tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post8465055164414482478..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Bad News and Good NewsLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16881976136466088532019-05-13T09:52:37.233-04:002019-05-13T09:52:37.233-04:00Hey Jeff! Yep, I've never yet turned down a r...Hey Jeff! Yep, I've never yet turned down a request for revision. Thanks for popping in, here!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-73925862536651924422019-05-11T01:28:04.591-04:002019-05-11T01:28:04.591-04:00(I'm just getting around to reading these!) Jo...(I'm just getting around to reading these!) John, that last story about the poison was hilarious! I've been asked to revise and I always do it! :) (P.S.: George Alec Effinger ROCKS!!!!!! And so do you!)Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-14478592573857463042019-05-05T08:59:39.794-04:002019-05-05T08:59:39.794-04:00Larry, I wish you could--we'd have a good time...Larry, I wish you could--we'd have a good time, and I'd probably wind up learning from you.<br /><br />As for those very first submissions, all I can say is, I've probably reworked every single one of my early stories. (And I thought they were so good at the time.) But, again, anytime an editor takes the time to ask for changes, it means he or she sees promise there. I hope you wound up selling that story elsewhere!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-33199186956944115302019-05-05T00:51:58.593-04:002019-05-05T00:51:58.593-04:00I wish I could attend one of your workshops, John!...I wish I could attend one of your workshops, John! I had an editor of a horror magazine ask for changes before accepting a story. It was one of my very first submissions and I didn’t get it to where he wanted. I still kick myself For not pulling it off. Lawrence Maddoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057386966178865691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39724046281870271832019-05-04T18:24:15.851-04:002019-05-04T18:24:15.851-04:00Rob, it's still encouraging that that's ha...Rob, it's still encouraging that that's happened to you only once! I have several times been asked to "fix" an ending, and while those changes have so far always resulted in an acceptance, I might be guilty of having sold my soul to the devil a time or two in the process. Again, though, when I make a change I don't really like, I almost always change that story back to its original state again before reselling it. <br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-78950303297445549812019-05-04T18:11:39.294-04:002019-05-04T18:11:39.294-04:00Only once has an editor rejected a story with a su...Only once has an editor rejected a story with a suggestion that I rewrite the ending, which she found unbelievable. I tried changing it but when I fix the hole it opens another one. I take it out every few years, looking for a solution, but so far, zilch...Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-48240025736081103142019-05-04T17:55:09.242-04:002019-05-04T17:55:09.242-04:00Jacqueline, I too think most revision requests for...Jacqueline, I too think most revision requests for shorts are reasonable, and helpful as well. I certainly believe they're always MEANT to be helpful. One does wonder, though, whether some editors just can't resist tinkering a bit with the story. When I edited that mystery anthology years ago, I really did try hard to "trust" what the authors did, put aside my pet peeves, and only object to the "big" things. Editing is a tough job at best, and my hat's off to those who do it on a daily basis.<br /><br />BV, you are far too kind. Thank you, but I assure you my rejection rate, though it's better than it used to be, is still high. And you are correct, VERY few editors have (or take) the time to offer feedback of any kind. All we can do is keep trying, right?<br /><br />Thanks to you both for your comments!<br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18018646315730887332019-05-04T17:23:02.805-04:002019-05-04T17:23:02.805-04:00I almost envy your strange (and sometimes negative...I almost envy your strange (and sometimes negative) editorial experiences, John. I think I prefer them to bland form rejection letters that have zero comments or suggestions. (Although I certainly understand how literary tastes can be subjective - my current record is 13 rejections for a story before it was picked up by the "Saturday Evening Post.") Editors are busy folks, for sure, but when they take the time to jot down even a single sentence of feedback, especially on rejections, I'm shocked these days - and very grateful. *You're* such a masterful story writer, I'm equally shocked you actually get rejected!BVLawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08104434170537269673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-86272874287110914752019-05-04T16:52:53.257-04:002019-05-04T16:52:53.257-04:00John,
I've had basically reasonable requests ...John,<br /><br />I've had basically reasonable requests for short story changes from various editors.<br />But a few of my novels had difficult editors to work with. Most of the time revisions are helpful.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68535083640607243112019-05-04T11:14:19.686-04:002019-05-04T11:14:19.686-04:00Hey Melodie. Yep, most of these observations were...Hey Melodie. Yep, most of these observations were about shorts and shorts editors, but with novels you'd really have to be flexible about requested changes. I guess that's one of the reasons so many folks are self-pubbing. (But of course there are dangers there as well, because sometimes the experienced publishers can be a lot of help.)<br /><br />I should probably say again that most of the time, no changes are ever requested to short stories. The stories are either (1) rejected, (2) accepted and published as written, or (3) accepted and published with minor changes they never even asked you about. As Steve implied in his comment above, requests for revision are often welcome and helpful.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-3807524127878328202019-05-04T11:02:04.395-04:002019-05-04T11:02:04.395-04:00The ability to make revisions based on a publisher...The ability to make revisions based on a publisher request is absolutely essential if you want to have a novel published with a trad publisher. IN fact, I tell all my students to put that in their query letter: "I'm open to revisions." As you said in the comment above, John, you have to choose your battles. Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-13283028555793199242019-05-04T09:38:49.017-04:002019-05-04T09:38:49.017-04:00Thanks, Steve, for the advice and observations. I ...Thanks, Steve, for the advice and observations. I too am rarely asked to change anything, and it seems that's always been the case--I get a yes or a no and that's it. And I agree that when I AM asked to revise it's usually for a good reason.<br /><br />You bring up a valid point: Yes, sometimes you do have to disagree with the suggestions, if you feel strongly enough about it. When that happens I just try to choose my battles and make sure I don't come across as too stubborn or inflexible. John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-13342054130456054072019-05-04T08:54:19.464-04:002019-05-04T08:54:19.464-04:00An editor who actually takes the time to examine y...An editor who actually takes the time to examine your story and make it better is worth his or her weight in uncut diamonds, and I see very little of it now. I wish I saw more of it.<br /><br />Over the last few years, most of my stories have been accepted as they were and I noticed no changes in the final product. <br /><br />On the other hand, I've had two or three stories where editors suggested many changes, mostly minor but a couple crucial, and I've agreed with nearly all of them because they improved what I'd written. If I disagree, I try to explain why I don't want the change, but still feel it's the editor's call.<br /><br />I agree with O'Neil's experience. I have submitted work to dozens of markets and can only name two publications I would not submit to again. Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88578285990055469982019-05-04T08:52:33.921-04:002019-05-04T08:52:33.921-04:00Hey O'Neil -- Thanks for the input, and for th...Hey O'Neil -- Thanks for the input, and for the tip by Effinger. I agree with him.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66280252580477239522019-05-04T08:22:10.470-04:002019-05-04T08:22:10.470-04:00Experiences with publishing editors – mostly good ...Experiences with publishing editors – mostly good but one bad. Publishing marketing people – terrible.<br />Experiences with magazine editors – excellent. My stories have been helped a number of times by good editors and assistant editors at top of the line magazines and small mags. Here's a tip given to me by George Alec Effinger. If an editor asks for a rewrite – listen carefully and rewrite the story (unless the rewrite is ridiculous, which is rare).O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.com