Internet Marketing Business Forum

Lottie · 07-29-2009, 08:40 AM

When a novel is published and sent to stores, how different will it be from the original manuscript that was submitted to the editor?

For example how common is it for publishers to want to change character names, place names, and book titles? Will the publisher want to rearrange chapters? Will they demand a whole rewrite altogether or want it to be made longer or shorter? Or is it usually just a correction of the odd word and grammar mistakes?

Does it vary a lot depending on the quality of the manuscript in the first place?

I always assumed a lot was changed but I never really knew for sure. Does anyone know, typically, how much is changed?

Cheers

Blue · 07-29-2009, 08:50 AM

When submitting a manuscript, the publisher and you have already advanced through a stage called Query letter. You have described your story or "works" briefly. We do that as the publishers have current guidelines, themes,popular topics and by you writing this query letter, you have a yes or no answer right away.

Some of the publishers will not return your manuscript if you submit it too early; but they do tell writers their "guidelines" in a book.

Read ahead on this subject please. It will be important as you want to make money at your work.

calliecappy18 · 07-29-2009, 08:59 AM

In my experience, editors are not willing to spend a lot of time and effort editing the book of a first time author. If that author's manuscript needs a lot of work, the editor simply doesn't buy it. An author with a proven track record (previous books sold well) would be more likely to have an editor asking for major revisions, especially if the publishing house has already invested money in the book (advance against royalties).

Sorry to disillusion you, but titles are often changed and are usually decided by the publisher's marketing department. Changing character and place names is a simple matter of find and replace in your word processing program. A friend had this happen in her debut novel. The editor didn't like the heroine's first name and so my friend (the author) had to change it.

Correcting odd words, grammar mistakes, and internal inconsistencies (like eye and hair color) are the purview of the copyeditor.

Bottom line here is that unless you submit a quality manuscript, you are not going to sell it. Editors have too many excellent manuscripts from which to chose.

07-29-2009, 08:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lottie Status: Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	By how much will a submitted manuscript differ from the published article? When a novel is published and sent to stores, how different will it be from the original manuscript that was submitted to the editor? For example how common is it for publishers to want to change character names, place names, and book titles? Will the publisher want to rearrange chapters? Will they demand a whole rewrite altogether or want it to be made longer or shorter? Or is it usually just a correction of the odd word and grammar mistakes? Does it vary a lot depending on the quality of the manuscript in the first place? I always assumed a lot was changed but I never really knew for sure. Does anyone know, typically, how much is changed? Cheers

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07-29-2009, 08:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Blue Status: Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	When submitting a manuscript, the publisher and you have already advanced through a stage called Query letter. You have described your story or "works" briefly. We do that as the publishers have current guidelines, themes,popular topics and by you writing this query letter, you have a yes or no answer right away. Some of the publishers will not return your manuscript if you submit it too early; but they do tell writers their "guidelines" in a book. Read ahead on this subject please. It will be important as you want to make money at your work.

07-29-2009, 08:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
calliecappy18 Status: Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	In my experience, editors are not willing to spend a lot of time and effort editing the book of a first time author. If that author's manuscript needs a lot of work, the editor simply doesn't buy it. An author with a proven track record (previous books sold well) would be more likely to have an editor asking for major revisions, especially if the publishing house has already invested money in the book (advance against royalties). Sorry to disillusion you, but titles are often changed and are usually decided by the publisher's marketing department. Changing character and place names is a simple matter of find and replace in your word processing program. A friend had this happen in her debut novel. The editor didn't like the heroine's first name and so my friend (the author) had to change it. Correcting odd words, grammar mistakes, and internal inconsistencies (like eye and hair color) are the purview of the copyeditor. Bottom line here is that unless you submit a quality manuscript, you are not going to sell it. Editors have too many excellent manuscripts from which to chose.