Show me the Money...

Star · Jun 7, 2007

Greetings Fellow Writers,

Has anyone ever been in the following situation:

Two or more editors are willing to look at a revised verison of your novel. However, they're not willing to make an offer unless their suggestions for revision has been satisfied. Both editors are asking for "more" in different areas of the work, and some of their wants isn't really the focus of what you're trying to accomplish.

Here's the thing:
I'm totally willing and in the process of revising my novel. But I find myself forcing certain issues trying to please both editors from different houses who haven't offered me a single dime. No fault of their own, of course. I just don't know how to handle this effectively without losing the integrity of my novel.

Anyone share my angst? Any suggestions? A sliver of light?

veinglory · Jun 7, 2007

Both editors take simultaneous submissions?

It seems to me that if they are from good presses, pick one and do what they want. By trying to please both conflicting requests you might please neither and end up back at square one.

priceless1 · Jun 7, 2007

Hi Star,
It's hard to offer an opinion without having all the facts. But it sounds as though these editors want the manuscript to be perfect before they offer a contract, and this ain't how it's done. You shouldn't be making these kinds of edits without a contract because there's no guarantee they'll like the finished product, and here you'll have wasted all your time. They need to put their contracts where their mouth is. Either they like it or they don't. Either they see potential or they don't. To make you jump through so many hoops without any guarantees isn't right.

Susan Gable · Jun 7, 2007

priceless1 said:
Hi Star,
It's hard to offer an opinion without having all the facts. But it sounds as though these editors want the manuscript to be perfect before they offer a contract, and this ain't how it's done. You shouldn't be making these kinds of edits without a contract because there's no guarantee they'll like the finished product, and here you'll have wasted all your time. They need to put their contracts where their mouth is. Either they like it or they don't. Either they see potential or they don't. To make you jump through so many hoops without any guarantees isn't right.

Ummmm...in a perfect world, that might be so. Perhaps if we could know the publishers? Because I do know, for example, that Harlequin editors have been known to ask unpubbed authors to do revisions "on spec" sometimes more than once, and then have gone on to buy the book. Of course, sometimes the revisions don't work out the way the ed hopes, and the book doesn't get bought.

Only you can decide if it's worth the risk or not. But...it does happen that an editor buys a book after some spec revisions.

Susan G.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 7, 2007

Pick one editor. Work with that editor.

Del · Jun 7, 2007

Unless the two editors have requested conflicting changes I would try to appease them both and send the same revision to both. As for compromising the integrity of your manuscript, without exception, I've heard writers say that in the end the book was better for the changes.

I wish a professional would advise me in the changes my manuscript needs. As for wasting time on changes, it seems to me you have a fish on the line. The waste would be to yank the hook from the water only to throw it in again elsewhere.

Star · Jun 8, 2007

Thanks for all of your feedback. The thing is, I have an agent (who is top-notch I might add)! He has advised me to revise. I guess I wasn't clear the first time (as usual). My main concern is if you've ever had to satisfy two different tastes for the same book.

veinglory · Jun 8, 2007

I am a bit confused. Yes, editors often ask for revision and resubmission. But I cannot see a good reason to be 'seeing' two editors at the same time. Inevitably you will cater less well to either by trying to please both. If they both then accept it one of them is likely to be extremely unhappy unless you have made them aware of each other, as I expect any decent agent would.

IMHO, pick one.

Star · Jun 8, 2007

Thanks Veinglory,

The editors knew this was a multiple submission, so they're telling us what they'd want to see in order to make an offer. Problem lies on the creative front. I feel like I'm just throwing stuff in to satisfy both tastes. I guess no one else has experienced this, so I'll just put on my thinking cap and grind away.

Thanks to all.
Good day

Namatu · Jun 8, 2007

Star said:
I feel like I'm just throwing stuff in to satisfy both tastes.

You are. They each have specific things that they look for and want out of a project. They see potential in yours, but want to see if you can add what they see as missing. If the two visions of these editors do not mesh, then consider doing two separate revisions. Consider the fact that the revisions requested by Editor 1 may not be what Editor 2 wants, and if you submit a revised work to Ed 2 with 1's wishes in it, Ed 2 may be turned off - you're doing more than Ed 2 asked for, possibly in areas that Ed 2 thought were fabulous as is. It could be a can of worms.

It's great to have two editors considering your work, but putting the revisions requested by each into one manuscript version could open up a can of worms.

justpat · Jun 9, 2007

If you try to please them both, you may end up ruining your chances with both of them. Pick the most promising one and go for it.

RLSMiller · Jun 9, 2007

I would ask them how much dough they plan to cough up, and choose from there.

(please don't take me seriously!) :snoopy:

priceless1 · Jun 9, 2007

Susan Gable said:
Ummmm...in a perfect world, that might be so. Perhaps if we could know the publishers? Because I do know, for example, that Harlequin editors have been known to ask unpubbed authors to do revisions "on spec" sometimes more than once, and then have gone on to buy the book. Of course, sometimes the revisions don't work out the way the ed hopes, and the book doesn't get bought.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that my opinions come from the perspective of an independent publisher, and we sometimes work differently. My main point was that it would help to know who the publishers are in this case, as it would influence everyone's advice.

lkp · Jun 9, 2007

Given that this is such a slooooow business, I would be tempted to take the suggestions from the editor who seems the most sensible (let's call her editor A), and revise the book according to those. Once that is done, send it off to editor A, and then revise the book according to what editor B wants.

It's also possible, since you seem to like neither set of suggestions, that whil their solutions might not be your cup of tea, the problems they are meant to address in your book are real. Do their changes address the same set of issues, albeit differently? Even if they don't, you might be able to tell editors A and B that you don't agree with their solutions but, look, you've come up with an even better way to address their problems with the novel.

NiennaC · Jun 9, 2007

I've never been in this situation, but I agree with previous posts. Pick one, work with that one.

I know that Rowling mentioned in an interview once that she fought for a scene in her book that an editor wanted to cut, she made a good argument for why it needed to be there and it was kept. (not sure if that helps but I thought I'd mention it.) Perhaps you could do the same? Not sure how you'd approach an editor about it, but your agent would probably know.

If they're not just asking you to change a scene and they want you to chance the whole meaning/overall theme, then I don't know what I'd do. Probably try, once again (like above) to talk about it. (but since I've never gotten to this stage I don't know how you go about discussing things like this with an editor, I just know that authors do.)

Star · Jun 11, 2007

Thanks guys.

All of your suggestions were helpful, including, "How much ya gonna' pay me?" LOL

I've decided to incorporate most of their feedback. (Believe it or not, even the feedback of those who rejected my work.) Since I've been working on this book for so darn long, it wasn't as hard as I thought.

The main reason I was stuck was because my mind was closed. So if I could help anyone here with the following advice, I'd be ever so happy:

Open your mind. Revise. Revise. And Never, NEVER give up. I'll keep you posted.

Smooches to all.

Anonymisty · Jun 11, 2007

Susan Gable said:
But...it does happen that an editor buys a book after some spec revisions.

Indeed it does - I revised mine twice for Tor before they made me an offer.

Show me the Money...

Star

So cool I am

veinglory

volitare nequeo

priceless1

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Star

So cool I am

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Star

So cool I am

Namatu

Lost in mental space.

justpat

QueryTracker

RLSMiller

priceless1

lkp

NiennaC

Star

So cool I am

Anonymisty