Monday, December 14, 2009

You Can't Read Em' All

I was emailing with an agent the other day. I'm reading manuscripts to gain some experience in the field. I feel that if I don't finish a manuscript I'm not doing the author or the manuscript justice, but sometimes a work just doesn't grab your attention or its just not quite ready and you can see it without finishing it. Whether its because it drags in the middle or the beginning is just riddled with backstory. I understand how tough the decision can be for an agent. Basically, you know saying "no" could crush a writers dream (Have any of you noticed how nice some are when they reject you? It's as if you can't be mad because they were so nice.)

My advice: Work your ass off until that manuscript is more than ready. Let it be immaculate and don't forget to revise, revise, revise, and then revise again. Make sure your plot is going somewhere because you can be a good or decent writer, but that won't matter to an agent if your plot falls flat or is going no where. If an agent can see such blatant flaws, I'm sure that the writer can as well. They just don't want to admit it. If you want to be published then create a story worthwhile then revise the crap out of it. Seriously-revise!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Great advice, and something every serious writer should take to heart. Often writers are so excited to chase their dream of publication that they move forward before their manuscript is really ready. There's nothing to gain by jumping the gun. Like you said: "revise the crap out of it."

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

i spend more time revising than writing :) thanks for the follow.

Elizabeth Prats said...

No problem :] Remembered you from the Writers Digest Community. Interesting blog :]