Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival where YA Highway's readers post answers to weekly questions.
This week's question: How far would you go to get published?
The question was broken into four sections. Would you...
1. ...jump onto a trend train? (yes)
2. ...switch to a well-selling genre? (yes)
3. ...do minor revisions to sign with an agent (hell, yes)
4. ...do major revision requested by an editor (absolutely)
None of these situations seems very far our there for me. I'm fairly fluid about my writing, as in I am willing to change anything about a story in order to make it better. I've written in a variety of genres before and would happily try on a new one.
As for trends, if an agent or editor asked me to write about a particular topic, I'd give it a try.
So the real questions is--what if I am uncomfortable with a suggested change?
The answer to that depends on another question: is the change about the text or about the critiquer?
For example, if the critiquer suggests changing a character's sexual orientation--why? Is it about the text--for example a distracting subplot? Or is it about the critiquer--the reader is uncomfortable with the specific sexual orientation?
If the change is about the text, I am very open to making changes. If it is about the critiquer, I am more reluctant.
In the end, it is all a balancing act--how significant the details are to the core of the story and how much the writer trusts the critiquer. It is a question that can be answered only when there are specifics.
I will say that I've become much more open to changes, even those that I'm sure about, as my writing journey has continued. Perhaps because it is easier for me to distance myself from a novel now--to see it as a piece of text rather than an extension of myself. Is this growth? Does it make me less passionate about my writing? I don't know.
How far would you go to get published? Has what you are willing to do changed over your writing journey?
12 comments:
Great answer!
"a balancing act--how significant the details are to the core of the story and how much the writer trusts the critiquer" Well said!
I'd say yes to all those questions too. Of course, there has to be a good reason for the changes, but agents and editors know what they're doing. It's their job!
As long as it doesn't compromise my integrity, or that of the story, I'm willing to listen.
Does selling body parts count? jk. I am generally willing to do anything that will make my work better or me a better writer.
I'd never sell what little integrity I may have, and probably keep all the kids too...maybe depending on the day.
But try something new, change something already done, re-arrange my retirement plan, sure...why not!
Um I would pretty much do everything and anything that I feel good about. But if it felt wrong then that's a big no.
Juliana--Thanks!
Christine--Glad to hear I'm not the only one!
Prerna--Integrity is a wonderful word to describe it. Great thought!
Jessie--I have a few body parts I could do without!
Dean--I'm with you!
Erin--Very true--the hard part sometimes is determining what is wrong/right.
This is awesome! I'm glad that you answered honestly and that you expanded on your answers. I'm 100% with you! :)
I'd never thought of it as text vs. critiquer, but that makes perfect sense. And I agree with you. I also definitely would change genre, as long as it was something I was interested in, but I'd never considered a trend, except the way you put it. So... good job!
As long as I don't have to compromise on what I believe in, then I have no problem with it. Thanks for sharing.
I would do 3 and 4, but for 1 and 2 it would have to be something I was already interested in to begin with.
Food for thought, mos def. Currently, I write what I want and most of it gets rejected -- but those few stories that make it to publication are shining stars, proof that I can keep doing what I want to do (until I want to make this my day job).
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