Last week, I got my line notes for Tell Them You Lied. (YAY!) This is the final round of edits before my book goes to the copy editor in late August, then bound into galleys, then sent out into the world—which means it’s also my last chance to make substantial changes to a manuscript that I have been working on for
As an unpublished author, I am still trying to crack the code of appealing to an agent and ultimately a publisher. The conventional wisdom is to have your book in the very best shape you can get it before submitting it to an agent. So how is it that a MS can get all the way into this publication journey and still need changes like you describe? What is it that makes an agent/editor believe in a book enough to pursue its publication even if these changes are needed? Thanks for the insight if you have it.
I think there are two parts to this question. The easier one to answer is about the editing process. Yes, it is without a doubt so important to have it as close to perfect as you can get it before you query/submit. That said, you will never get it perfect. Or even close to perfect. And to be honest, you could spend the rest of your life passing on your manuscript to editors and you would always get notes back. It is never perfect. Just *ready.*
Part two: how to get an agent/editor to believe in you/your story? There is no straightforward answer to this. So much of it is subjective. But I will say, from my own experience, that I think it has more to do with voice than anything else. I think if you can find an agent who connects with your voice, and they like your premise, you are able to demonstrate a willingness to work hard, you can land an agent. And I bet when you do, their notes will be all about plot.
To sell the book to an editor, I think the opposite is true. I think by then voice is a given, and the plot has to be in tiptop shape. They have to see a market for it. And their notes will be geared toward that.
Yes I am. But I’m having trouble nailing the genre, I think. My novel (actually have two drafted) is set in outer space but centers on the dynamics between the characters. It’s not classic sci-fi which I find tedious. But it’s not bodice-ripper in zero grav either.
A surgeon who has never left her home planet before a fateful trip that lands her in the middle of a galactic battle meets a military medic who she’s immediately attracted to despite the traumatic circumstances. Pushing through the prejudice and misconception that their separate social castes have built over two centuries, the two medical personnel embark on a rescue mission for a mysteriously crashed battlecruiser. But what made the ship crash, where is this new coughing malady coming from, and how do the soldiers know so little about their foe? As the clock ticks down on her time with the soldiers, she alternates between building new memories and working to understand the unknown. What might prove to be the most unknown is why human beings work so hard to ‘other’ each other when deadly aliens are the ultimate other.
So is this book club? Romance? Action/adventure? It has some of all of those.
Okay this is way out of my wheelhouse, because I know nothing about sci-fi etc, but it seems clear to me that you know your story and you can write! Do you have comps? How are your comps categorized? I know that Romantansy is a new genre that’s huge right now- is there an equivalent for sci-fi? I’ve heard people use qualifiers for genre too— light sci-fi? I think it certainly must be sci-fi (as opposed to romance or action) because we aren’t in our real world.
Maybe I will use this as a starting point for a genre post? We could get people to weigh in?
"If you are a romance writer, you will release a breath you didn’t know you were holding. If you are a thriller writer, you will realize you had been clenching your fists, digging half moons into your palms. If you write lit fic, you will look out the window and say nothing."
Thanks for sharing the process and the emotional roller coaster that goes with! We should all be lucky enough to go through this with own books. You're flying with the eagles and they have high altitude standards. No doubt you'll meet them and will live to fly another day!
“If you are a romance writer…” Priceless. Especially the staring out the window part!
I laughed so hard at that part!
😂
As an unpublished author, I am still trying to crack the code of appealing to an agent and ultimately a publisher. The conventional wisdom is to have your book in the very best shape you can get it before submitting it to an agent. So how is it that a MS can get all the way into this publication journey and still need changes like you describe? What is it that makes an agent/editor believe in a book enough to pursue its publication even if these changes are needed? Thanks for the insight if you have it.
I think there are two parts to this question. The easier one to answer is about the editing process. Yes, it is without a doubt so important to have it as close to perfect as you can get it before you query/submit. That said, you will never get it perfect. Or even close to perfect. And to be honest, you could spend the rest of your life passing on your manuscript to editors and you would always get notes back. It is never perfect. Just *ready.*
Part two: how to get an agent/editor to believe in you/your story? There is no straightforward answer to this. So much of it is subjective. But I will say, from my own experience, that I think it has more to do with voice than anything else. I think if you can find an agent who connects with your voice, and they like your premise, you are able to demonstrate a willingness to work hard, you can land an agent. And I bet when you do, their notes will be all about plot.
To sell the book to an editor, I think the opposite is true. I think by then voice is a given, and the plot has to be in tiptop shape. They have to see a market for it. And their notes will be geared toward that.
I'm curious if you are querying now?
Yes I am. But I’m having trouble nailing the genre, I think. My novel (actually have two drafted) is set in outer space but centers on the dynamics between the characters. It’s not classic sci-fi which I find tedious. But it’s not bodice-ripper in zero grav either.
A surgeon who has never left her home planet before a fateful trip that lands her in the middle of a galactic battle meets a military medic who she’s immediately attracted to despite the traumatic circumstances. Pushing through the prejudice and misconception that their separate social castes have built over two centuries, the two medical personnel embark on a rescue mission for a mysteriously crashed battlecruiser. But what made the ship crash, where is this new coughing malady coming from, and how do the soldiers know so little about their foe? As the clock ticks down on her time with the soldiers, she alternates between building new memories and working to understand the unknown. What might prove to be the most unknown is why human beings work so hard to ‘other’ each other when deadly aliens are the ultimate other.
So is this book club? Romance? Action/adventure? It has some of all of those.
Okay this is way out of my wheelhouse, because I know nothing about sci-fi etc, but it seems clear to me that you know your story and you can write! Do you have comps? How are your comps categorized? I know that Romantansy is a new genre that’s huge right now- is there an equivalent for sci-fi? I’ve heard people use qualifiers for genre too— light sci-fi? I think it certainly must be sci-fi (as opposed to romance or action) because we aren’t in our real world.
Maybe I will use this as a starting point for a genre post? We could get people to weigh in?
That would be amazing! I’m having trouble finding comps which is also why the genre is eluding me. I appreciate your help. 🙏🏼
A process, not an event! I love this!
😊😊
"If you are a romance writer, you will release a breath you didn’t know you were holding. If you are a thriller writer, you will realize you had been clenching your fists, digging half moons into your palms. If you write lit fic, you will look out the window and say nothing."
LOVE! And, relatable. 🤗
😊😊
Brilliant. I would read 300 pages of this. Can't wait for your book! And congratulations for getting to this point and for sharing it with us.
Oh wow, that is the nicest thing I've heard! thank you so much!!!
This reminded me of one of the very first articles I've ever written. It was "the five stages of Novel writing" I think...
But this is SO MUCH BETTER
oooh i want to read this!!!
You're very kind! I might revamp it and publish it here on Substack then.
You nailed it, Laura. It's such a necessary process and, despite all the angst, by the end of it all you love your editor as well as your story.
So true!!
Great to hear your process. And congrats on getting closer and closer to publication!
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing the process and the emotional roller coaster that goes with! We should all be lucky enough to go through this with own books. You're flying with the eagles and they have high altitude standards. No doubt you'll meet them and will live to fly another day!
Thank you so much for this!!