No Such Thing As Perfect
I'm sure many of you, like me, are trying to make your manuscripst as perfect as possible before submitting anywhere. Take a deep breath.
Your perfect manuscript will be changed.
That's right. Most agents suggest revisions and so do most editors. The story you love? The one you've sweated over, tweaked, edited line by line? It will CHANGE. Why? Because there's no such thing as perfect.
Jen posted a link the other day. Check out this guy's revisions.
Strangely enough, this bit of news relieves me. How about you?
*A different Jen is giving away some Joyce Meyer DVDs. Leave a comment to be entered in her contest.*
Your perfect manuscript will be changed.
That's right. Most agents suggest revisions and so do most editors. The story you love? The one you've sweated over, tweaked, edited line by line? It will CHANGE. Why? Because there's no such thing as perfect.
Jen posted a link the other day. Check out this guy's revisions.
Strangely enough, this bit of news relieves me. How about you?
*A different Jen is giving away some Joyce Meyer DVDs. Leave a comment to be entered in her contest.*
Comments
Please say it ain't so. No such thing as perfect??? Heh.
I read somewhere that Tolkien was a raving perfectionist with his books; he even felt like Lord of the Rings was never perfected to the point of publish-worthy. Though we all know better, right?
Anyway, when I got my agent, I knew from the get-go I was going to have to make some changes, because she ran them by me on our phone conversation when she offered representation. And even now, after sending it out to several pubs and getting feedback, I'm starting to see another set of revisions taking form.
So, I don't know that it gives me comfort, per say. It's just part of the biz and I realized it going in so I just deal and roll with the punches, you know?
I haven't reached the point of revisions on my manuscript yet, but I see why knowing your ms will still change would relieve you.
Aprilynne Pike posted a great post about what her editors letter was like and what kind of changes her editor suggested.
Good luck!
But doesn't all the editing ever get tiring to you, too? And how do you decide that it's close enough to perfect to start submitting?
That's the toughest question I have.
I'm hoping if an editor ever likes my story, I won't have to make such drastic changes! But I'm sure there will be a LOT!
*sigh*
But that Perfectionism Bug. She's mighty persuasive...
I discovered that no matter how hard I try there will be changes. Every author has mentioned having to go through their already-contracted manuscript to make revisions.
One person told me it was a good sign when editors make changes. It means they think the material has promise.
Blessings,
Susan :)
That's true about rolling with the punches. This is a career in which we need to stay flexible. Definitely.
btw, I love your stories. When you get the Call, we're going to have a blogging bash! :-)
LOL
Thanks for the link! I'm going to check it out at the kids' naptime.
Well, I'm kind of bad. I do what I can and then I realize I'm going to keep editing and editing if I don't stop. LOL So, I write the story, but usually backedit a bit. That's when I open it up, I'll go back a few pages and reread what I wrote and make adjustments. Then I print up the whole book and go through it with a pen. Then I sit down and reenter changes, but even then there will be more changes. After that, I give the whole manuscript to some trusted writer friends so they can maybe find the big stuff.
You have to remind yourself that you'll never be published if someone doesn't see your manuscript. It has to be sent in eventually.
You're on your fourth. I've no doubt that you have something that could be sent as a synopsis and query. It doesn't matter if the writing is perfect because all Love Inspired wants to know about first is the story.
I hope you'll try something. :-) Do you enter contests? That's a good way to see if your writing is ready. Also, try sending some queries to agents. That will help too. :-)
That's so funny! I wanted to read Whitemeyer's post but didn't have time so I was going to wait.
Yeah, it seems like even if an editor loves something there will still be changes.
Perfectionism is persuasive, that stinker.
I hope so! I don't mind changes if there's a contract. :)
I forgot to mention that I have a crit group. So that's more revisions. But eventually they have to stop. You know?
I do sooooo many (like that I lose count) revisions, and even when I decide something is the final draft, I always have a little mental asterisk after it, because there is always the possibility to come back and change something else.
Revisions stink after awhile. How many times can we redo something? LOL A million. That's why it's great to get an outside view. Oftentimes crit partners find stuff I'd never even noticed.
Hope your writing is going well.
:-)
Other eyes catch things that I would never be able to on my work because I'm too closely tied to it. So I would be happy for something that would make the story flow better.
Of course this is all before I actually get said revisions--I may be saying something else when the editorial letters come. :P
:-)
thanks for this encouragement. I tend to change so much i end up making things worse at times! Arggghhh!
Thanks for the link to my contest; i only have 5 entrants so far...
Jen
Well, hopefully you'll get more now. :-)
Isn't it nice to let go of our controlling nature? *snicker*
How exciting for you! First round of editing, huh? That would be nerve-wracking. I hope you'll let us know how things go. Ease our minds, maybe... :-)
When I read your first line, something wasn't working with my eye and I missed the comma. So I read, "I'm sure many of you like me..." And I thought, Well, Jessica is feeling very self-confident today!
Don't get me wrong. I DO like you!!! *grin*
As to the changes on a manuscript, it can be painful, but I think it leads to a better work. The tricky part is not taking it personally.
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
That is right on the dot! It's NOT personal. Not at all. Writers are a mushy lot but we have to learn to distance ourselves from our work. Great point.
LOL about the comma. Self-confident? I guess that's a nice way to put it...
I know what you mean about it being a relief sometimes to know that your ms will be changed. Even if you don't necessarily like the changes, it'll prolly be for the better.
BTW thanks for checking out my blog...sorry it took me so long to get back to checking out yours!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I think it's very cool that someone as young as you already is getting ready for this business. Good luck!