A Perfectionist Revises, Part One

We've been highlighting revision this month, and TBA client Alexandra Stewart was inspired by this post and this post, to think about her own process.  She shared her thoughts with us, along with this wonderful piece (which you can also see at her blog here).

I should start by saying I’m a neat freak, so when I receive an editorial letter from my super smart agent, my immediate reaction is filled with anxiety. I don’t like when things are messy and I want to hide all of this messiness in the bottom of a trashcan. Honestly, I picture throwing my manuscript into my blue recycling bin and never looking at it again.

This, as it turns out, is my work as a writer. To see that mistakes aren’t really mistakes, instead they are indicators of where I can dig deeper.

However, as I begin to dig deeper, I feel vulnerable and because I feel vulnerable, I have a tendency to rush through a rewrite. I cut out entire scenes with one swipe of the delete key and I quickly write new scenes just to fill the missing space. This technique does not work for me! When I rush, I end up with a story that is hollow.

So how do I keep from rushing? The moment I get an editorial letter, I remind myself I’m grateful for the feedback. Then I step away from the computer. I let myself feel uncomfortable. And, I wait. I do not go anywhere near my manuscript! During this waiting period, which usually takes a few days, the notes begin to move from my head and into my heart.

Here are a few things I tell myself while I’m waiting.

I will listen.

I will trust my process.

I will not throw my manuscript in the trash.

I also have this sentence tacked above my desk. I look at it everyday.

There are discoveries I haven’t made yet.

Find Alexandra on twitter here!

Deal Announcement - more early readers from Sam Hay and Sam Watkins!

I’m delighted to announce that new early readers from Sam Hay and Sam Watkins have sold to Franklin Watts for their Hopscotch Twisted Tales series! 

I’ve often talked about the skill needed to write a gripping and age appropriate story in just 400 words, and am always so impressed with writers who can do this – so big congrats and well done to both authors!  

		September 14, 2015
		International rights: UK Children's		Sam Watkins's PUSS IN FOOTBALL BOOTS, in which a football-mad boy plays the game of his life, helped by a clever cat with a bit of an itch, to Melanie Palmer at Hachette Children's, for publication in April 2016, by Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency (World).

		September 14, 2015
		International rights: UK Children's		Sam Hay's TOO MANY NIGHTINGALES!, when a kingdom becomes over run with clockwork nightingales, the noise drives the King mad, but a mysterious stranger has a plan to solve the nightingale nightmare...forever, to Melanie Palmer at Hachette Children's, for publication in April 2016, by Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency (World).

You can pre-order PUSS IN FOOTBALL BOOTS here, and TOO MANY NIGHTINGALES! here and go congratulate both authors on twitter - @samhayauthor and @_sam_watkins

Deal Announcement - Ministry of S.U.I.T.S by Paul Gamble to Little Island!

I am thrilled to announce that the UK/Commonwealth rights to Paul Gamble’s middle-grade novel THE MINISTRY OF S.U.I.T.S have been sold to Little Island!

As I mentioned when the North American rights were sold, this book has everything I love for MG readers – humour, mystery, adventure, plus dinosaurs, pirates and unicorns! I’d sign up to the Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things if it wasn’t that my job at TBA keeps me pretty busy. Paul is based in Belfast, so we are thrilled this book found a home with Little Island – a fantastic publisher who have been such fun to work with.

September 11, 2015
International rights: UK Children's		Paul Gamble's THE MINISTRY OF S.U.I.T.S., in which after joining the Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things, two kids discover that the world is not only weirder than they ever thought, but it also contains a lot more dinosaurs and pirates, to Siobhan Parkinson and Grainne Clear at Little Island, by Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency.

 

Congrats Paul!