Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Next Step

You’ll probably notice me getting a little quieter over the next week or so.  Yes, part of it is that I went back to work Monday and have been in a whirlwind ever since.  Today, for example, I’m going to be attending an all-day teachers training seminar with a hundred anglophone students right off the boat.  It should be interesting.

But the biggest reason I haven’t been around this week is that I’m doing revisions on my recent manuscript. 

But not just any revisions. 

This revision is based on agent notes. 

And not just any agent,

but THE agent I was most excited about. 

If you’ve been following this blog for awhile you’ll know that in Creepy Query Girl’s world, this is huge.  After wading through the query trenches for two years with three different manuscripts, this is the first time an agent has shown enough interest to actually READ the manuscript in its entirety and offer ideas as to how to make it better.

At first I panicked.  What if I can’t pull off what she has in mind?  What if I have to tear the whole thing apart? Trash the story?  Or what if she has some kind of existentialist ideas and I have re-write the whole thing from the point of view of a cockroach?  Or make my main character Australian?  I don’t know how to write an Australian accent!!!  WHAT AM I GOING TO DO!???

*ahem*

But when I actually received the notes, it made me see why agent feedback is so valuable.  She doesn’t want me to trash my story.  The story is what interested her in the first place!  Instead I’m focusing on fleshing out certain characters, tweaking plot details, and revisiting the ending.  It’s not exactly child’s play for a revision hater like me, but totally do-able and in the end I’m positive my manuscript will be stronger for it. 

Will this lead to representation?  God, I would love that.  But even if for some reason it doesn’t work out, this experience and the benefits my manuscript is receiving from it is priceless and I couldn’t be more thankful.

64 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Hey, congrats to you! Had no idea you'd gotten interest from an agent. That's great. Best of luck with the revisions, you'll do fine.

Laura Pauling said...

That's great! Good luck with revisions - you can do it!

Anonymous said...

Best of luck with your revisions! May they lead to representation. ^.^

Leigh Ann said...

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH THIS IS SO EFFING EXCITING!!!

*ahem*

Get that head to the screen! Er, the word processor!

So so much luck. I'm rooting for you.

Elaine said...

That is wonderful news, make the most of the feedback! I hate revisions too!!

Haven said...

That's fantastic! Congrats =) I hope great things come of this for you.

Gina Ciocca said...

HOLY CRAP KATIE!!!! I'm crossing every crossable body part for you!

Unknown said...

How awesome!! Have fun with your revision!! and work!

Stina said...

Congrats, Katie! Now change your 'I hate revisions' attitude and your ms will be better for it. :D

April Plummer said...

Wow, wow, wow! I've been absent a bit, and I didn't know all this! That is awesome! Congrats! It's a little scary and nerve-wracking...I can understand (even if I can't relate...yet). But yay! Best of luck to you! Keep us posted. I'm so excited for you!

Christina Lee said...

YOu GO girl!!! YOu'll rock it. Congrats, it's exciting!

Connie Keller said...

R&Rs are fantastic. You go, girl. Just a word from someone who has been there before--please make sure a good beta reads it before you resubmit. It can make all the difference!

storyqueen said...

Good luck! Good luck! Good luck!

This is great news!

Each step taken is a step closer.

Shelley

vanyelmoon said...

You are awesome! Feedback, even though it isn't always pleasent, is alway the best way to see what direction you need to travel in. Good luck with your revisions. I can't wait to see you published :)

Linda Kage said...

WOW, this is so exciting! I love hearing great news like this.

Liz Reinhardt said...

AMAZING NEWS!! Congratulations!! And I'm sure the changes you make to your manuscript will make her fall in love!! Best of luck on your edits!!

Angela said...

So jealous. How great that you have actual feedback. Good luck with your revisions.

Old Kitty said...

Happy dance, happy dance!! Yayyayayayyay!! Oh how exciting!!!

I say turn off the internet and get revising those revision notes from your dream agent!! GOOD LUCK!!!!! yYAYAYAYAYYAYAY! Take care x

AmieSalmon said...

Eeeek this is so exciting! Good luck with the revisions!

Slamdunk said...

Congrats and carry on with the quietness--we understand.

Jessica Bell said...

This is such wonderful news! Yay!!!! And um ... ahem ... there's nothing wrong with Australians ... ;o)

Miranda Hardy said...

Glad you are working on the MS. Agent comments are great. Boo for work, an evil necessity. My fingers are crossed for you.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

A rewrite and resubmit is extremely promising. It means she's testing you out, how you are to work with, if you have revising skills, etc etc. Don't think you have to make things perfect, or turn your ms into something that's exactly what she wants--just get in there and do your best work and you will impress her. Congratulations, this is fantastic news!

Carolyn V said...

That is so so so awesome!!!! Woohoo! Congrats. And good luck on the revisions! =D

Dean Crawford said...

Very well done indeed! This is exactly what happened to me. Take in the revisions, think about not just what the agent in question has said, but also why they've said it. If you're a revision hater, it'll help to understand the basis of why the changes need to be made, and you're right that the MS will be better for it. The agent sees a market for your work, and believes that he / she can sell it, provided you polish it a bit more as advised.
Well done again - this really is the next step if you get that MS pitch perfect! Best of luck!

Saumya said...

Congrats!! This is an incredible first step and I know you'll do well with it!

mshatch said...

excellent news and good luck with your revisions :)

Meredith said...

Yay!!! Congratulations!!! I've got my fingers crossed for you!

Tamara Narayan said...

This is wonderful news. I was in a similar situation last year. The agent's suggestions totally transformed my book. I was on cloud nine. But then, the agent passed. That was blow. I hope, hope, hope you have a better outcome. And if not, keep querying with your new, improved version.

Ruth Schiffmann said...

Wow! Great news! Wishing you all the best with the revisions =D

Matthew MacNish said...

KATIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy for you. Take all the time you need.

Janet Johnson said...

Awesome!!!! You can do it! Crossing my fingers it DOES lead to representation. :D

Dawn Ius said...

That's GREAT news, girl. Good luck with your revisions. Congrats on supportive, constructive feedback from THE agent. Those of us who follow you do know what big news this is.

Suzie F. said...

Katie, this is great news! You can do it! I hope this experience will lead to something permanent. Best of luck :)

~Sia McKye~ said...

Way cool, Katie!

A lot of writers dream of being there but haven't a clue what they'll feel until they are. It's fraught with lot's of insecurities. I have another friend who went through this process. Her agent said that this is how he sees if he can work with an author and how professional they are in follow through with suggestions.

So, I'd say you're on the right track! Keep us posted.

Ah, those all training seminars. Aren't they fun?

Sia McKye's Thoughts...OVER COFFEE

Susan R. Mills said...

That's awesome! Like you said, even if it doesn't lead to representation.

Talli Roland said...

Wow, how exciting. Good luck! Sending loads of positive vibes your way.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I've been more quiet in terms of my comments lately because of revisions, too. They are so much work and so time consuming, but it feels so good to watch the story grow stronger. Good luck, Katie! :-)

Cynthia Lee said...

Yay!!! I'm excited for you!!

Carol Riggs said...

Woohoo, we totally understand! Go get back to work, girl! Yep, try not to worry. First, she liked your story well enough to suggest revisions, and second, even if she passes, it will make the book all that much stronger! Just think about the STORY rather than the possibilities at this point, or it'll drive you nuts. ;o)

Charlie N. Holmberg said...

Oh wow, good luck, and with work too! Sometimes I just WISH I could get the "edit this first" memo. It's something. It's a stair-step. It's hope!

Rooting for you to make it. ;)

Creepy Query Girl said...

Thank you guys SO MUCH for these encouraging comments! I'll keep you all posted:)

JEM said...

Fingers crossed for you! Good luck!

Nicole Zoltack said...

That's awesome! Take your time with the revisions and don't rush it. Good luck, we're all rooting for you!

Mina Burrows said...

This is excellent news! Congrats! Keep us posted on your progress. I'm very happy for you.

Valerie Cole said...

WOW! Congrats, this is wonderful news! If you get signed will you become Creepy Agented Girl?

Sarah Tokeley said...

This is brilliant news all round. best of luck with the revisions :-)

Ainsley Shay said...

Sounds like you're more than extremely busy!! But - good for you! It's awesome to receive any feedback from someone we respect and I hope after all of your invested hard work you get everything you want out of it - represented and ultimately published!! Good luck going back to work!
-Thanks for the follow!

Liz said...

How exciting! And awesome! And skeery! And a bunch of other adjectives! Good luck! And when if gets overwhelming, eat chocolate.

Melissa Pearl said...

Fantastic! Good luck with your revisions.

Your attitude is awesome, by the way.

Hope you get representation from this :)

Laura S. said...

This is super exciting, Katie! Good luck and have fun with your revisions. Can't to hear when you do get representation!!! :)

Jessica Love said...

Good for you! And good luck with those revisions!

J.B. Chicoine said...

'Tis wonderful to get that sort of feedback, and really empowering. Now you have a direction in which to move and great motivation! All the best to you!

Unknown said...

wishing you all the best with this agent/revision and your job/schedule--you have a lot on your plate!

K M Kelly said...

That is brilliant news. For starters the fact that she loves your book enough to give you this level of feedback is really good. You should feel proud. And editorial feedback like this from an industry professional is like gold dust.

It seems to be quite common for agents to ask for revisions before signing someone - she want's to be sure you're someone she can build a good working relationship with, so knuckle down to those revisions - but don't rush them! Get it right, and good luck!

https://booksthoughtsadventures.com said...

You will do it...have faith and have fun!!!

LTM said...

oooo... chill bumps! Been there, and GOOD LUCK with this. It most certainly probably might lead to representation!!! Do you have your critters on alert? Make the revisions and let them read over them before sending back. But most of all, SQUEE!!! :D <3 ((big hugs))

Karen M. Peterson said...

Congratulations on getting feedback from a real live agent! That's exciting!

I'm not a fan of revising either. But it's one of those necessary evils that we all have to go through eventually. I guess.

Unknown said...

I'm late coming to this but congratulations. That's brilliant news.

Good luck with the revisions!

Laura Maylene said...

Good for you!! Fingers crossed. :)

C D Meetens said...

Really exciting news! Hope the revisions go well, and the agent likes them.

erica and christy said...

Congrats for your tenacity and good luck with EVERYTHING!
erica

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Yay! That is great! Yes, agent feedback is so valuable. Best of luck on your revisions-- and way to stay positive and persevere! I'm cheering you on!

Amy

Alison Pearce Stevens said...

Excellent news! Best of luck with the revisions. There's nothing like feedback from an industry professional to help you take your work to the next level. :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...