Can I revise AFTER my agent has submitted?!

Paranormal_Writer · Jul 7, 2010

I read through my manuscript today after a month of not looking at it. A lot of things jumped out at me in the first few chapters that I am not happy with... like paragraphs where the writing is messy and I have used the same word four times in two sentences! Also sentences that don't need to be there. Nothing plot wise... just small little 'niggles' that could put a publisher off.
I'm not sure why I have never noticed these things before... probably because most of the mistakes crept in during my revisions for my agent, so this is the first time I've read it with 'fresh' eyes and there are a few things I would like to change. (She began submitting a month ago).

My question is would it be OK to email my agent and tell her I would like to make a few changes before we submit to the next batch of publishers? Or is this likely to annoy her?

cate townsend · Jul 7, 2010

If it's just cleaning up a few paragraphs, taking out some unnecessary words, or what you'd call "cosmetic" changes, go ahead and implement them. And there's nothing wrong with a short email to your agent explaining what you did. But, if your book interests a publisher, they aren't going to be put off by those small "niggles" you mention--it's not likely to be a deal breaker. You'll be working with your editor on revisions, anyway.

The unfortunate thing is, you'll always find stuff you want to change after not reading your material for a while. I've seen posts on here by writers who refuse to read their work once it's been published. Let us know how it goes.

heyjude · Jul 7, 2010

Paranormal_Writer said:
My question is would it be OK to email my agent and tell her I would like to make a few changes before we submit to the next batch of publishers? Or is this likely to annoy her?

Yes. It doesn't hurt to ask.

We made changes in between subs, and I discovered one horrifying typo just before it went out again. I emailed my agent and he made the change himself. No problem.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 7, 2010

I'd ask, but if the writing could be better, you should make it better. It's often the little things, particularly in the first chapter or three, that cause many rejections.

Danthia · Jul 7, 2010

Go ahead and change them, because even if you sell, you'll be doing revisions anyway. And ask your agent about it. They may say send the new file, or they may say wait. If no one has requested the full yet, swapping it out would be easy. If editors already have it, the agent isn't likely to send a new file now.

Bealeblast · Jul 7, 2010

major surgery

I had six months go by between sub 1 and 2 which began 10 days ago. In-between agent (really two agency staff) and I edited proposal and chapters and we decided more of the book (a prescriptive memoir) had to go out so now it's 5 chapters instead of 3. So I guess you'd call my situation a major surgery between subs. The changes were based on editor feedback (more of something) which is the way it's supposed to work...even if the drawn out waiting game is crazy-making, it makes sense.

scope · Jul 7, 2010

Danthia said:
Go ahead and change them, because even if you sell, you'll be doing revisions anyway. And ask your agent about it. They may say send the new file, or they may say wait. If no one has requested the full yet, swapping it out would be easy. If editors already have it, the agent isn't likely to send a new file now.

Although I agree with Danthia, I think someone has to take you to task.
If the errors in your manuscript are as bad as you make them sound, you have no excuse for sending the work as is to your agent. Of course we all find places where we could have improved our "completed" work, that's understandable, but not to the extent you describe. You are talking about obvious--make that glaring--errors. As for the agent, I can't understand why she would accept same and submit it to publishers--assuming she has.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 7, 2010

scope said:
Although I agree with Danthia, I think someone has to take you to task.
If the errors in your manuscript are as bad as you make them sound, you have no excuse for sending the work as is to your agent. Of course we all find places where we could have improved our "completed" work, that's understandable, but not to the extent you describe. You are talking about obvious--make that glaring--errors. As for the agent, I can't understand why she would accept same and submit it to publishers--assuming she has.

probably because most of the mistakes crept in during my revisions for my agent

Just one more reason why I think doing revision for an agent is a bad idea. If an agent could write, this wouldn't happen. If an agent can't write, she shouldn't try to help a writer do what he already does better than she ever will.

Ryan_Sullivan · Jul 7, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
probably because most of the mistakes crept in during my revisions for my agent

Just one more reason why I think doing revision for an agent is a bad idea. If an agent could write, this wouldn't happen. If an agent can't write, she shouldn't try to help a writer do what he already does better than she ever will.

You don't have to write to be a good reader.

Paranormal_Writer · Jul 8, 2010

scope said:
Although I agree with Danthia, I think someone has to take you to task.
If the errors in your manuscript are as bad as you make them sound, you have no excuse for sending the work as is to your agent. Of course we all find places where we could have improved our "completed" work, that's understandable, but not to the extent you describe. You are talking about obvious--make that glaring--errors. As for the agent, I can't understand why she would accept same and submit it to publishers--assuming she has.

They aren’t that bad... like I said, they are small 'niggles'. There aren’t any spelling/grammar mistakes but there is a paragraph where I have used the word 'walls' four times in two sentences because I re-wrote it in the revisions. I cringed when I read this, knowing that it could have been put right so easily and I had missed it.

The only other thing I found was a line of dialogue that should have been cut. Maybe I am just worrying over nothing. I know my agent read it through a few times before we sent it out and also had two reports done on it but I can't help but worry. I don't think I'll read it again until we get some comments/rejections from editors. I will end up driving myself crazy if I do!

Giant Baby · Jul 8, 2010

Paranormal_Writer said:
They aren’t that bad... like I said, they are small 'niggles'. There aren’t any spelling/grammar mistakes but there is a paragraph where I have used the word 'walls' four times in two sentences because I re-wrote it in the revisions. I cringed when I read this, knowing that it could have been put right so easily and I had missed it.

The only other thing I found was a line of dialogue that should have been cut. Maybe I am just worrying over nothing. I know my agent read it through a few times before we sent it out and also had two reports done on it but I can't help but worry. I don't think I'll read it again until we get some comments/rejections from editors. I will end up driving myself crazy if I do!

Stop reading it! It's on submission, and you can make yourself nuts with that. Work on something else. If you sell, you'll get to fix all that and more long before it's published, and the sorts of things you're describing shouldn't change an editor's opinion. Especially if they didn't jump out at your agent.

Back away from the book.

scope · Jul 8, 2010

Glad you explained. It's certainly not as bad as I first thought. Assuming (which I do) you have a good story I really don't think an editor would back away from it because of these minor errors. I think she would just red pencil them for revision. Try not to worry and just move on.

Good luck.

Paranormal_Writer · Jul 8, 2010

OK thanks everyone for setting my mind at rest. I'm a massive worrier and very impatient too - not great traits for an aspiring author, but hey, I’m just going to have to overcome them If I want to reach my dream of getting published. Thanks guys

Can I revise AFTER my agent has submitted?!

Paranormal_Writer

Nearly always write!

cate townsend

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

Jamesaritchie

Danthia

Bealeblast

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Jamesaritchie

Ryan_Sullivan

Agented YA Writer

Paranormal_Writer

Nearly always write!

Giant Baby

Oh, the humanity.

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Paranormal_Writer

Nearly always write!