So I worked my booty off yesterday and revised the rest of my manuscript. It now has 5,000 extra words that I think make the book oh so much better!
This was rewrite #3. The second came right before I started to query as even I thought it could be better than it was. Third time's the charm, right?
I love the beginning now. It's much more eye catching, and the ending, wow! What an improvement! I took the advice the literary agent gave me, but there is one things I didn't change because I do like it the way it is, and I know tastes vary. Was it a mistake? I don't know, I guess I'll find out if another agent says the same.
I think (but what do I know? Seriously.), if you are in love with the way you have written something and you absolutely don't want to change it, then don't. It's your book, your work, but you need to be open to revisions. I've known people who have been trying to get their book published and have been told they need to add another character to the story and they just laughed and said, "Yeah not happening!" and went onto the next until they found someone who liked it for what they wrote (though some never did). I know others who rewrote after receiving suggestions and landed that agent. I guess in the end, it's your call.
That's not to be confused with being stubborn and not feeling like rewriting, mind you. Take the criticism, truly think about it, and see if it will really help meat up your book. I wasn't going to change anything but when I really looked it over, I realized, "Hmmm this actually could help!"
I did go to Barnes and Noble over the weekend and check out the YA section, just to see how other books were matching up to what this agent suggested I do with mine. The truth? More than half did not have what she suggested. So you see? Tastes vary!
I'm sitting here coughing like a ninety year old chain smoker. I think it's time for more Dayquil and to get back to work. I'm going to look over my revisions one more time and make sure it wasn't just the cold medicine talking.
Without knowing the specifics of what was suggested and why you didn't want to change something, I could neither agree nor disagree with your philosophy. First, anything you write is yours. It's your passion. It's your art. You never need to change anything. Unless and until you want to have that something published. And then the balancing act begins.
ReplyDeleteBoth myself and another writer friend of mine went through a very similar process in attaining our agents. After the partial, and then the full, we were asked if we were open to some suggestions and a rewrite. Each of us said yes and it wasn't until at least two more rewritten editions that we were offered representation. And that's with two very different agents.
Being flexible is key. Except when it is not. Thus the conundrum. LOL
"Being flexible is key. Except when it is not."
ReplyDeleteLol so true!
I completely agree with you! The thing that bothers me right now is they suggest revisions AFTER the reject you and it doesn't matter what they think anymore! I mean, it does, but not with them! ACK!
For my book, it was just something minor that would have made sense later on. One of those things where you would have went, "OOOHHHH that's why that happened!" But she didn't have that page (It was only five pages away! But she only wanted the first 50).
I am such a noob at this (lol) and still learning everything. Thanks for your input, it's appreciated! :-)