The Bitter and The Sweet
From an older version of my brain, to yours.
When bad news is also good news
Ok. Remember all the times I’ve said, publishing is not for the faint of heart..?
:sigh:
I wrote several drafts of two different books in order to fulfill a contract I signed with HarperCollins Canada in 2023. Alas, my editor has not vibed with either. So, after two years and almost 250, 000 words, I’ve cancelled that contract. That’s the bad news.
I am now, once again, a free agent (so to speak). This is the good news. It means my literary agent can send this latest book out on submission to a new, curated list of editors at all the publishing houses and imprints she believes could be a good fit. It means we’re free to find a better home for this story. I hope it also means I’ll find an editor who aligns more closely with my artistic goals.
That’s the dream: having a strong long-term partnership with an editor who supports my writing and also has a gift for helping me craft my best stories. Sadly, I can’t achieve that if I stay with this editor.
It’s not personal, though, this breakup. It can feel that way, because we always imbue our writing with a bit of ourselves. But I’ve had puh-lenty of practice at keeping me, Sandra, separate from the perceived value of my works. I’m pretty darn good at it. Which is how I’m able to maintain a relationship with my former editor despite the disappointment. Iris has three decades of experience and is arguably one of the best editors in Canada, with some incredible authors on her list, especially in the CanLit sphere. I’m glad we’re still friends.
I’ve had a few weeks now, since the ‘staring sadly at the lemons handed to me’ phase. I started revising this latest draft a couple weeks ago, to get it ready for my agent to read. I’m using Iris’s edit letter as a guide; just because she didn’t ultimately vibe with the book overall doesn’t mean she didn’t have some excellent individual points.
I’m not someone who’s ever sucked on a lemon to prove a point, but…I’ve always loved lemonade.
In Other News
I’m taking a break from Musings next month!
I’ll catch up with you again in September. ☀️
Speaking of September...
Wanna join me at a free virtual “Writing Mysteries” panel?
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 7pm MT
Hosted by Edmonton Public Library Writer-in-Residence Rhonda Parrish.
Featuring E.C. Bell, Candas Jane Dorsey et moi. We all reconnected at the Local Authors Book Bazaar earlier this month, had a blast visiting, and will be bringing that joyful chaos—plus combined decades of writing experience—to this event. You should come. 🤓I’ll be reading Rosemary’s Baby for the first time later this summer, so I can participate in the SinC Reading Like A Writer Book Club. It’s a virtual event for SinC members only on Saturday Sept. 27th. More details in the next Musings.
Oh, there’s just one more thing...
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