognize as problems in the manuscript. I thought I'd sit on it awhile and think about it before revising to any of their suggestions.

Now for the dilemma, only a few days after I got that letter, I got another letter from another very well respected small-press publisher requesting a full. Now I don't know which editorial suggestions I want to (or have time to) incorporate. I don't want to look a gift-horse in the mouth and ignore all those insightful suggestions, but I don't want to wreck the manuscript I have by making changes I haven't had time to think through thoroughly. I also don't want to take too long to send off the full. I figured I'd try to get it out by the end of this week, before I head back to my job and don't have time to work on it anymore.

Secretly, I was hoping a publisher might accept it as is and be willing to work with me to get into publishable shape. I believe it's close. But I feel a bit lost and don't quite know what to do.

Help!! What would you do?

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 30, 2009

Send the full as is. As you said, rushing in changes, well, it might create more problems like continuity issues and such.

If this publisher rejects it, then take the time to make the changes. But either way, bear in mind that these changes are that team's opinion on what THEY would like to see. It doesn't necessarily mean its what EVERY publisher would like to see.

See?

ChaosTitan · Dec 30, 2009

That's a tough one.

But I think you may have answered your own question when you said "I do recognize them as problems in the manuscript." The thing to really consider now is do you think those problems will prevent this new publisher from also accepting your book? If you really, truly see problems that you can fix, do you want to take the chance that this new publisher will possibly accept you as-is and work with you later?

For me, it would come down to those specific problems mentioned. If they are fatal flaws that I can fix in a decent amount of time before sending the new full, I'd fix them. If I ever got the sense that these suggestions were the personal opinion of the house, based on what they liked rather than the content of the book itself, I'd send the full as-is.

gothicangel · Dec 30, 2009

My instinct would be that seeing as they nearly accepted it, to send it as is.

But Chaos Titan has a point, are the problems fatal or cosmetic?

AryaT92 · Dec 30, 2009

Agree completely with Chaos.

theantisplice · Dec 30, 2009

Your call - how big of a deal are the things the last publisher pointed out? If there are glaring, pivotal mistakes, fix them. If you're not sure if you should, what better way to find out than by sending them to another publisher and seeing if they catch the same stuff?

Anon76 · Dec 30, 2009

Another vote for what Chaos said in conjunction with Shadow's post. You have to weigh your options carefully and you don't have eons of time to do so.

Best to you and I hope all works out well!

NeuroFizz · Dec 30, 2009

For many (most?) publishers, you have a single shot at gaining their interest for a manuscript that came to them via the unsolicited submission route. You are asking if we think it's a good idea to give your story one of these one-shot deals in its present "with problems" state?

You are asking if timing of submission is more important than submitting your best possible work because the evaluators may see the promise in it and work with you to get it to that best possible shape. If the changes suggested by the first editor are so sweeping that you can't address them in a relatively short period of time, does the present state of the manuscript seem like a good gamble for the kind of quality-of-work that would put you in the best possible position to be accepted by the second publisher? There are no good answers here because you know the work and you know the suggestions from the first editor. It's all in how you want to play the gamble.

Why not communicate with the editor of the second press, explain the situation, and ask for advice and/or about a reasonable time line for submitting the full?

Why does everyone assume there is such an immediacy here? Did the second editor give a time limit? These people want to see your best work, your strongest story. Talk to the editor. She/he is interested.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 30, 2009

If you really believe the changes would make the novel better, then why wouldn't you make the changes? You want to submit the best possible novel, don't you? So if you believe the changes will make the novel better, then I think you have to make the changes.

CaroGirl · Dec 30, 2009

Thanks to everyone. There are things I agree with in the letter and can fix relatively easily. But there are one or two things I don't agree with or I don't know how to fix without messing with the entire structure of the novel (possibly ruining it).

I do feel time pressure and, although that may be artificial, I can't quite ignore it. What's not artificial is the lack of time I'll have after I go back to work in the New Year.

willietheshakes · Dec 30, 2009

Make the changes you agree with, ignore the other ones.

You want your best going out, and if the editorial letter contained lightbulb moments, things that you recognize as being true, it's better to deal with them now than send it out again flawed.

If you disagreed with all the suggestions, it would be a different situation...

Libbie · Dec 30, 2009

Copy and paste your ms into a new document. Then you can make the revisions but still keep the old version intact. You can decide which you prefer.

I had an agent reject my full and she also made suggestions for a revision. I took her advice (keeping my old version intact just in case!) and whaddyaknow, I like the revised version 100% better. I resubmitted it to her (at her invitation.) Hopefully she also feels the book is entirely better for the changes.

Pros usually know their stuff.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 30, 2009

CaroGirl said:
Thanks to everyone. There are things I agree with in the letter and can fix relatively easily. But there are one or two things I don't agree with or I don't know how to fix without messing with the entire structure of the novel (possibly ruining it).

I do feel time pressure and, although that may be artificial, I can't quite ignore it. What's not artificial is the lack of time I'll have after I go back to work in the New Year.

The best use of time is to write a salable novel. If you agree with the suggested changes, you'll likely save yourself a bunch of time by making the changes.

If you disagree with suggested changes, you shouldn't make them, now or ever.

Madison · Dec 30, 2009

I don't think you should make the changes now. Like you said, you want time to think them over -- and right now you want to send the full. Send the MS as is. If they reject it, incorporate what suggestions you agree with. If they (hopefully!) take you on, you'll likely go through revisions anyway - and when you do, you can bring up the list and see how they respond.

Just don't make changes on the fly - you don't have enough time right now to think them through, IMO.

Good luck!

a_sharp · Dec 30, 2009

... publisher who'd had a requested full of my edgy YA ms for so long, I'd given up on it (since the end of May)

I do feel time pressure and, although that may be artificial, I can't quite ignore it.

Think about this. Why the rush? Who's tapping a foot and watching the clock here?

The time you invest in incorporating those suggestions you agree with should be time well spent. The second publisher may take as long or longer to get around to evaluating your ms. So I agree with those who advise taking time to put forth your best on this new try.

Why not communicate with the editor of the second press, explain the situation, and ask for advice and/or about a reasonable time line for submitting the full?

Good advice from Neurofizz. As you have already found out, book people are friendly and understanding. Count on the second editor to be considerate of your situation regarding the time you need.

You're worth it.

ishtar'sgate · Dec 30, 2009

NeuroFizz said:
For many (most?) publishers, you have a single shot at gaining their interest for a manuscript that came to them via the unsolicited submission route. You are asking if we think it's a good idea to give your story one of these one-shot deals in its present "with problems" state?

I agree. Take the time to fix the problem areas you recognize. It's unwise to send out a manuscript you KNOW is flawed.

gothicangel · Dec 30, 2009

Hmm not so sure.

A few years ago I had an agent request the full mss after reading the partial and he was the most excited I've ever seen an agent.

Then, before I could print my computer was corrupted by a virus and I lost the book (lesson: save it x3!) I had a paper copy, but by the time I had re-typed the thing (with the help of volunteers) and subbed the agent had cooled and rejected me within days.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 30, 2009

Madison said:
I don't think you should make the changes now. Like you said, you want time to think them over -- and right now you want to send the full. Send the MS as is. If they reject it, incorporate what suggestions you agree with. If they (hopefully!) take you on, you'll likely go through revisions anyway - and when you do, you can bring up the list and see how they respond.

Just don't make changes on the fly - you don't have enough time right now to think them through, IMO.

Good luck!

There's more time now than later. If those changes are needed, the second publisher almost certainly will reject the novel, and a good publisher is off the table.

There's never, ever a reason to submit a novel anywhere if you know the novel has problems. You must send out the best possible manuscript. Fixing the problems is the only way to save time.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 30, 2009

gothicangel said:
Hmm not so sure.

A few years ago I had an agent request the full mss after reading the partial and he was the most excited I've ever seen an agent.

Then, before I could print my computer was corrupted by a virus and I lost the book (lesson: save it x3!) I had a paper copy, but by the time I had re-typed the thing (with the help of volunteers) and subbed the agent had cooled and rejected me within days.

The agent didn't reject you because of time, but hecause he didn't think he could sell the novel. Agents reject most fulls after enthusiasticallt requesting them, but they only reject novels they simply do not believe will sell.

geardrops · Dec 30, 2009

Question from a noob here: Would it hurt to tell the new publisher that you would like a week or two to go over the MS? Is this bad form?

jasonleeward · Dec 30, 2009

Revisions based on Feedback

It's always good to have others read and critique your work, even if you don't agree with every suggestion. Since an editor gave your manuscript a thorough review and now you have more insightful opinions than once before, it would be advantageous for you to change those corretions you feel are most needed and leave the rest. If the other publisher didn't give you a 'send by' date then I would let them know that you're making final manuscript changes and you'll be sending it next week. This way there isn't as much pressure to rush through if you decide to make changes and you'll also, likely, be strengthening your work.

gothicangel · Dec 30, 2009

I don't believe so, the turn around was too fast. I think the fact that I was late in subbing made me look unprofessional.

ChaosTitan · Dec 30, 2009

dempsey said:
Question from a noob here: Would it hurt to tell the new publisher that you would like a week or two to go over the MS? Is this bad form?

That's a tough one. On one hand, the editor could wonder why on earth you're submitting a query when the manuscript isn't completely polished. On the other hand, the editor could be pleased to know you're taking time to send them your best work possible.

There's no way to know which editor is which.

Raphee · Dec 30, 2009

Tough call.
If I were to gamble, I would take Neuro's advice.

Tan · Dec 31, 2009

Agreed with Shadow.

Revision Based on Feedback?

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