Revision-Resubmission Advice

Pisarz

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I have a very newbie question here and would greatly appreciate the advice of more experienced writers.

I've had four requests for a partial within the past month. Agents #1 and #2 have since rejected me with similar feedback about my protagonist. So, I have made revisions with this in mind and I believe the manuscript is better now. The good news is, I was able to submit to Agent #4 the newly revised version. The bad news is, Agent #3 has the "old" version, which I fear may be rejected.

Agent #3 asked for two months and only one has passed, so my guess (and hope) is that she hasn't looked at my partial yet. I'm thinking of emailing her to offer her the "newly revised" verison in the event that she hasn't read the old one. I don't want to appear unprofessional or insecure, but I also don't want to blow my opportunity with her based on a not-as-good partial.

So, what should I do? Would offering a revised version before she looks at the partial be a major faux pas or perfectly normal?
 

kristie911

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Personally I would wait and allow the agent to finish reading the original partial. Wait and see what they have to say about it...I'm afraid if you sent a new partial the agent might wonder if you're just another "flaky" writer. You're supposed to only send out your best work. If she rejects you, then you can ask if she would like to see an updated version of it.

However, Orion has a good point. What would it hurt to e-mail her and ask?

I guess that wasn't very good advice! Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!
 

Pisarz

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Thanks!

To clarify: She's only looking at the first 50 pages and that's where the revisions are. Subsequent revisions are minor (word changes, etc).

I AM afraid of sounding "flaky"--even by emailing and asking her if it's OK to do that. I guess I just want to maximize my options. I don't know what the bigger turn-off would be--submitting revisions or having her read the original, in which she might not "connect" with the protagonist (which was the comment the others made). Decisions, decisions.
 

ORION

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With your revisions being in the first 50 pages they sound relativly minor. You got feedback from a partial from the other two agents which in fact may be a stock reply "MC was unsympathetic" etc. which, while it may be true, may not be a deal breaker for another agent.
It may be better to move on and query other agents with your new and improved partial/first pages.
I was in agony while my agent was reading my full as I edited again and made some what I thought were major changes. But it was only in my writerly mind. She said don't sweat the tweaking. After she offered representation she worked with me through things that she thought would improve my novel. They were all relatively minor.
My point is...if an agent falls in love with your story they will see through these minor tweaks. If they don't love it -it could be perfectly wonderfully written and they still wouldn't bite.
JMHO
 

DeadlyAccurate

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I've been wondering this question myself, only the changes were to the full manuscript. I have an agent reading the "old" full, but I've since revised the ending at the suggestion of another agent. I'm wondering if I should email the agent who hasn't yet responded and see if she would like the "new" version instead. Oh, and it's worth noting that the changes were at the suggestion of another agent.

(If you'd rather I start a new thread on this, Pisarz, I'll gladly do so.)
 

ORION

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Deadly-
This is what I agonized over. Bottom line no rewrite is going to "make" the agent love your book. I had a long conversation about this with my agent. What we writers think of as major, the agents call tweaking. That precludes any obvious grammar/syntax/spelling issues. Keep that full in the background and wait for what the agent says. If she passes and tells you her reservations and encourages you to resubmit then by all means make another pass over your manuscript including your new edits and send it.
If you still have other agents on your list then keep making passes through your manuscript including changes YOU feel would improve your book and query them. I can tell you that out of 15 agents three bypassed my partial and asked for the full, three asked for partials and one of those that had a partial said she had problems with the structure of the novel and suggested MAJOR changes, two others with the fulls both loved it as is and offered representation. My point is EVERYBODY has their opinion. Only YOU know your vision for your novel.
IMHO beta readers at this point in a manuscript give the most useful information.
Good Luck,
(what ever you do - do NOT bug agents when they have the full...my agent called before she offered representation basically to see if I was normal or nuts...a week later she called to offer representation...)
 
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DeadlyAccurate

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That's what I was thinking, ORION. I want her to have the best book possible, but of course, that's never going to exist. So I'll just keep plugging away and sending queries until I run out of agents and continue to write more books in the meantime.
 

Pisarz

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Interesting stuff, guys. Thanks for the input. Both of your experiences offer perspectives that I wouldn't have derived on my own.

You guys mention the possibility of agents allowing resubmissions, which seems like a conditional rejection (which leaves the door open for making revisions) rather than an absolute one (which slams the door shut). How common is it for an agent to allow the former?
 

ORION

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I don't know how common it is but when I was first querying with another project several agents communicated that they would like to see other projects but were ultimately not interested in my current one. What happened to one of my author friends is her agent worked with her (editing her manuscript) for quite a while before submitting to publishers.
I think what many agents are afraid of is signing a writer who would not be able to make the necessary revisions competently and quickly enough and that is why they will allow resubmissions...most likely to see how fast and how well you can do them. If they feel the work is really close though - they sign you.
I hope this helps