This both offended and intrigued me. What about all of the wonderful work that is 99, 98, even 80 percent there? He'd just let it go? He'd be okay with turning down the next literary sensation all because he didn't want to edit?! Geez. Really?
He also told off another agent on the panel, so I knew he wasn't known for his "I need everyone to like me" personality. Which, of course, one can't help but respect on some level...
I asked him later if his approach turned off would-be authors. (Fearing, of course, that he would have a few well-chosen words for me.) He said it didn't. And, when not in front of an audience, he was actually rather nice.
But I've had days of editing for five straight hours--line by line--misspelling by misspelling--misplaced comma by misplaced comma...and I was about to gouge out my eyes with the letter opener. The eye-gouging would not have be pretty, and I would never do so, probably not even if I had a contract with the powers-that-be that I'd end up with Tiresias's mad skills, a personal guide-for-life, and would still, somehow, be able to read and write. And check email. And do my job.
But I've had days of editing for five straight hours--line by line--misspelling by misspelling--misplaced comma by misplaced comma...and I was about to gouge out my eyes with the letter opener. The eye-gouging would not have be pretty, and I would never do so, probably not even if I had a contract with the powers-that-be that I'd end up with Tiresias's mad skills, a personal guide-for-life, and would still, somehow, be able to read and write. And check email. And do my job.
Was the editing worth it? Of course it was worth it. But the tedium! Alas.
It makes me understand this agent's no-editing policy. Would I ever adopt it? No. Never. But I understand.
It makes me understand this agent's no-editing policy. Would I ever adopt it? No. Never. But I understand.
7 comments:
It's posts like this that make us ruthless self-editors, the ones who take our OWN manuscripts line by line several times before we even consider sending it out, wonder how in the world something that needs THAT much work got through. I hear people in publishing say, all the time, things like "You could have the best story in the world but if I see typos and bad sentence structure right off the bat I'm going to pass." Apparently that's not always true.
I agree with Jen, and being a perfectionist, it's very hard for me to even think about sending something out if I haven't combed it at least three times (after doing my normal revision/editorial work as I'm writing it). Not to mention have at least two other writers read it through.
I have a hard time even reading my rough drafts at the workshop, I'm that concerned about my work and its first impression. And, with my mentality and OCDness, I have to ask myself, "how could others not be like this?" How could someone start querying yet have their ms riddled with typos and shoddy grammar?
A few mistakes are reasonable, we are after all, human. But for it to be very apparent, I wonder if these writers have groups or crit partners? I'm a strong advocate of such things, and this is one of the many reasons why they are so beneficial.
But, it's funny, a friend and I were talking about how even published books sometimes have typos. It happens, but if it's minor, does it ruin the story? Nah. Maybe embarrass the author and copy editor.
Even after I write 30 novels I'm sure my work will still need editing. Sometimes an extra set of eyes can see ways to make a story better. I guess this is why it's important for a writer to find "the right" agent.
I am so impressed with your blog. You seem like 'an agent come true' for authors. I think what your doing here is great, and I myself, could only pray my work finds the email/ mailbox, to an agent so passionate, yet understading as you. I hope someday to have such an opportunity to be apart of one such team. But even if misfortune continues to find me, your doing us authors a great gesture. keep us informed of your thoughts, they're wonderful! I'm still learning everyday. Thank God for the internet.
Sounds to me like that agent wouldn't really have much insight into whether his attitude put writers off.
When serious writers start querying, their work is as good as they can get it with the tools they've had at their disposal. They may still need a little coaching to make it 150% glowy.
That's why all agents should be like you (minus the eye-gouging).
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