A good problem to have

Usually, I look to see how deep I am into The Next Project. That's how I detemine. If I put my mind to it, I can always come up with new scenes for my past book, new ways of of writing certain scenes, new things that could make it different and bigger and maybe better.

But the thing is, it doesn't always need to be different, bigger, better. Eventually, what it needs to be is static.

So if I'm a ways into my next project, and I'm past the fiddling stage (where I might write five or six pages and then stop because I'm approaching it wrong, or I haven't thought it through enough) then genreally, I won't make the changes. At that point, I'll fix spelling and grammar errors and make myself more clear, but I won't add or change any scenes.

That's me, anyway.

I've cut several scenes that I absolutely loved because I knew in my heart they didn't belong. Much later, I realized the work was better without it. The only reason the scenes had been in the novel in the first place was because I liked the writing. To me, the story should be more important than the writing, given that the writing is decent.

Sometimes when you do a major revision, great scenes from your previous incarnation no longer work in the overall arc of the story. Cutting what you know to be some of your very best work is agonizing, but sometimes it's got to be done. I speak from experience.

But it also comes down to how much you trust your agent. Many agents started out in life as editors and know what they're doing. At the very least, they understand what type of problems might cause an editor to pass, even if the average reader wouldn't have a problem with it. Remember, if an editor won't buy it, you're not going to have any readers.

If you're positive she is dead wrong, dig in your heels. If you honestly feel her suggestions will ruin your book, dig in your heels. But if her previous suggestions were right on, you might want to seriously consider following her advice. Given some time and perspective, you might even eventually come to agree with those changes.

Agent

If I think the agent is right, I do what she aks. If I think she's wrong, I politely say no. If the editor she sends it to agrees with the agent, then I usually make the changes.

I'd go with the ones I agreed with first, then reevaluate the story and see if the ones I didn't agree with originally work or not. Story is paramount, imo.

Your idea to try out some of the ideas is a good one - with, as you mentioned, lots of backups.

Amethyst said:

I'd go with the ones I agreed with first, then reevaluate the story and see if the ones I didn't agree with originally work or not.

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Excellent advice. Also, you can save a draft of your story and then make a new copy and try revisions you are unsure of. Then, if you hate it, you can go back to the old one.

I did that before my last big revision and in the end I never opened that original file again. I surprised myself by how well some of my cuts went. You may surprise yourself too.

Maprilynne

If my agent asks me to make a change, if I like it I make it. Now if my publisher asks for a change I make it.

johnzakour said:

If my agent asks me to make a change, if I like it I make it. Now if my publisher asks for a change I make it.

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I think you and JAR, being established authors, have more of a sense as to what is right and wrong in your work. Also, more clout than an unpublished writer might have. If you were trying to publish your first work, would you ignore your agent's suggestions if you didn't agree with them?

In her editorial letter my editor said that she finds if the author makes 75% of the changes then the other 25% do not end up mattering. At some point you need to feel good about your book. Careful of changing something that your agent hasn't mentioned - they may prefer it that way.
JMHO

rugcat said:

I think you and JAR, being established authors, have more of a sense as to what is right and wrong in your work. Also, more clout than an unpublished writer might have. If you were trying to publish your first work, would you ignore your agent's suggestions if you didn't agree with them?

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Good point. If I was trying to publish my first work I would most likely do what my agent suggested. He does know his stuff.

rugcat said:

I think you and JAR, being established authors, have more of a sense as to what is right and wrong in your work. Also, more clout than an unpublished writer might have. If you were trying to publish your first work, would you ignore your agent's suggestions if you didn't agree with them?

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I never ignore an agent's suggestions. I evaluate them carefully, and always take them seriously. I'm not at all sure you need clout to avoid going along with an agent. What you usually need is a talk session. Your agent should be willing to get on the phone with you in order to discuss changes in depth.

Don't just say, "No, I'm not going to do this." Explain why you think it's not a good idea for your book, and then listen to why she thinks it is.

But you make an excellent point. It's been a long, long time since an agent said I should make a change, and no agent has ever said I had to make a change. At the very most, my current agent will ask, "Have you considered doing this or that?" And when this happens, it's a marketability question, not a criticism of my writing.

I've always been more inclined to trust an editor's opinion than an agent's opinion, but that's just me.

The only thing I can really say is that it's your book, and in the end, you have to be happy with it. I think you're doing the right thing by making the changes in a new file. I think it's a smart move. Once the changes are made, you can read the book as a whole, and come to a better conclusion than you possibly can beforehand.

Jamesaritchie said:

I've always been more inclined to trust an editor's opinion than an agent's opinion, but that's just me.

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I concur. But it depends on the agent. Mine spent quite a few years as a respected book editor in my genre before turning to agenting, and the suggestions offered have proved invaluable. I've spoken to other agents whose opinions about what works in writing have been less than persuasive.

I think its one of those things you just have to walk away from knowing that it will never be perfect and that you will always want to change some aspect about the story you might think will improve it.