02-20-2007, 06:48 AM | #1 |
The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator
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Is a story sacred?
I see that a lot of people here intend to get their novels published. But what would you do if you finally found a willing publisher but he wants certain events in the book or even endings rewritten? It's not uncommon, I've heard.
What would you do? Do you consider a story, once written, completely finished and not to be changed? Or would you agree to rewriting and changing bits of your 'baby' if it meant getting published?
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02-20-2007, 12:05 PM | #2 |
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If the publisher could come up with specific details which you could agree might improve the work, then I'd consider it. But if they were just being general and couldn't come up with specific reasons on why you should change certain stuff, certainly I'd take my book somewhere else
Sometimes they just want to change the whole feel of the book to a more conventional one.
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02-20-2007, 01:30 PM | #3 |
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I think it depends on what sort of changes. I mean "change the main character to a woman, and have her die at the end" no, "have the climactic battle here and not here" maybe, "change that name because it might offend" yes, for example.
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02-20-2007, 10:19 PM | #4 |
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Minor changes, possibly. If I haven't attached some significance to them, and if there's a good reason. Plot changes, I'm really not in support of. Especially because I spent a lot of effort fitting all of these threads together. But if they've got a better way of making a plot work, I suppose yes.
Character changes, probably out of the question. As well as major plot changes.
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02-23-2007, 03:41 PM | #5 | |
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02-23-2007, 03:48 PM | #6 | |
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02-23-2007, 03:55 PM | #7 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
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Not that I ever will.
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02-26-2007, 06:11 PM | #8 |
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If it would better the story, yes. Change this or you won't be published. Off to see another publisher.
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02-26-2007, 10:39 PM | #9 |
Advocatus Diaboli
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I think that it is always best to be open-minded about criticism. Ultimately, the decision is always up to the author as to what he/she wants to put on the paper, and the publisher as to what he/she wants to put on the bookshelf. So I think it would be better to work towards a middle ground.
My impression is most changes that would be required are of an editorial kind to improve the way a book might read, since not all good writers are also masters of the language, rather than complete thematic turnarounds. Typically, if the theme doesn't really fit a publisher, they are not likely to even consider it in the first place.
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05-30-2007, 05:07 PM | #10 |
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The story is sacred, the way the story is told is not. If a publisher has something they want changed, and the changes do not drastically change the actual story (unless for the better) then there really isn't any reason save obstinacy for not making those changes.
Chances are that if the publisher, the story and the author are good ones then the publisher would be willing to not force the author to change the story too much and that the author would, in the process of writing the story, have already considered many of the changes that the publisher might suggest.
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05-30-2007, 07:12 PM | #11 |
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The Good Willow speaks sense (xx) - something (forgive me) i have not so far seen much of in this thread.
Ask yourself, only this - how good is your story? How much do you trust your own perception and how strong are you artisically? To be published for being published-sake? IF that is the premise, then what matter is it? Else ... live by your own direction ... but do not, neither, unless you are very sure of yourself, abhor what the Publisher might make you, or give you the freedom to call shots the next time. But, for myself, Publishers be damned - if you have not the whit to Publish yourself or get it published, and rely on the Jackals of the Publishing world - do not write - at least not with any expectation of being published uncut or with any vigour! Realism is a good trait - but let it not be said that Publishers or Business or 'percieved markets' should ever dictate your art. By yourself, and your work, only be you judged - but be not a prude to reality. Best, BB |
05-30-2007, 07:53 PM | #12 | |
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It's very sad to think about that kind of possible situation.
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06-06-2007, 07:31 PM | #13 |
Halfelven Daughter of the Dunedain, President of Entmoot
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Grammer wise, I'm willing to change. My grammer is not the best
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06-06-2007, 11:14 PM | #14 |
Advocatus Diaboli
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It's grammar.
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06-06-2007, 11:21 PM | #15 |
Advocatus Diaboli
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Ultimately, I'd trust a publisher. The most incredible story ever written means very little if only a few hundred people read it. Publishers keep their jobs by getting people to read the stories they choose to publish, so I'd have to think that, unless you had some kind of name recognition to begin with, they wouldn't choose your story unless it's pretty darn good, and a few tweaks would be for the better.
I don't think it'd ever come to a major overhaul on a new, unknown writer, because they would not have choosen you unless they already thought your story was something a lot of people would enjoy.
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