When I signed on with my agent, she had several suggestions for The Great Lenore (7 days until March 1, by the way, when The Great Lenore will be available for pre-order). Some suggestions were small. Other suggestions were much bigger. As I have mentioned on here before, her suggestions included that I remove one particular character from the manuscript entirely. At first, I fought her on this. But you know what? - she was right.
When my agent and I parted ways and I started querying again, I had 27 agents who requested my manuscript. Pretty quickly, these agents began to return. "I liked this, but I would consider changing that." And another agent would say, "I liked that, but I would consider changing this." But wait - you two said contradictory things...
So what did I do? I listed all the changes every agent suggested, and I tried to discern: why were the agents suggesting certain changes? What was at the root of these suggestions?
When I went through the editing process with my publisher, he commended me for having such a clean manuscript for them. And still, the team up there had a few suggestions. Most of these suggestions were minor, but many of these minor suggestions made as big a difference as anything I had done up to that point.
As I work on Blue The Person each day, I become more and more thrilled with it. I find that it is so darn difficult to hold it inside and not spill pieces of it out for the world right away. And oftentimes, I think: There is no way anyone will be able to suggest any major changes for this manuscript! And at the same time, I know that I am absolutely wrong.
Dear Aspiring Author, when you reach the early stages of the publication process, remember this post. Understand that there are people out there with suggestions you never would have thought of yourself. You have finished writing and you have finished (the bulk of) your own portion of the editing. Now, the door is open...and since it is open, you may as well let people in.
People know things.
Trust them.
Other Places Where I Hang Out:
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(Download A Delicious Sample Of The Great Lenore,
Available For Pre-Order Tuesday March 1, 2011)
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When I queried my last ms. I had 7 different agents offer 7 different reasons why they didn't like it, and it drove me crazy. If they were all the same, or 4 were the same I would have changed what they suggested. IF one of the agents had offered representation I would have made all the changes they suggested. But until I get to that stage where they think they can sell it, then I will keep my ms. the way it is. Unless I decide to change it. Which I will.
ReplyDeleteEven though this is counter-intuitive, it is completely true. And excellent advice.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the very same advice come from several other sources. I'm seeing a pattern!
ReplyDeleteThanks!