What Do You Mean My Hero Isn’t Sexy Enough?

Posted on Aug 12th, 2010 | 50 comments home title

Surviving the Editorial Letter
by Camille Eide

I got The Call!

About a year and a half ago, the agent to whom I’d submitted my manuscript called and offered representation. Meaning my first novel would soon be published, my kids could all go off to college to become rich and famous, and I could hunker down and focus on writing a dozen bestsellers.

What I didn’t know was that my agent was working on a Revision Letter for my book, similar to the kind an author receives from a publishing house after the book is contracted. In my case, it was a long letter detailing what changes the manuscript needed in order to be ready to sell. We’re talking long. Like Obama’s Health Care Bill long. Okay, ten pages, single spaced.

I’d heard about these revision letters and expected to get one—in the same way I expect to die someday. As in: you know it’s inevitable, and you make every effort to prepare yourself, but it’s still going to suck. So I was forewarned about revision letters and was advised to prepare myself mentally and emotionally (I am not kidding about that), pray, and get my attitude ready to accept what was contained in The Letter. And then I should open it, read it, and put it away and let whatever it says gel before reacting in any way. That means any way. This would include things like pitching a tantrum, collapsing into a bawling snot-puddle, flushing the manuscript, torching my computer, and tossing myself off a bridge.

So when the letter came, I held my breath, opened the attachment carefully, read the nice greeting and the opening comments which listed what my agent liked about the book, and exhaled.

Then I moved on to the stuff that needed to be changed. Revised. (There’s a gentle euphemism. One that really means DEMOLISH THE CLUNKER AND START OVER.)

The story had been re-written and revised much already, but I’ll be honest: many of the suggested changes were things I’d secretly feared were needed. I had tried to work them out and finally concluded that it would take far too much work; they were impossible to fix. The story would just have to do. I’d pitched the book, hoping someone would take pity on the little waif and love it in spite of a few flaws.

Blinding Truth Alert: Since the book and I were contracted with an agent (YAY!!), it was now my job—my duty—to fix those impossible flaws. Uh . . .

You’re familiar with the Kübler-Ross model known as the Five Stages of Grief. I’m convinced Ms. Kübler-Ross had suffered the trauma of a rigorous substantive edit and had writers specifically in mind when she developed this tool. I’m going to be totally honest here and describe what the Stages of Grief looked like for me.

Denial: Sorry, Ms. Agent, but I think I got someone else’s letter by mistake. Poor sap. Good luck with that.

Anger: Are you kidding me? No. This is ridiculous (yet sounds suspiciously and painfully accurate . . . ).Who do you think you are (I mean aside from being a long time publishing professional, a fiction expert and a highly respected editor in the industry)? Do you even know how to read? How do you expect me to make even half these changes? Where’s the Tylenol?

Bargaining: Well, okay, fine. You’re right about items #3, #18 and #74, but I need you to understand why I did #12, #28 and all the #90s because I have to keep those. Please? [This phase lasted about a week. In my head.]

Depression: [After a month of listing all the threads and scenes to change, scrapping the list and starting over, scrapping it all again, and then another month of whining to all my writing friends.] Oh God, I can’t do this. This is so absolutely beyond me. I have no idea how to tackle the major changes. I don’t see how it can be done, I honestly don’t. That’s it—this book is going to molder in a box under my bed.

Acceptance: I have to do this. It’s true, every one of these changes are absolutely needed to make this story sing. And I have to try to do it somehow because Someone gave me this compulsion and knack to write. Someone else spent a lot of valuable time giving me vital feedback on this story. If God wants me to write, he will have to help me do the impossible. I can’t do it, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So, for several months following, I crammed pedal to the metal and worked my way through my novel revision. The job took longer than I would have liked, but it’s finished (and much improved) and I am now preparing for the next step.

Major revision isn’t easy. But it is critical for us to see it through to completion if we are truly serious about getting published. If you write for publication and have never used an editor, I want to encourage you to consider doing so, at least once. As for me, I’ll continue pushing myself to learn and grow, even if it is the Hard Way. But it doesn’t matter how you press on and grow; it only matters that you do.

P.S. Rachelle edited this post.

***
Camille Eide is a manic novelist and a client of WordServe Literary. She writes contemporary romantic women’s fiction. Her current novel, Like There’s No Tomorrow, survived the revision process and is awaiting a verdict from her agent.

Camille has been wife to the same amazing guy for 27 years and is mom to three brilliant college-bound kids. She has a PhD in Learning Stuff the Hard Way, and is also a church secretary, a bassist, and a passably devoted fan of classic rock, muscle cars, and Jane Austen.

Click here to find Camille on Facebook.

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Tags: Editing | Guest Bloggers

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Patty

>Camille,

You are hilarious! Your book is brilliant, but if your writing career doesn't take off, you could go into stand-up comedy.
Marja

>Camille, your post me laugh and cry! I recognize everything, you should publish this post as a foreword in your book. haha!!
Hilarious, really.
Thanks for sharing!
Jessica Nelson

>Hahaaa! I love this. You have a great attitude. Thanks for sharing!
L.C. Griffith

>Hearing about the Revision Letter from your funny stand point will perhaps soften the blow when I get mine. You're hysterical. Thanks!
Wendy Paine Miller

>This post really spoke to me, Camille. I also wanted to let you know I thought your one-sheet looked sharp when you sent it through the ACFW first time goers loop. Hope to meet you there.
~ Wendy
lynnrush

>Fantastic post.
The Revision Letters…they are a bit scary, huh?

Glad you survived it and thanks for sharing the experience with us.
Yvonne Blake

>I haven't had to face a major revision letter, yet, but I recognize those phases…been there, done that!
Richard Mabry

>Camille, Great post with some hard truths coated by enough wry humor to make them palatable. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with your newly remodeled manuscript. Bet it does well.

And thanks, Rachelle, for letting us get to know Camille and learn from her struggles.
Richard Albert

>It’s ironic just how timely this article is to my current situation. Though for me, it wasn’t an agent’s letter, it was the critique of a specific scene that felt like it was missing something. I know it was missing something and so did my beta reader. In talking it through with her, I found the answer, and it was devastating to me. I was working on the last scene of the second act. That means high emotions, high intensity, and the scene just didn’t have “it.” The solution required upping the emotional experience by several orders of magnitude – and to accomplish that, I’ve decided a total rewrite of the first act is needed, large chunks of the second act need to be rearranged and/or cut, and the third act (as it stands) is a waste and must be reworked from scratch.

That’s a daunting task after so many months poured into the story and caressing each sentence to get the most out of them. But, it’s what I have to do. I wanted to say, “Forget it. Its close enough.” But I know me. It wasn’t close enough, and I knew that. I jut idn’t want to admit it.
Cheryl Barker

>Camille, loved your post. Thanks for starting my day with a smile
Jennie Allen

>I feel like every time I am forced to go back through it always gets so much better. I have a fear of stopping the revisions… like it always has another step that would make it better. I think laying it down is the hard part for me. I can not imagine the day it goes to print and no more revisions can be made. Yikes!
Karen Witemeyer

>Camille – Your observation about the stages of grief relating to the dreaded revision letter was spot on! Great stuff.

Don't let me scare you, but it's not any easier when it comes from an editor. I've survived two so far and have my third one arriving TOMORROW.

You keep hoping they'll get easier, and in some ways they do. You'll eventually notice a pattern regarding the weaknesses that recur in your novels, and as you write the next book, those red flags will wave at you to remind you not to fall into old habits. Sometimes I'm still a bit color blind and miss those flags entirely, but other times they prove effective.

I wish you the best!
~Karen Witemeyer
Fawn Neun

>On the upside – you have it from a long-time publishing professional and 'fiction expert' that your manuscript is worth fixing
Courtney (Women Living Well)

>Hilarious! You are definately a good writer because just your blog post alone moved me – to laughter and empathy. Thanks for the honesty!!
Courtney
Teenage Bride

>This has to be one of the best posts I have ever read. THANK YOU
Jeannie

>I loved this post.

I don't have an agent, but I did get a revise and resubmit letter from an editor at a publisher that doesn't often do that kind of thing. (In my querying I submitted to one editor, with whom I'd had some dealings, who asked me to send her my work) It was a long letter, but the changes focused on things I could deal with. The big point of the letter we love your characters and voice…here are some plot issues that need work. Plot I can work with.

I'm almost done with the revision and I'll have it back in her hands next week. Hopefully I will find an agent, too, and make a sale, and…. I can dream, right?
Pamela Meyers

>Camille, you had me chucking and nodding both, saying yes, yes, yes. I just went through a similar exercise, not that the direction of my agent or an editor but from a crit partner who is a very wise woman.
I did go through those same stages and came to the conclusion in the end that she was right.
And I did chart out my story to find the dangling threads and the not so deep characterizations that needed beefing up.
I just concluded the final chapter yesterday and am letting it rest a few days before one last read-through for typos, missing words, etc.
Now what do I do? I've been working on this story for over a year, counting research. Wait! I hear another story idea rumbling in my brain. But first to tackle all the household project I let slide. Next week I'll work on the new idea.
Jen

>I'm going through revisions right this second–without representation or a contract of any kind–and I would almost rather stand on the train tracks and let it hit me. Still, I know it has to be done, and I'm muddling through. I'm sure when it does make it into the hands of an agent, it's going to undergo more revisions. But I'm prepared for that. I have some spectacular beta readers, and they're pushing me along toward the piece of art I know this book can be.
Sarah Forgrave

>Very funny, Camille! And great to hear your experience so I can brace myself for that inevitable letter.
Jennifer Lane

>Ha ha! I love that you used Kubler-Ross' stages of grief to describe your reaction. Very clever.

I was lucky to have the publisher's attorney question some legal elements in my romantic suspense novel, and now the arrest and conviction of my protagonist are much more credible. But it was some major reworking at the last minute that was rather stressful and left me feeling somewhat dumb for not researching the legal elements more thoroughly when I wrote the book.
Robert Michael

>I really appreciate your candor and sense of humor. You are a shining example of our craft: witty, self-flagellating, honest and devoted.

Best wishes and God's favor on your family and your endeavors.
Beth Mann

>SO funny! I really hope your book gets picked up, because I will be in line to buy it the next day!!! Thanks for the advice, and for the laugh! P.S. Also great to see contemporary women's fiction represented! Woot!
carla stewart

>Amazing post, Camille! And having had a front-row seat to your journey, I applaud you for pushing through to the end. You've emerged with your sense of humor in tact and a great manuscript to show for it. Yay!!
Karla Akins

>Hilarious! And, as usual, stellar. You are so talented and I am so blessed that God put you in my life! Can't wait to be your roomie at ACFW. Do you think we'll leave the place standing? Hugs and congrats to you, dear writing friend! Love that headshot of you, too. You are beautiful inside and out.
Cheryl Linn Martin

>Camille, you write humor sooooooooo well! Can't wait to see your novel in print. Good for you to push forward and tackle all those revisions. God Bless!
K.L. Brady

>This was SO funny and SO true. I went through the same thing with my agent…and the list of proposed edits was actually pretty short. Doesn't matter how many you have to do, still sucks. lol

I'm happy (and sad) to say I'm waiting on the editorial letter from my editor. I'm fully expecting to need Tylenol, but I'll be chasing mine with a shot of Grey Goose. lol
Anonymous

>You are the hardest working writer I know.

Anonymous John
Lyla

>I love it! Even though it makes me apprehensive, haha. And thank you for saving me having to Google the five stages of grief!
karenranney

>I really don't think the process becomes any easier. After publishing 25 books, I still open the editor's revision letter very cautiously. Actually, I peek at it first, skip the first paragraph that tells me how brilliant I am, and on to the bad stuff. Then I ruffle through the pages to see how many there are. Then, I start to read. After that? I put it away and let it percolate for awhile – it's amazing what your mind will come up with in the interim.

You absolutely nailed the process, however.
Google_eyed

>Gosh *cough* who cares about your hero… you're hot enough for the both of ya
Elizabeth Poole

>This is hilarious! I laughed so hard…

"Where's the Tylenol?" is my new catch phrase.

Congrats on representation! I think all us aspiring writers have the same thoughts as you…"Sure, I'll have to deal with the Letter…someday."

I am definitely planning on getting a professional edit before I query. I figure it will ease the pain just a little, and make me less neurotic when my time finally comes.

That's my hope, anyway.
Anonymous

>Camille,

I really enjoyed your column about the revision letter. It gave a good sense of the feelings you get when dealing with revision suggestions in general.

I've heard (in other blog posts) that revision letters are tough, but no one really says what's in them. 10 pages single spaced is a lot. I'd really like to know what kind of stuff is in a revision letter. I know it's different for each book, but I really don't get a sense of what's in them.

I wish someone would give an example of some of the types of comments that are given (even if they replaced names with stuff like CHARACTER A/ CHARACTER B/CHARACTER C).
Gwen Stewart

>Camille,

I dearly hope to meet you in person some day. You're so witty and insightful–not to mention musical! You could play bass and I'd sing. Or you could play bass, I'd play keyboard and we'd get Rachelle to sing… Yeah, I like that even better!

You're so right on with this post about the revision letter. I'm right there with ya, Camille, and hoping the next stage ends with an offer for publication! Keep us posted on your progress and God bless you!
Melissa Pearl

>Fantastic post Camille. I loved it.
Revisions are a killer, but it's all worth the hard work. Good on you for sticking with it.

All the best for getting the book published
Linda Glaz

>Hhilarious, Camille. And all this time I thought you were the serious one in the group. Whodda thunk it? Great post!!!
Camille Eide

>Thanks for nice the comments, everyone. And thanks to Rachelle for being a good sport.

Jen, I've felt like jumping in front of a train a time or two myself. I'm going to keep my eye on you.
Shannon

>Thank you for this. I didn't even know about Revision Letters. I had assumed that we'd be told a few things to change but whole 10-page letters? Whoa! How many items did she want to change, anyway? Was tehre really 90?
Kim Kasch

>Loved this. Timing is everything and this one really spoke to me.
Lucy

>Quote: "I’d heard about these revision letters and expected to get one—in the same way I expect to die someday. As in: you know it’s inevitable, and you make every effort to prepare yourself, but it’s still going to suck."

This is my favorite comment on revisions. Ever.

Thanks so much for sharing this!
Karen McGrath

>Camille, we went to the same school of Learning Stuff the Hard Way. LOL!

I'm an editor – I always send my authors a pre-edit email detailing the stages they might go through. You have it here in a nutshell. When the red pen has wrought its, umm, magic… everyone is very happy but the process can be painful. I suggest mega chocolate and have a stash myself for when *my* editor sends me *my* pre-edit email!

I'm bookmarking this one. Thanks!
Tami Boesiger

>I LOVE IT!
Carol J. Garvin

>I laughed aloud at your Kübler-Ross reference! Who knew revisions could be as devastating as death? LOL

My DD has gone through three sets of editorial revisions on her YA novel, and a number of my writing friends are neck deep in the same mire. It feels like I should be well prepared when my time comes but the reality may still suck. What will keep me going is the belief that God has put such people in place to help me improve the stories He's given me. I need my writing to be the best I can make it so will welcome the assistance (even if the work involved may seem overwhelming at the time).

This was a great post, Camille. Thank you!
Cori Howard

>As I enter year two -TWO – of revising my 40 page non-fiction memoir proposal, it was good to laugh. I am now officially done, and am procrastinating on the final and minor edits because I almost can't believe it's over and will now be shopped around.

Thanks for helping me see the light in an otherwise dark and depressing process!

Blogging at: http://www.themomoirproject.com
jmartinlibrary

>What a great and truthful post. Yes, it's sometimes hard to deal with agent revisions, but I actually bounce back pretty quickly now.

I trust my agent, and I know that she's working in my best interest. We both want the book to be the best that it can possibly be.

Anything less than a rock-tastic read is just not good enough.

Good luck with your revisions and thanks for the terrific words of wisdom!!
Tahlia

>Great post and a good reminder/warning. I had a ms appraisal done before submitting my YA fantasy novel Lethal Inheritance anywhere, and I was really glad I did. The appraisalist (carefully chosen) helped me sort out the major flaws, so when I found my my agent and she goit back to me on it, there were only three things she wanted fixed.

Of course I still have to face a publisher's editor.
Tahlia

>Great post and a good reminder/warning. I had a ms appraisal done before submitting my YA fantasy novel Lethal Inheritance anywhere, and I was really glad I did. The appraisalist (carefully chosen) helped me sort out the major flaws, so when I found my my agent and she goit back to me on it, there were only three things she wanted fixed.

Of course I still have to face a publisher's editor.
Mike Dennis

>Camille, I have to ask, if the agent had 10 pages of "suggested" changes, how could she have liked the book in the first place? What I mean is, when the agent thinks virtually everything in the book should be revised, it usually means she sees very little reason to represent it. It's hard to imagine an agent slogging all the way through a book like that, then saying, "Yes! Yes! This is what I've been looking for!"

Did she explain that to you? I'd be interested to hear about it.
Camille Eide

>Mike, this would be so much better answered by Rachelle, but I’ll give it a shot.

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that after a publisher buys a book, it’s common for an editor to want revisions. Major ones. And it’s not a suggestion. And ten pages is not uncommon. I’ve heard about much longer ones than that from multi-published authors who still get revision letters from their editors.

My manuscript was recognized by a large publishing house as a top 3 finalist in their novel contest, the winner of which received a publishing contract. I would like to think that means my ms showed enough potential to be considered publishable. My agent was able to give my manuscript the same kind of macro edit that I would have received had my story been accepted by that publisher. Which is without a doubt a tremendous gift!

I can’t speak for agents and editors, but we can all assume that to do their job, they need a keen eye for saleable writing and story. I think they are able to weigh out how story ideas and craft and voice and author dedication all balance out and whether or not there is something there they can work with. And I think they are sometimes willing to take a gamble on a story—or more specifically, a writer—in whom they see enough potential.

Just my thoughts, and I am of course willing to stand corrected.
Mike Dennis

>Camille–Thanks for the quick reply.

Now I understand. When you finished so high in the contest, the publisher obviously thought your novel had what it took. Congratulations.
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