The Importance of a Polished Manuscript - A Guest Blog

Awhile ago, I asked an author to send me the first chapter of a manuscript they had queried. The author was unpublished, but they had an ok platform, which made me think that if the writing was fabulous I could maybe get somewhere with the project.

But the writing wasn’t fabulous. It lacked emotion and jumped around too much to allow the reader any sort of bearings. So, I declined representation, citing the author’s writing as my primary reason.

And here’s where it gets sad.

The author wrote me backing saying that they knew the manuscript was weak—that it was in fact the weakest of their manuscripts—but that they had sent it out anyway without really considering how it would affect the aftermath.

I’m not sure what advice writers are getting these days, but it appears as though it’s the general mindset that agents and editors exist to perfect, polish and publish. That we love spending our time teaching writers storytelling basics and that we’re much more energized by the possibility of what could be than the reality of what is.

Um... Folks, I think that’s a load of crap.

Over and over I come across brilliant story ideas backed by wonky rough drafts, exciting plotlines headlined by cookie cutter characters, and moving scenes flooded with embarrassing grammar and punctuation.

And I reject every one.

This isn’t a race, folks. There are no extra points for finishing first. But there are extra points for finishing with a publishable manuscript.

Don’t query until the manuscript is perfect. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache.

-       Amanda Luedeke is an Agent at MacGregor Literary

 

Comments

[Judith Robl]

Amen! I read for a small publisher, screening proposals for the editor. I've had to send some to the editor with the recommendation that the author needed a critique group, a mentor, or a dedicated freelance editor - sometimes all three.

For goodness sake, at least proposition the local high school English teacher to grade your paper before you send it out. That should clear most (I hope) of the grammar errata.

And then there is the occasional joy where my English teacher's eye could discern fewer than half a dozen errors in a 300-page manuscript. Make that one yours.

[Jan Cline]

This is a great reminder. I have come to accept the fact that I will never be done learning, and that committing to the time it takes to make things right is part of being a good writer. I want to be a great writer - that means making the effort to polish and polish some more. Like many other writers I know, my struggle comes from a lack of funds for a professional editor. That's my dream right now...to find a way to make that happen. Thanks for the post.

[Sharon A Lavy]

Great Post Amanda. I look forward to your next one.

[Christian Miles]

I love it when Amanda posts over here. I learn a lot from her advice, so keep it coming (that is, if she can get away from that monstrous pile of query letters stacked on the floor next to her desk).

[Jessica]

Thanks for the reminder Amanda. It's so exciting to query but how bad would it stink to get rejected over something I could've fixed?
Ugh.
Very, very good reminder for me! Thanks!

[Stevie Rey]

HiDee 'Mander,
Had to come support the fairer side a MacGregor lit, the one that wears skirts...erm...I mean, nevermind, I ain't gonna go there.

Let this post just serve as y'alls example a how NOT to write. My high school english teachers have all learned Jujitsu and come after me with knives and thowin' stars. My college english teachers have denied they ever knowed me and one spry young thang kicked me in my solar plexus and cracked me over the head with her walker. That's not to mention all the agents and publishers with restrainin' orders on me.

So, in summation, y'all don't use no double negatives once removed or you'll pay fer it!

Give Chip all my love, 'Mander. He gits more girls with a skirt on that I ever got with plain ole britches. And God Bless MacGregor Lit :-)

Grace and Cornbread,
Stevie Rey
Arthur of The Hillbilly Bible

[Alyne deWinter]

This was a wonderful tip. I think a lot of the problem comes from quarters that constantly rag on about how competitive writing is and there are a lot of business models and marketing models that stress speed at all costs.
I have also had the issue of working to hone my craft with plots, characters, and ideas that I could not find in the bookstores. I wanted t read stories like that so started writing my own. Not long after I found out that while I was laboring, somebody else had a similar idea and was already an established author and was much faster getting it out--then seeing a tidal wave of this stuff follow. By the time I am ready to submit stuff-----11 years later I'm sorry to say----I'm afraid it won't be in fashion any more or I will lose out to these established writers..
This speed aspect is anxiety producing and leads to these premature queries. Also, many authors in their Acknowledgments pages thank their editors and agents for helping them write the book. This is misleading to unpublished authors who may have been raised on stories of Maxwell Perkins.

Thanks again!
Alyne de Winter

[Tina]

Great post. Look forward to more from you.

[Vipin]

I was going to send Chip my proposal today, not now must wait and do another few more revisions:-)..

While polishing and perfection are very important, it's just as important to keep your word. If you say you will do something by a certain day, you should work your tail off to do it. If it is perfection publishers are looking for in a manuscript, maybe they will miss a master piece?

I did keep my word to a major publisher today and sent it off to them. So for me this blog post brought up mixed feelings. Regardless, I am thankful for the advice.

All the best blessings!

Vipin

[AimeeLS]

You know those lessons you've actually learned, but somehow put aside and started to question again?

Yeah. Totally.

Thank you! A very timely missive.

[Amanda Luedeke]

Thanks for the blog post support, everyone!

I think Jessica was right on with her comment. Why send something that you know in your heart could be better?

A manuscript will never be perfect, and there will always always always be even more editing suggestions from the publisher.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do YOUR part as the author to make it as perfect as possible.

[ArtsEnclave]

Amanda,
We have people like you to thank for any readable work out there. While it's great that the internet gives aspiring writers such easy access to publishers and agents, as well as platforms for self-publishing, it's all unvetted work, and as you've pointed out, too many have lowered the bar on standards. As readers, we really want to be transported into the fiction they create--which is impossible to do if we can see the dirt on all of the strings behind it! You're so right that writers need to polish!!! Thanks!

[Rogercparker]

Dear Amanda:
I was really impressed by your thought-provoking post highlighting the importance of establishing a balance between acting on a good idea and delays due to endless (and obsessive) self-editing.

Your post reminds me of that saying, "You only get one chance to make a first impression!"

Thanks for sparking a great conversation. (BTW, I'm off to "proposition the high school English teacher," as Judith suggested. g)
Roger