in rewriting a story for an editor? Lately, editors seem to be getting more proactive in what they want stories in their mags/zines to be like. Maybe this is a good thing and it's probably likely that I write too lit-light, not dark enough for some of the places I submit to. I still haven't given up on the idea that a story can end without a big bloody death. But in that case, I should probably go back to the lit mags, I guess.
Do you change your stories to suit an editor? How many times will you go back to the drafting board to please someone? If the editor makes his/her case, I usually will go along with it. I'm not sure or secure enough to be wedded to a particular ending. How about you?
I did have stories accepted recently in fall/winter editions of Spinetingler and Demolition. A nice treat!
Recommended Movies: Waitress & Away From Her.
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It depends on how much they ask for. If it's too much or moves away from what I had in mind, I simply agree to disagree. If that means the story doesn't run, it doesn't run.
I must suck then, cause no zine editor has ever asked me for a substantial rewrite. ;)
Seriously... I honestly don't know. Even if it moves away from what I had in mind, as Jim said, I have to at least consider whether the story would be better off. And maybe that way I can somehow get two stories for the price of one.
More likely is that I'll try submitting elsewhere, since I know revision requests are as much a matter of personal taste as an acceptance itself.
It depends. When I get small suggestions (copy editing or one step above) I'll usually just make the change. On a few occasions I've gotten requests for rewrites that would result in a completely different story. Nothing wrong with that, but I've rarely made those changes. I don't need sales, and I'm generally too lazy or engaged in writing a new story to go back and do such a complete rewrite. There have been a few times when an editor's comments have spurred me to change a story, but not necessarily close enough to the suggestions that I feel comfortable resubmitting.
One time I did go back and forth with an editor, changing a story pretty dramatically. It was a fun experience and I'm glad I did it, but while the editor was much happier with the new story I'm not convinced how much better it was, speaking as objectively as possible.
To a certain extent I go along with Heinlein's mantra of only revising at the request of someone who's going to actually buy the story. But since I'm not writing as my primary means of support (good thing!) it becomes more a question of whether or not the sale will be worth it in terms of the exposure, learning experience, and amusement value, in addition to any money that may be involved. As a sort of corollary, that also means I've been reluctant to ask for major rewrites when I've been acting as editor. I'm just not offering enough for me to feel like it's worth the author's time, especially when there are so many other markets for them to try (and stories for me to buy). I'd feel a little cheeky, as the small press editor with the small press writing resume.
Well, what I get is--hey, this is a bit tame for our outlet, could you beef it up a bit? Interestingly, this has always been from male editors so far. I think I am still between and betwizt the two genres.
Which leads me to my joy at seeing Megan back with Shred of Evidence, which I looked at nearly every week over the last year for signs of life. Welcome back!
I'm glad you're happy Shred's back (it makes me happy too). And now I feel like more of a ditz for the hiatus. :)
It does seem like there's a bit of polarization between the "nice" and "nasty" flavors of crime fiction. I think somebody has a couple tallies going--Cozy Cred and Noir Cred--not altogether unlike the Terror-Alert status. Every time you torture a character onstage with a blowtorch, your Noir Cred rises and Cozy Cred plummets. Every time you have a cat-related plot point, your Cozy Cred soars and your Noir Cred tanks.
I think the same question applies to novels. My rule of thumb is, if two people say the same thing I'll consider it. If three do, I'll change it.
I write mostly flash fiction so I've rarely had to deal with edit requests. However one of my longer pieces did end up with an edtor and I locking horns. It was unpleasant. I just didn't want to add "splattered spleens, " to that particular story because I'd intentionally kept the violence understated. If a situation like that ever arises again I'm going to take the route that Jim mentioned.
[BTW Patti, a belated welcome back and that's a nifty wee tale in Flash Pan Alley.]
Thanks, John. And Bryon didn't make me add/edit anything.
I only wish I could have done it with as few words as you used in Dollar Lake. That was pure poetry.
Patti: Thanks for the kind words. [And now I know I'm not to much of a geezer to blush.]
And an "Open House" sign has taken on a whole new meaning..
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