Flexiibility Is Key

I know we talk a lot about deadlines here on this blog. It is so crucial to set reasonable dates with your editors and agents and stick to those dates. If anything, get that work in early. Today, however, I want to talk about a different side of that equation. I want to stress being flexible.

For a lot of authors, this can be a really tough thing to do. You have worked hard on that manuscript. You have a vision for where you want it to go, the conflicts you have established, and how you want those characters to be. This is your baby, and it should be.

However...

Getting that opinion from someone else, whether it is your agent or your editor may be the right path for your novel, and yes, you might need to be flexible and adjust that story. These people know what the market is doing and know what will be the best path to make that story marketable. It might be tough, but you have to make that change.

It is also important to be flexible with their timelines. I know this might seem like it is unfair that you have to stick to a deadline but they can adjust, but remember this. You are not the only writer they are working with. In most cases, those editors and agents have a lot of other working parts in their schedules. Sometimes things have to shift and you need to be patient.

I want to give you a great example of this. Harlequin collapsed a couple of lines that were simply not doing well and/or were too similar to other lines. We get that, things change. But when Superromance collapsed, there were a lot of authors who already had contracts. Those contracts needed to be honored and it required blending them in with other lines. Some authors had their timelines bumped. This was not because the other line was special and they weren't. It came down to who had the flexibility to move and who, legally, could not be moved.

I know we like our structure. We like the way we do things. However, as hard as it might be, being flexible might be the best path!