Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Editor Follow Ups

October 15, 2004

Editor Follow Ups

So, there's a reason that I haven't really filled anyone in on say, how my kid's book is going or how to handle the other book I was offered.

And that is because I just couldn't quite deal with any of it.

As far as the kid's book went, the rewrites they wanted were just so extensive, after we've been spinning our wheels and doing nothing for so long, that it was hard for me to want to keep working for them. I got a note from the editor this week, however, asking if I had any thoughts and did I want to go ahead, so I'm going to have to start dealing. I told her I'd write her my response next week. Ultimately, I think I'm going to tell them that I'm interested but it's time for me to get some money up front. (Lest you think I'm crazy for having written a book for them without money, just know that a) I do at least have a contract with them -- first payment is on acceptance -- and b) the kids book industry is totally different from adult books, and since everyone wants to write kids books, the publishers often get to just do whatever they want to.)

As for the second book. . . well, it was left with the editor that I'd more than likely do it, but I'd start after the new year. She made it sound like a project that at 25,000 words could be turned around fairly quickly. Maybe in two months or so, and the project WAS interesting. We'd left it at that -- no contract signed or anything, but they'd made me a money offer and basically it was left that we'd be back in touch with each other in the fall. I e-mailed her yesterday, and the e-mail bounced. It bounced again today. Serious searching for her name on the publisher's website has had no success. She has clearly dropped off the face of the earth. Well, I guess that helps me make THAT decision!

Posted by karenceliafox at October 15, 2004 03:37 PM

Comments

Hi, Just Me.
It sounds as if you are pretty stressed right now. Being a stranger as I am to you, I'm not sure what are the right words at this point. Kinda funny how words do that to a person but then again, we have distorted our language to such a degree that our speechlessness is becoming more and more common everyday. I believe it is possible to care for others you don't really know just by looking within yourself to view how you would like to be treated. All that understood, I have the faith to believe that you will be alright. Sometimes in that moment when we don't believe things could any worse, our vision is narrowed to what stresses us out and not on the answers that exist outside that focus. I had this hill I used to go sledding on in the winter and when I was on top of it, I could see the view the hill offered but I never got a real concept of the hill itself. Once I climbed off the hill and backed up about 200 paces, I realized that the hill had a beauty of it's own and I gained a great respect for how it provided my extended view. Sometimes we are so consumed with the view life provides and yet we don't understand how that view is established and so we have to postion ourselves outside life's influences to gain a greater respect for it. The best advice from a stranger is take a few steps back and that will provide the forward momentum again. Take care of yourself and know that even though I am a stranger, I care.

Merrill

Posted by: Merrill Butterman at October 16, 2004 10:04 AM

Thanks for your kind words!

As it is, things are going along fairly smoothly at the moment -- it was almost nice to have two decisions kind of made for me, when I had been concerned about both of them.

One of the nice things that's been happening lately is that work on my fiction book has started jumping after a few months of being somewhat stymied, so that makes just about everything feel WONDERFUL.

Posted by: Karen at October 16, 2004 10:45 AM

I don't visit often here but had to answer you. Glad things are doing well. At times I tend to be fatalistic in my ideas and perceptions. Your welcomed for the kind words, there is however one condition on them. When someone else needs those same words make sure you give them as freely to them as I have to you. Do that and I'll call it even. Thanks for the quick answer as I like talking to you. There are not many that I can have an intelligent conversation with, you however is someone I can enjoy conversation with. take care.

Merrill

Posted by: Merrill Butterman at October 16, 2004 02:45 PM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« Orson Scott Card . . . \| Main \| Invoices! » October 15, 2004 Editor Follow Ups So, there's a reason that I haven't really filled anyone in on say, how my kid's book is going or how to handle the other book I was offered. And that is because I just couldn't quite deal with any of it. As far as the kid's book went, the rewrites they wanted were just so extensive, after we've been spinning our wheels and doing nothing for so long, that it was hard for me to want to keep working for them. I got a note from the editor this week, however, asking if I had any thoughts and did I want to go ahead, so I'm going to have to start dealing. I told her I'd write her my response next week. Ultimately, I think I'm going to tell them that I'm interested but it's time for me to get some money up front. (Lest you think I'm crazy for having written a book for them without money, just know that a) I do at least have a contract with them -- first payment is on acceptance -- and b) the kids book industry is totally different from adult books, and since everyone wants to write kids books, the publishers often get to just do whatever they want to.) As for the second book. . . well, it was left with the editor that I'd more than likely do it, but I'd start after the new year. She made it sound like a project that at 25,000 words could be turned around fairly quickly. Maybe in two months or so, and the project WAS interesting. We'd left it at that -- no contract signed or anything, but they'd made me a money offer and basically it was left that we'd be back in touch with each other in the fall. I e-mailed her yesterday, and the e-mail bounced. It bounced again today. Serious searching for her name on the publisher's website has had no success. She has clearly dropped off the face of the earth. Well, I guess that helps me make THAT decision! Posted by karenceliafox at October 15, 2004 03:37 PM Comments Hi, Just Me. It sounds as if you are pretty stressed right now. Being a stranger as I am to you, I'm not sure what are the right words at this point. Kinda funny how words do that to a person but then again, we have distorted our language to such a degree that our speechlessness is becoming more and more common everyday. I believe it is possible to care for others you don't really know just by looking within yourself to view how you would like to be treated. All that understood, I have the faith to believe that you will be alright. Sometimes in that moment when we don't believe things could any worse, our vision is narrowed to what stresses us out and not on the answers that exist outside that focus. I had this hill I used to go sledding on in the winter and when I was on top of it, I could see the view the hill offered but I never got a real concept of the hill itself. Once I climbed off the hill and backed up about 200 paces, I realized that the hill had a beauty of it's own and I gained a great respect for how it provided my extended view. Sometimes we are so consumed with the view life provides and yet we don't understand how that view is established and so we have to postion ourselves outside life's influences to gain a greater respect for it. The best advice from a stranger is take a few steps back and that will provide the forward momentum again. Take care of yourself and know that even though I am a stranger, I care. Merrill Posted by: Merrill Butterman at October 16, 2004 10:04 AM Thanks for your kind words! As it is, things are going along fairly smoothly at the moment -- it was almost nice to have two decisions kind of made for me, when I had been concerned about both of them. One of the nice things that's been happening lately is that work on my fiction book has started jumping after a few months of being somewhat stymied, so that makes just about everything feel WONDERFUL. Posted by: Karen at October 16, 2004 10:45 AM I don't visit often here but had to answer you. Glad things are doing well. At times I tend to be fatalistic in my ideas and perceptions. Your welcomed for the kind words, there is however one condition on them. When someone else needs those same words make sure you give them as freely to them as I have to you. Do that and I'll call it even. Thanks for the quick answer as I like talking to you. There are not many that I can have an intelligent conversation with, you however is someone I can enjoy conversation with. take care. Merrill Posted by: Merrill Butterman at October 16, 2004 02:45 PM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: