In today's stingy market there is little room for the prima donna. From its original usage in opera, the term prime donne has spread in contemporary usage to refer to anyone behaving in a demanding or temperamental fashion or has an inflated view of herself. Authors that are high maintenance are most often not going to get that second chance.
Being open to changing a plot sequence or even your POV is key to finding a publishing home. In nonfiction it might mean a thorough rewrite.
Several clients I now represent are authors I met at a conference who took the suggested advice from critiques and myself, made changes and proved they knew how to write as well as take suggestions. Any agent will work overtime for such an author.
Professionals across the board repeatedly mention the benefit of critique groups. An objective critique group is an excellent first opportunity for an author to sharpen their prose and basic skills.
The words you want associated with you and your professional persona are:
easy to work with
open to suggestions
determined
approachable
perceptive
If you are willing to learn from those that cross your path, and persevere, you will gain respect and most likely that publishing opportunity you long for.
2 comments:
Oh, amen. The writers who listen, rewrite, rewrite again, are the ones who will cross the finish line, and all that without grumping...much!
Oh, that made me think of the first really "baby" that my editor wanted to chop out of the manuscript. I remember telling her how important that mini scene was, and she said, "Good, put it aside and use it somewhere else in another story." Oh, the pain, the pain, but I listened and she was right.
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