Sunday, January 2, 2011

Don't be a Crummy Santa Writer

All---

If you're anything like me you hate giving people Christmas lists.   I don't have a problem coming up with ideas for things that would be nice to get, but I hate setting myself up.   What do I mean?

Well, for instance, two separate family members asked for list from me.  I gave each of them a list of EMT gear they could get me that ranged from the very cheap to the more moderately priced so that they had a range.  It was a pretty good list that could be purchased easily on the internet or at a variety of local stores.  I was excited to see, when the time came around, what they got me from the list.

And, of course, they had not gotten me anything from the list.  What they had decided on was perfectly nice and perfectly useful, but I couldn't help a sense of disappointment.  I had given them a list and no matter how much I might have otherwise liked what they gave me, it's not what I asked for.

Lest you think I'm posting to whine about Christmas presents, I'm not.  Here's the point:

When a writer submits something to an agent or an editor and then gets a list of changes back, it's rather like getting a Christmas list back.  "Here's what I'd like to see changed."

Too often, writer friends of mine or writers I follow in the blogosphere seem to have a response along the lines of, "Well, I actually have some ideas for revising this that are not exactly the same, but I  think they really make for an even better, stronger book, so I'll go with that and re-send it in."

And then they get shocked when the agent or editor either sends back with more requests or just opts to reject altogether.

So here's my advice.  Take it for what it's worth, based as it is on general human psychology and not on my own experience: give them what they want.  Or don't give it back to them at all.  Or else know that you're taking a chance that they will say, "Eh, it's nice, but it's not what I asked for."

If you're asking an agent or an editor to help get your book out there in the world, disappointing them isn't going to help your cause.

Be a better Santa than that.

.Nevets.

5 comments:

  1. Interesting way to bring a Christmas list right into writing. Its a good point too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL! I'm wondering if you're like my husband who always wonders what folks were thinking when they buy him presents... :D

    What a great point you made. If you don't want their advice, why are you querying them? All the Best, C~ :o)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh dear, sorry to hear about your Xmas experience Nevets. Do you think if you keep submitting them the same list time after time they'll eventually get the hint ;)

    Great point to make about agent-requested revisions. Definitely something to keep in mind!

    Rach

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Summer - If there's one thing I can do, it's to draw absurd analogies.

    @Leigh - haha Yeah, I've had that moment many, many times.

    @Rach - Maybe, maybe not. I've learned folks are stubborn about such things. lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're so right, Nevets, on both counts. But apropos the writing, I recently had a list of revisions from my agent, did them all (reluctantly, it has to be said), and the book was SO much better for it. You really do have to take the advice, even if you hate doing it (the same goes for presents).

    ReplyDelete

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