Re-writing prior to publication?

Well, there's a certain degree of back and forth with an editor once your book is accepted for publication, and there could be an opportunity to add more of the kinds of details you describe (at least if the editor agreed that those details would add to the story). That said, I don't think I would plan on doing this. There are way too many "ifs" (including "if you get an advance large enough to finance a trip to Indonesia"). If you truly don't think you have your setting down, then I think you need to find a setting you can describe with full confidence.

I second what Brooklyn said. The odds of getting an advance big enough to finance such a trip are slim and if the setting in your book is believable enough to get you a publisher, you likely don't need the extra details.

Beth

You do usually have the chance to do some rewriting and editing prior to publication, but this should never be an excuse to submit a novel that isn't already as dead on perfect as you can possibly make it.

I'd say there edefinitely will no be a chance to travel there between sale date and editing date. If you want to go to Indonesia, do it before you submit the novel, not after.

And, really, if the parts in your book about Indonesia are woefully lacking, you aren't going to sell ther book, anway, and if they're fine as is, you don't need the trip to Indonesia.

Chance to edit before publication? Absolutely.

Count on a chance to fly to Indonesia to check all your details before publication? Don't.

If your book is accepted for publication then there will be re-writes. But they will be publisher driven.

I've heard this 'i need to travel to xyz to research my novel.' no you don't. While it would be nice to do that, it's not essential. Your publisher isn't goign to care if you've been to indonesia, so long as you can convince your reader that you have. And unless you are writing a travel guide, chances are, no one is even going to care.

I write alot of sci-fi, but I can't see me taking a trip to the moon any time soon.

As another poster said, chances of getting an advance high enough to cover a trip like that are slim.

Also, if you said to your publisher 'here's my book. no pay me so I can go and research it some more' you're not going to get a good reaction.

My advice is don't sweat it. Do as much research as you can within your means, but if the editor buys it, then you're doing something right.

LOL you have some LOFTY freaking goals!

Phyllo said:

Not to put the cart before the horse but ... assuming my novel is accepted for publication, would the publisher/editor frown upon addition of new material to the manuscript? I'm not talking about reams of stuff (new scenes etc.), more like punching up details in descriptions.

Click to expand...

Frown on it? It's all but expected that you'll do a lot of work once you get editorial input.

I just got back from Indonesia. Trust me, go down to the local Buddhist temple in Toronto then picture that inside a sauna and your descriptions will be accurate enough.

Yeah, even the most polished book will still get the once-over (or thrice-over) by the editor before publication. If she doesn't specifically suggest punching up the details here and there, you can bring that up with her.

Funny you should say that -- I just had to punch up details for my agent. This is the third time I've reworked the book, and we're not even on submission yet. I anticipate many more opportunities to work in anything I might feel needs adding (or subtracting) before a galley appears in my life.

It's a long process. You'll have opportunities.

But you are HIGHLY unlikely to get an advance large enough to travel anywhere but to the grocery store. Most advances for first-time novels are $5,000 - $20,000. If you need to know more about Indonesia, make friends with some folks who live there and ask them a lot of good questions.

Make your book as perfect as you can -- but expect a revision letter or two once your book gets picked up. There will be plenty of time to revise, etc., so that the book's even more perfect.

Well, you usually will be asked to edit and revise, though I've never been asked for an actual revision, but "plenty of time" is often another matter entirely. Time is there, but it's often tight, and everything is done on a deadline, once the book sells.

I'm all for on location research. You see, hear, smell, taste, and touch things that no amount of online research or book research allows. But such research needs to be done before the book is written and sold, not after.

But the main thing is that the book is either ready to sell, or it isn't. If it is, you don't need a trip to Indonesia. If it isn't, you'll have all the time in the world to make such a trip before the book actually does sell.