In resubmission meltdown.

cspradbery · May 13, 2010

OK.

So five or six weeks ago an agent asked me to rework my manuscript. I have spent that time working my butt off, and now have the finished product (bar a final edit).

I am too terrified to send it back! It wasn't like when I sent out the original manuscript - it was my first attempt at a novel, I thought I would have a punt and see if anyone took a bite. Now I have an agent who wants the damn thing, but ONLY IF I GET IT RIGHT! If she rejects it, I'll know I was so close, that it was within my grasp. Hell, I can almost taste that contract now...

I worked and re-worked this thing, chopped it up, pieced it back together, hacked it apart again... But when do I know it's right? Surely I should know? Or is it like a painting - maybe just one more brush stroke?

I made perhaps 75% of the changes she suggested, and I reckon it is close to 50% new material, and 10k longer. I didn't change two major parts that she suggested I look at - they were things that defined my book, so I tried to create a better way of delivering those aspects rather than cutting them altogether. Now I'm second guessing myself.

*Sigh.*

Any help/suggestions/telling me to snap out of it would be good right now.

Carla

JanDarby · May 13, 2010

Sometimes you just need to pick a random deadline and send it in. It may not be perfect -- nothing ever is -- but as long as you can say that it's the best you can do at your current level of expertise, then pick a date and just send it.

JD, who has a problem with letting go of her manuscripts, and feels your angst.

MoonStone · May 13, 2010

w00t! That is awesome!

Just remember that if you send it in you have a chance. If you don't, you never will. And what could be worse than never? At least with your new version you can also send it to other agents. I would go for it.

GL

dgrintalis · May 13, 2010

Take a deep breath and send it back.

cate townsend · May 13, 2010

Send it! Then make yourself a strong drink.

Danthia · May 14, 2010

Breathe and send it out. In the end, no matter what happens, it's a better book because of your work. If this agent passes (and hopefully she won't!) then you have a better book to submit to the next agent.

scope · May 14, 2010

You know what you have to do -- send it, send it now, send it today. You have done as much as you can do and it doesn't sound like there's any way you can make it better, which it may not need to be. And bear in mind that at times we are our own worst enemies. You might nit pic and nit pic and wind up making it worse.

Good luck.

kaitie · May 15, 2010

My first thought is if it's that close for a first novel, just send it and try not to worry about it. Even if this one doesn't make it, the next one will be even better. Work on it while you're waiting. A lot of people spend years and write multiple novels before they get interest (lol uh...yours truly included), so the fact that you're doing this well is a great sign.

Good luck!

cspradbery · May 17, 2010

Thanks guys. I have set a deadline - this week is for revisions and on Friday I hit the send button. Eek!

In resubmission meltdown.

cspradbery

Best before 1998

JanDarby

MoonStone

in touch

dgrintalis

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

cate townsend

Danthia

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

kaitie

With great power comes

cspradbery

Best before 1998