They loved your book enough to buy it. They love your book enough to change it…and send you the news via some type of memo.
But you love it like it is!
After (a) rants (b) soulmate chat(s) (c) agent appointment(s) (d) all of the above, you realize that submission is the song you must play unless (a) you are a veteran writer and have loads of pull and savvy, (b) your agent has another plan (c) you want to sever industry ties you worked so hard to make.
What next?
Let the ideas in the memo ferment, like yogurt, wine, cheese. Free write or brainstorm suggested changes with a critique partner or reader friend.
During this unsettling time, put a lock on your tongue (James 3:1-12). Publishers, editors, agents, and fellow writers shy away from whiny writers…whiny people (Don’t you?)
If it’s okay with your agent, schedule a chat with the editor(s), who are usually great writers and by now have a sense of the novel’s structure (or lack thereof.) Try to avoid thinking of the publisher as “the enemy.” They want this book to do as well as you do!
Don’t be afraid to ask the editor to jot down suggested scenes if you do not understand the changes requested. Kregel’s Dawn Anderson requested that I employ a prologue in An Irishwoman’s Tale to hint at the dark secret that had consumed poor Mary for years. Dawn wanted the prologue to draw from a real-time scene in Chapter 4.
Dawn’s request stymied me, mainly because at that point, I struggled to see “outside the pages of my book.” With trepidation, I asked her to write a few lines as a guideline. It was brilliant…and appears in the book today!
Search writing books, articles, and blogs for issues related to rewriting and editing, word searching the particular “issue” dealt with in your memo. I’ll bet you find something pertinent to your problem. Solomon’s words, “There is nothing new under the sun,” resonate with me more and more each day!
Last, but most importantly, bury yourself in scripture, particularly verses like Romans 12:2: ”
Awesome post Patti! Revision excites me a lot. I love those verses you posted. It’s great to hear about why there was that repeat scene. I wondered about it. This is really good info and advice.
Jessica, I’m glad YOU like revisions. I like “edits” but not “rethinking,” mainly because my brain struggles to switch gears!
Love blogging with you!
Patti
You are grounded in God- his Son, his word, his spirit. Take a slow, deep breath and remember why you write.
And remember this: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Are you called to his purpose? Do you love him? Then things will work out, my Friend.
I’m not as scared of that as I am about other things in publishing.
Holding your tongue is such great advice for anytime. That’s something I really try to practice because easy words come at a huge cost. I try to only vent to a select few.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Patti,
Thanks for visiting Catbird Scout. I’m happy to discover your blog and enjoyed reading about your revision journey. I look forward to hearing more.
Blessings,
Deb
That’s so great! I love that Colossians verse to have not only for edits but household work, too!
Have a great weekend!
I’ll be honest, my first and second go through, I somewhat dreaded the hacking away, but the last couple times I made edits, I was enjoying it so much I cried.
Love how you set up these posts.
~ Wendy
You always give me something to think about, thank you! The process excites and sobers me. I don’t know that I am scared of it as much as nervous about getting it right. Maybe that’s scared in disguise? Once I finish my dance of procrastination and get to it, it usually falls into place. Oh me of little faith! God has never failed to guide me. Great post, thanks for sharing it.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings to all,
Karen
Hi Patti -
Thanks for de-mystifying the process through words and pictures. I handle situations better when I know what I’m facing. The unknown can conjure all sorts of lurid pictures that have no basis in reality.
Blessings,
Susan
Journaling woman, we are on the same pages!!! LOVE it!
Kristen, LOVE the book of James for the practical, timely advice. I can just envision you as a young lady adept at holding that tongue! Blessings!
Deb, it’s WONDERFUL to find a new bloggite. You have a cool site! IN fact, am hopping over there right now. A bit of manna after battling two chapters!!!!
Hey, it’s good! The book won!!!!!
Hi Patti!
This is my first visit to your blog, and these last two posts are PURE GOLD for me, as I await my first editorial memo.
Thanks for being so helpful, and for finding such terrific graphics.
We can never lose our sense of humor in this process.
I am so glad to “meet you” and was SOOO impressed by YOUR blog that I stuck it on my blogroll after one visit. Love at First Site? HHHHHAAA!
Laughing is wonderful medicine! And helps with most every “ailment” Blessings, Rosslyn!!
A little of both, Patti. I never feel competent to undertake revisions in the way I think they sould be done. But I get excited at the prospect of growth.
I think it’s wonderful that you asked for ideas from your publisher. You displayed a humble heart and the Lord rewarded you.
Revisions excite me, simply because I love that process of the book. The story is down, now it’s time to make it better. I might chafe and whine to myself about something I don’t agree with. But stepping back and looking at it from the editor’s point of view, I usually see what they want it to be.
I do wonder what my reaction would be if the editor wanted to drastically change something important to the story. Just how far am I willing to go to the mat for my book without making myself into the difficult author?
Revisions scare me, but they always make my story better! By the way, we must have both gotten the “cute black-and-white baby picture” memo today. LOVE that photo!
I actually like revisions. The only exception would be if the revisions are MAJOR and I have to perform drastic writer’s surgery. But other than that it’s nice to see my story shape up.
Man what a super wonderful post.
Revisions are the BANE of my existence. UGH!!! But we do what we have to do. And all of that stuff you mentioned. I CAN’T WAIT! Even though I realize when it happens I will complain about them, but deep down I’ll be jumping for joy, because doing them means I’ll have an agent a publisher and it means I will hold in my hands a book that I wrote. How cool is that?
Happy weekend. Thank you for your prayers for Christopher Patti. I will email you tomorrow. I loves ya girl!! =)
Jeannette, I just got the suggestions for the “new” ending, which I haven’t reviewed. Will be remembering your words and praying for that humble heart! Bless you!
Winter, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. Yep, I wonder how I would feel about that drastic change…it just might be in a recent e-mail re the ending….
This post had me LOL. I read it three times and laughed each time.
Here’s the thing. I had no energy for the rewrite. I like my story. My characters are alive in my brain and somewhat in my computer (on the page), but I’m a gal who likes to Play off the Page (hence my blog name). Have abandoned the novel, for now, and taken up playwriting. Started this morning.
PS: And, it’s a whole, new story. Well, those characters were begging to be let out, too!
Two more things: Eww on the tongue pic! And, I finally added you into my reader. Meant to do it before, but forgot. Thanks for sticking with me. It’s easier when there is a “follow” button, but I like the look of your blog.
Cassandra, you are too funny! Glad you saw the humor in it!!!!!
Mary, how interesting! I’m so glad I MADE YOUR LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You might just like the new post!!!!!