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| My cross stitch that inspired my character Kitty |
I made a decision to pull out of the rewrite request by the publisher interested in reading Ripper, My Love. It was not easy for me to do but I felt it was the right thing.
My rewrite was working well but I had cut quite a bit from the manuscript. This meant I had to write well over 10,000 words to bring it back roughly to 72,000 - the original word count. I tried new chapters but then had to start padding.
An email from the acquisitions editor for the publisher said, as the novel was an historical romance they would like me to add 20-30,000 words to the original 72,000. *I fainted*
Now I was on a rewrite with the pressure of 40,000+ word increase. I sweated over the whole thing for a day and just knew deep down I HATED THE REWRITE. It had lost the twist I had written into the base of the story and the plot was flat. No amount of juggling helped.
Then I made the decision to give up my dream of being published by the company. I had hoped to submit Maggie's Child at a later date but then realised that it was 65,000 words and an historical romance. I would have to add to the story another 20,000 words to bring it in-line to the publisher requirements.
I agonised over how to say thanks but no thanks to the rewrite. I decided to be truthful and share with them my reason-the word count issue.
Then came the low point of my day. DH tried to pacify me and deep down I knew I had done the right thing. However, I felt it was the end of my search for publishers and agents. I have been patient and accepted rejections with grace. I have had the ups and downs experienced by all writers at some time or another.
I took myself off for a walk in the vineyard and did some soul searching. Upon my return I had decided to self publish. Now I am trying to learn the technology this involves. Book covers, interior designs and more...oh so much more!
I have wonderful support and am certain Ripper, My Love -the original- will sit on my coffee table and on my friend's Kindle, in the New Year.
Losing my voice was not something I wanted to do, I did not want to give up the suspense side of my novel. Sacrifices in writing have to be made and I made mine. The time spent on writing 40,000 words will be used for cover creating and the 40,000 words will go towards my third novel.
24 Comments:
Congratulations, Glynis, on making a tough choice. You listened to your gut, and that's really hard to do sometimes!
Thanks, Talli, yes a hard decision but one that I had to make! Thanks for your support. X
Glynis, I know how hard that must have been, but if it feels right, than it is absolutely right for you. I will be happy to help in any way I can on your self-pubbing journey.
Blessings,
Karen
Karen, thank you so much. How lovely of you to offer. It was not an easy decision but I feel the right one for me.
Hugs x
that is so wonderful! You are a strong person to be able to do that and I am sure it will show in all your writings and your upcoming book.
I look forward to reading it.
Hugs!!!
In a way I want to say congratulations Glynis. Not for opting out of trad publishing, but for your genuine belief in your story. Padding a book to make it fit a publishers 'thickness scale' says nothing for the belief in the story.
Elbert Hubbard only needed a few pages to write A Message To Garcia. I couldn't imaging it being 'padded out'.
The very best of luck with going the Indie route and if you need any help at all, just yell! :)
Writers need to stay true to their convictions. I think it's fine to do some rewrites after a publisher has signed a contract, but you can spend your life rewriting for each editor's tastes and then still get left out in the cold with a hashed-up manuscript. I've been there and I'm not going back. I say publish it yourself and then if a traditional publisher comes knocking on your door with a great offer, make them double it!
Cathy, thank you so much. I do hope my writing will shine for at least one reader. Hugs back. x
Derek, many thanks for your thoughts and offer of help. The rewrite was a weak version of my story. I could not relate to it and just had to walk away. Some might say foolish, but I say I love my book and need to be faithful to it. x
Pamela, many thanks for dropping by and commenting. Your support is valued, as is your advice to get a publisher to double the offer! :) x
I know how tough it is to make a decision like this. I made the wrong decision—went with revisions for an agent that I felt made the story weaker, and I will always regret it.
But, though a traditional publishing deal would've been nice, I don't regret deciding to publish that book on my own a couple of years later. Better late than never.
Wishing you the best on this new road to publication!
Word Wrestler, what a shame. So glad you came through and published for yourself.
Many thanks for your encouragement! x
I think that remaining true to yourself will prove to be the right decision.
Thanks for visiting Come in Character. It's fun over there, though we're intermittent.
As an editor and a writer, I can say with total assurance that what you're talking about is a creative decision, one that largely belongs to the writer.
Sometimes it works; I cut 20K words from my book (scheduled for release in January). The agent didn't end up taking me on, but it's a better book for it. But I knew, gut level, it needed to be done.
i am always so impressed by your ability to stay true to yourself, glynis. as talli said, you listened to your gut and that took guts. big hats off to you for listening to your own voice. your book will be successful because of it.
Good for you! One can only compromise so much.
Sometimes staying true to yourself is hard to do, but it's always worth it. Congratulations on your decisions! They're obviously the right ones for you!!!
Loree, thank you. I do hope so.
Sex Scenes, because of that gut feeling, the book had already had a major cut last year. I worked hard this year tightening up the storyline. I really could not find a way out of not padding. I had fun on the Come In Character! Thanks.
Amanda, thank you so much. It is support and encouragement like yours that helps me keep going!
Joan, so true. Compromise is a good thing if both benefit. In this case the book would not have been the one I had originally planned. Thanks.
Loribeth, I feel they are. Thanks.
Thanks to you all for your support. Hugs from me x
Good for you! It's your work! In the end, you know what's right!
Samantha, thank you. I feel it is the right thing. :)
I'm glad to read that you're not going to add extra words just because historical fiction supposedly has to be longer than mainstream fiction.
Let me know if you have any questions about ebooks!
You're very brave Glynis! I wish you all the best - those of you paving the indie publishing path are inspirational for the rest of us.
That's a very lovely cross stitch, by the way.
I can't imagine how adding extra words would make anything better. You made the right choice.
Lisa, I think the word restrictions are frustrating. I feel I have done the right thing. Thanks.
Deniz, I am finding more and more published authors are going the indie route. Thanks for your support.
Hello, Carolyn, thanks for joining The Important Ones! I do not believe in padding for the sake of things. Thanks, I feel I have.
Thank you all for taking time out for me. x
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