Tuesday 4 May 2010

When do creative differences become too much?

The following post has nothing to do with the lovely people at Vamplit publishing…

I hate to air my dirty laundry in public, but a recent incident had got me thinking…and thinking… and thinking.

What do we do if someone’s effort to ‘improve’ your book are falling far from the mark?  Do we continue to faithfully listen to someone else’s advice even though alarm bells are going off, or do you have to stand your ground?  Just because someone may have more education when it comes to writing, does that automatically make them a better writer? I don’t think I am precious about my writing and I am always keen to learn, but what if you honestly believe what is being ‘taught’ is ruining your book?

At what point do you make the decision to agree to disagree and go your separate ways?  And what happens next?  All of a sudden you are in the messy world of contracts and who owes who what.  Oh boy…

Wanting to have something published is only natural for a writer, but is it better to remain unpublished than to have something published you are unhappy with?  I think I would rather go unpublished, and for me the reality of this has sadly happened.

In the end it simply comes down to faith – faith in your own abilities and faith in eventually finding a publisher who will suit you.

I have faith.

7 comments:

  1. Thankfully, we were "discovered" by a great company and don't have these types of issues. It does sound to me like you're doing the right things. Hang in there. "Alone" was fantastic. It was a page turner and a superb effort; I think you know what you're doing! If your gut is telling you to go a certain direction, it sounds to me like you should do it.

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  2. The only thing I have to go by is once, a while back, I was in a critique class, and the "teacher" really thought he knew it all--to the point of knocking how Stephen King wrote. And granted, I was a fledgling. But I was never so disenchanted with my writing than at the end of these classes. I chose to not return.
    Going with the gut sometimes is our only, and usually our best way.

    Do whatever makes you happy, what you think is right for you. Only you can make this decision.

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  3. Look -- writing is SO subjective. I don't believe anyone knows it all, not even the 'greats'. You're right for following your own path, and the right thing will happen. Nominated you for an award, Marissa! http://nicole-hadaway.blogspot.com/2010/05/writers-wednesday-blogging-award-to.html

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  4. Follow your feelings. The Dark Road is fantastic.

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  5. Hi Marissa

    Sorry to hear you're having problems, the relationship between editor and writer, when your editing, should be close. I am constantly on my guard against leaving my fingerprints on authors work, but at the same time making sure the novel is the best it can be and that it reaches its full potential.

    Don't give up yet see if there is some middle ground you can work from. I know from my own experience working with you that you are open to all suggestions about your writing and are always working to improve. I personally think, having edited Alone, that you are a skilled and professional writer with an ability to paint a scene to perfection and then fill it with emotional punch.

    Good luck with this, but remember contracts are like wet swimming costumes, difficult to get out of.

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  6. Hi Gaynor, that is so nice of you to say so. I really appreciate the support. Luckily the editor agreed with me on the problems we were having as a team and so we have mutually decided to end the contract.(So there is a novel without a home if you are interested!)It is a bit of relief to be honest. It was taking up so much of my time I literally wasn't able to do much else, including writing the follow up to Alone.

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  7. I have read Dark Road and it is just a cracking read and deserves to be published.

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