What Would You Do?

I would probably wait until they got back to me before saying anything. If it is a no, you can say, "May I re-submit after a re-write, as I've had some ideas to improve the manuscript?"

If it's a yes, you can make these suggestions anyway; I'm sure they'd be pleased to hear of any possible improvements you could make to a book they're already interested in.

But I don't think I'd say anything now. That might be seen as pestering them. Wait until you hear back.

Lisamer said:

Recently, my neglected fiction manuscript started re-writing itself. I would find myself literally waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas for the plot. A fairly respectable publisher is currently looking at the full manuscript. The caveat; since I submitted, I came up with some small additions that would turn the book from good to great. Should I resubmit it, or just let it be?

Thanks!

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When I started submitting my first, I had the same type of problem. I had set it aside and worked on other books. I also acquired a mentor and a critique group. After their help, I went at the first story with a vengeance of rewriting and editing. An editor had it, but hadn't been in contact, and I really wanted her to have the new version. I dropped her an email, told her I had a mentor now and that the good story idea now had a good writer, and asked if I could send her the rewrites. She emailed me back an hour later and said, "Sure!" Now I'm waiting... (Three houses have the full, and all I do all day is bite my nails and write.) But I wanted my best work out there.

Don't know if that helps...

Good advice here. I can't think of any better. In your shoes, I'd wait for a bit, finish the edits (but SAVE the old one on my hard drive) and if you haven't heard back, send an email. The worst case scenario is the editor isn't interested in seeing a revision, or the editor likes the one you sent in the first place.

But I agree that you need to NOT pester the editor. Let it be for a bit (2-3 months, unless you hear back earlier.)

Fingers crossed for you then! Good luck!

Lisamer said:

Thanks everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, I could not sleep last night because I was plagued with thoughts about how the most respected publisher of all the houses that are reading my manuscript actually has the worst copy of it. So, at 3:00am, I wrote a self-effacing and somewhat humorous email saying that I realize that this is an absolute faux pas, but I probably will not sleep until I send this out. I just received an email from the editor saying that he believed that this was a good idea, and that it was okay to "break the rules." WHEW!

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All right!! Proud of you for having the guts to try!
I know EXACTLY what you mean about the no sleep worrying they weren't seeing your best work. That's what prompted me to approach my editor as well.
Fingers crossed for you!!