Are You Open To Revisions? Really?

A pretty common phrase I see in query letters is when authors tell me, "I love this story and I am open to any suggestions you might make." This is truly something we want to see, both as agents and editors. Revisions are part of the publishing process. It is a necessary part as the ENTIRE team works hard to put the best product out there on the market for you!

And yet...

For a lot of authors, that statement isn't entirely true. While they say they are open to suggestions, what they are really saying is, "I'll listen but if I think my idea is better, well then..." OK, maybe not everyone, but there are indeed a lot of authors who do take this approach.

First of all, let's think about what we mean by revisions. You are getting "another pair of eyes" on your project. This time, however, the eyes looking at your story know the market. They know what is selling and they know how to craft that story to make it work for the readers. Woops, I guess I should note, when I am talking about editors here, I am talking about traditional editors. I am not referring to Hybrid and Contracted Editors. While these people know how to edit, oftentimes, they are providing a general approach and not editing targeted to their own publisher. There are rare exceptions if they worked for a publisher and they know who you are targeting...then they can really help. 

Anyway, off that side track.

When we provide these edits, we are keeping YOUR voice but molding the story, trimming here, adding there and so forth, to make it even stronger. In no way are we saying that the story is garbage. In fact, if you think about it, the simple fact that we are working with you under contract already says we are in your corner. What we are saying is, "We love all of these things, but what could be even stronger would be..."

Now, editors and agents are certainly open to counter plans. Please remember, that if you do decide to take that approach, you need to have a fully justifiable approach and be able to demonstrate that it works, not just in the story, but in terms of marketability. Remember, they are the professionals (especially the editors who know their readers). You have to trust them.

Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of authors, some have been my prior clients, who have believed their approach was correct and wanted to argue with the editor and in one case with me. I the case of the author-editor disagreements, this turned into phone calls coming to me of "Can you please talk to your author for me." Ugh. Not the conversation I like having. 

In the case of the author-agent situation that one revolved around where the author wanted to have me market her stories. She had a true Series/Category voice. I argued to trim her stories down and showed how to do it. She did not want to follow the suggestions, she knew better. She knew she was supposed to be at the big single title houses. So, her wish was my command. The rejections letters all said the same thing: "You really have a series/category voice and it doesn't fit here." When I last checked, she still has not published, even through self-publishing. Those rejection letters became far too much to deal with. 

I guess the point I am making here is simple. Listen to the revisions. If you want to discuss the revisions, do so, but don't argue. Remember, these are given to you in the hopes to make it better.

Oh, and one final note. If you are sending out queries and an editor or agent passes on your project but gives you revisions comments, LISTEN to them and FOLLOW THOSE SUGGESTIONS! You were just given the greatest present of all!

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