[ SECRET POST #4064 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4064 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 42 secrets from Secret Submission Post #582.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Sunday Evening

[(Anonymous)]

As a fellow writer I sympathize about the novel. Finding good betas and editors is difficult. From my understanding, a really good editor is supposed to help you take the story the direction you want it to go. They can offer suggestions, but the ones you decide to take should be the ones that go with your ultimate vision for the novel.

This is why I don't use editors outside of grammar. A) I can't afford one outside my friend with a master's degree that is willing to barter services (I help her with querying and summarizing.) B) I see a lot of stories from writers that end up getting confused by all the different feedback so they end up with 15 drafts and their original vision is swamped in a sea of mired emotions.

Maybe step away for a month or so and go back then and see if you can pick up your vision for the story and if any of the editor's suggestions can help in that direction. They're only suggestions and you don't have to take them if they don't suit you or your writing style.

Most importantly, please take care of yourself. Moving is stressful! Rest. Your health is more important than your novel.

Thinking good thoughts at you!

Re: Sunday Evening

[(Anonymous)]

Anon, thank-you so much. That's calm, steady advice in the middle of a bumpy period. My editor's a good friend and we've helped each other out with plot points so many times in the past - but this time I'm trying to be professional by writing to the market. My friend has made a dozen or so suggestions, many of them contradictory, and they include everything but alien landings. (It's an Age of Sail story.) I can't write all her suggestions and just wanted her to pick one!

I'll forget about it for a bit, though I've already said "I can't do this!" Maybe another publisher will take it, if I can sort out something internally consistent.

As for the beta, I don't know what to make of her behaviour - I've done about 50k words of beta-reading for her in the time she's been sitting on mine and got very little back except "lol I keep taking on so many projects." It's disappointing - I really thought she wasn't like that. But I'm done beta-reading for her, for sure.

Good thoughts gratefully received.

Re: Sunday Evening

[(Anonymous)]

nayrt - It's not really your editor's job to decide which direction your plot takes. Throwing out suggestions is good, and it's what a good editor should do. I totally sympathize with wanting to abdicate responsibility and have someone else make big decisions about your plot, but it's not really fair to expect your editor to do that for you. You're the writer, that's your role. Maybe worry less about "writing to the market" and just write a good story. There's always a market for a good novel.

Good luck finding another beta, because it sounds like your current one isn't very good at all. :(

Re: Sunday Evening

[(Anonymous)]

op - Well, it's my first attempt at a professional novel, so I'm not familiar with the process or the different relationship from the one we had as fanfic writers. I've written the story but I'm kind of fazed because the editor seems to be saying "anything but what you've written" (except for the alien invasion, to be fair.)
Not worrying about writing to the market seems to be a good approach, though - I think I got the professional approach slightly wrong - so I'll try and make the thing as internally consistent and as exciting as possible and let the dice fall where they may.
:/