Sunday 16 May 2010

Jumping for Joy




So.... my children are demonstrating what their mother is doing right now (I couldn't post a picture of myself jumping on the trampoline as there are somethings that other people should just not see!) I got a lovely email back from the editor at Mills and Boon asking me to revise and resubmit my full. Again the revisions are entirely manageable. It will mean rewriting one full chapter and around one quarter of another. Along with that there are some general comments that I will have to check throughout the manuscript. So am I happy? Yes I'm jumping for joy.
She also asked for an approximate return date so I guess I have to realistic. Some items in the day job have recently swollen in size. I've had to bring some work home this weekend and I can predict that this could happen a few times this month.
What I really want to do is put my head down and focus on the revisions and nothing else. However life sometimes get in the way. Overall I am delighted to have some feedback and I also have to say that the feedback has been super quick. Most of the boards have people waiting for over 6 months for feedback (whether it's an R or revisions) so I do appreciate how lucky I am.
I also got my feedback from RNA New Writers Scheme. It was very positive and suggested a few changes, most of which were pretty minor. It is interesting to say that the suggestions don't match the ones which the editor has given me, but I can see where they have come from. And of course, it is all constructive criticism which I can learn from. I guess it just goes to show how subjective writing can be. I know that on occasions I have read book reviews that I just didn't agree with and I suppose it just supports the learning curve that tells me "you can't please every reader, every time." But guess what? There's one person that I certainly do want to please!
And finally, how glad am I that I booked a train for the RNA conference and chose not to fly Ryanair? After wanting to go to the RNA conference for nearly a year I would be devastated if I'd book a flight that never took off. And to think the only reason I went for the train is that my Radley flight suitcase didn't meet the hand luggage restrictions on Ryanair... It must be fate!

11 comments:

  1. Wohoo - fantastic news!!! Good luck with those revisions. Oh and gorgeous pics of your kidlets!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great news, Susan!! Good luck with the revisions. Don't be afraid to rewrite more if you have too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Go you!
    That's brilliant news, no wonder you're jumping for joy. Sniffing distance!!
    Hope this is your last hurdle to jump.

    Jo
    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. FABULOUS NEWS. Well done.

    And love the photo - you have two gorgeous children.

    XX

    ReplyDelete
  5. Go with what your editor says first!!!
    Editors know what they want. If you think that the RNA New Writer Scheme's suggestions make sense and the story will make the story stronger do those as well. But in this game, an editor's comments trumps everything. It is important that you see the why behind what she is saying.
    But hooray for you!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations, Susan!
    This is fantastic news! My second round of revisions are on hold for now. Life has gotten crazy. The editor from Medical Romance sent out some books for me to review to show me what she's looking for. The revisions she's requesting are substantial but I'll give it my best shot.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Many thanks Ladies for the words of encouragement. I hear lots of authors talk about how tough revisions can be, I guess I'm about to find out! All part of the learning curve...

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOL at the Radley flight luggage! Fate indeed :-)

    HUGE congrats on the revise and resubmit request. So excited for you. Perhaps you could be the first Medical author to appear on the Minx 'feature an author' spot!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You're giving me wild dreams now Joanne. As for the luggage I thought to myself - I've lusted after one of these cases for years, finally bought one and now Ryanair won't take it? - stuff em!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey, Susan,

    Just wanted to pop by and say I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. And, yes, hit the Minxes blog. That would be awesome.

    Abbi

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Susan!
    I wish I had your e-mail address!!!! Please go to http://romanceuniversity.org/ Scott Eagan from the Greyhaus Literary Agency is blogging. He is looking for medical romance authors. Read his response to my comment!!! He is a VERY reputable agent. I already have an agent I'm very happy with but thought maybe you'd be interested. Good luck!!!

    ReplyDelete