T.S. Ferguson, an editor at Little Brown Books for Young Readers, has a great post up on his blog about the correlation between finding an editor, and finding a boy/girlfriend. As an agent looking at a ton of queries (more on that soon — I’m trying to come up with some numbers for you!), there’s a lot I agree with. Like this:
Sometimes you need to work on things before you’re ready to establish a relationship. If the relationship is worth it and the work is reasonable, it’s often worth it to put the time in beforehand. It can lead to great things in the future.
I can’t think of a better way to explain the need to revise before submitting!
Check out T.S.’s whole list and let me know if you can think of any other similarities — or do you think the search for an agent or editor is NOTHING like finding a date? Sing out in the comments!
Filed Under: Slushpile
Tags: dating, relationships, revisions
February 18th, 2009 at 9:19 am
HAHA This is so true, even in your critique groups! I will look at my stuff and be like… wow I never should have sent them THAT… they deserve better than this crap, and I will be all apologetic… maybe next time I should send flowers?
February 18th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I think it's pretty true – something I've thought about before!
February 18th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I loved that post. Thanks for the link.
I thought #8 was interesting because that's really true for any relationship but I never thought of it for books. But it makes total sense.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:54 am
I love the comparisons.
And as a single mom in her 40's, I'd say that with experience comes savvy and no tolerance for settling.
That's for dating and with my writing!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:17 am
We posted about the similarities between dating and publishing on our blog a few months ago.
http://plotthis.blogspot.com/2008/07/dating-game….
Same kind of emotional roller coaster!
Sarah Frances