(How much revision it's appropriate to ask for without offering a contract is the subject of some debate.)
Which is probably exactly why at least the two editors in question, one named and one unnamed have chosen to err on the side of "none" <wry g>.
I have only once had an editor ask for changes in a manuscript (short story) that the editor said, if made, would produce a sale. I did make those changes, but they had decided in the mean-time that they also wanted the ending changed. This was frustrating for me because I had to overnight the edits (and it was about 30.00 to do it at the time, as email was a much less useful conveyance at the time), and had I been told first that the ending needed to be changed, I would have very politely declined, and saved the 30.00.
I do consider this to be both unusual (it's only happened once) and not entirely professional.
I have had stories I've been asked for rejected, otoh, because they were not in the end suitable in tone -- and that, I could accept more easily. I've had people ask for revisions or line-edits (some editors find my work hard to line-edit because changing a sentence breaks two paragraphs, but I digress) in things they've agreed to buy.
But I've never had the "if you revise this, I'd be happy to see it again" letter, and the one time that this was subtext, I had to pull it out of the editor, and it was like pulling teeth, but took longer <wry g>.
But your experience is just as valid as mine, and I'm sure it's just as useful to people who have novels they've not yet sold, so I'm really happy to see you posting!
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 09:17 pm (UTC)Which is probably exactly why at least the two editors in question, one named and one unnamed have chosen to err on the side of "none" <wry g>.
I have only once had an editor ask for changes in a manuscript (short story) that the editor said, if made, would produce a sale. I did make those changes, but they had decided in the mean-time that they also wanted the ending changed. This was frustrating for me because I had to overnight the edits (and it was about 30.00 to do it at the time, as email was a much less useful conveyance at the time), and had I been told first that the ending needed to be changed, I would have very politely declined, and saved the 30.00.
I do consider this to be both unusual (it's only happened once) and not entirely professional.
I have had stories I've been asked for rejected, otoh, because they were not in the end suitable in tone -- and that, I could accept more easily. I've had people ask for revisions or line-edits (some editors find my work hard to line-edit because changing a sentence breaks two paragraphs, but I digress) in things they've agreed to buy.
But I've never had the "if you revise this, I'd be happy to see it again" letter, and the one time that this was subtext, I had to pull it out of the editor, and it was like pulling teeth, but took longer <wry g>.
But your experience is just as valid as mine, and I'm sure it's just as useful to people who have novels they've not yet sold, so I'm really happy to see you posting!