Hi all,

I've been furiously editing my novel for a UK agent, and have a loose deadline of end of January.

I have noticed that my editing style has become a little different (and much more focused) under the microscope of agent interest and an approaching eta. I mean, Christmas and New Year aren't highly productive writing times for me, if you know what I mean, so there is a certain amount of pressure.

I don't want to be seen to miss a first deadline, and wondered if any other members had any thoughts on or experiences with this. Have you been set a deadline? How did you cope? Did you miss one? What was the result?

I've been giving the agent in question monthly updates and he seems a lot keener now the comedy element is being erased. I would feel like I was prostituting myself if I wasn't so happy with the emergent novel. And I got a chance to draw his attention to Practical Devil Worship (For All the Family), the title of which he actually laughed at. I dearly love that reaction.

JB

From what I've heard, missing a deadline is okay if you keep them posted, which you obviously are doing. You may not collect a reputation for ruthless efficiency and utter reliability, but they know that writing isn't a predictable business.

What drives them nuts is if they keep early Feb clear for some major photocopying and pitching and chasing, and on the 4th they get an email saying, 'sorry, not till March', when they know the author could have told them that at Christmas.

Same goes for publishers: their schedules are organised months and years ahead, and anything can be moved with enough notice. But they really, really don't want a printer on one phone saying, 'We've got the machines rolling, when's the camera-ready copy coming?' while you're saying, 'Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention my six week honeymoon/glandular fever/triple-length chapters.'

But don't get too disheartened: personally I'm usually right about how long my first draft will take (this current one excepted) but revisions can be pretty unpredictable. You may find the last few dominoes drop into place more sweetly than you expect. Or you may find Christmas parties suddenly less appealing, when you could instead get the beast off your desk...

Emma

Thanks Emma. Good to know.

Christmas parties less appealing? Hmm. Not sure if that will work in reality!

JB

Hi JB, best of luck with this you've certainly worked hard for it. I find deadlines exhilarating and really help the work process, I have one now for Nov 30th, rewriting a script first visited in 1998, so lots of updating. Do be careful not to rush it though it's tempting. I rushed a deadline earlier this year instead of being realistic and putting it back, the result was I ended up being sacked from the job, there were other circumstances i.e producer not really knowing what they wanted, but I feel if I'd have taken longer it may well have worked out. Just go for it, you'll be amazed at how many more hours there suddenly seem in a day.

Julie
x

No comment. Not outside the lounge anyhow.

Thanks Jubbly and Emma. Roger, I undertand why you'd want to be private.

I can certainly agree that the deadline can act as a great motivator, but as someone who used to cram for exams the night before, and finish homework the morning before school, I'm wouldn't say I'm an expert at these things. Still, the carrot is dangling, and I will do my best.

JB

Deadlines really focus the mind. I love them.


(never meet them, but love 'em all the same )

JB you sound just like my eldest son, who at 10.15 the other night said, Shit, I've got my geography presentation tomorrow and I haven't started it.
He got up at six, crammed like hell and managed to get a level 7 grade C.

Yes, I am rather like that. I'm a last minute man, and it annoys people because I generally do pretty well. Well, I got expelled three times, from three different schools, so maybe not that well, but I got there eventually.

JB

I was like that too till I had small children and was doing one day a week at college. Then I had to take the photographs on Wednesday (bummer if it was raining) because the only time I had in the darkroom would be Sunday night, so they'd be dry by Tuesday morning...

But I still put my paperwork off until well past the last minute. Haven't been fined yet for a late tax return, but no doubt it's only a matter of time...

Emma

Time, god, it's such a binding illusion. Sigh.

I loved it at Fantasy Con when someone asked Neil Gaiman what superpower he would have if he could choose one. He said he would want to make time stretchier, and admittedly, that would be cool.

JB