Today I received my very first rejection letter that wasn't simply a form rejection. In it the agent says she enjoyed the sample chapters and found the synopsis intriguing.

So far so good, but now she comes to her reason for rejecting it. Basically, she says she believes that it could do with some editorial work since she thinks the beginning is somewhat abrupt. She actually states that, contrary to her usual recommendations, she would like to see more exposition in this case and poses a couple of questions for me to think about.

Next she comments briefly on the synopsis and general outline of the novel before moving onto the penultimate paragraph where she recommends a couple of editorial agencies in case I wish to have my work editorially assessed. The last paragraph then says that she would definitely like to see my submission again in that case along with a letter contanining some information about myself.

So here's my problem. Will she only want to see my manuscript again after I have received professional editorial advice, or would she if I made some changes myself to fit in with her comments? Is it worth seeking editorial advice from an agency? It does appear expensive when I checked it out, but would it make a difference? I'm a little hesitant about that kind of thing not only because of the cost but because it was recommended by the agent. Will her agency have some kind of interest in this, or is it somply that they are dealing with so many submissions now that they are looking for somebody else to do a lot of the editting work before it gets to them in order to make their jobs easier?

I think that the answer to your first question answers all your other questions. If she will only want to see your manuscript again after you have received professional editorial advice, then there might be something fishy about that. If there is something fishy, then it might not be worth seeking.

However, professional editing should be costly. Don't let that surprise you or make you suspicious. It's just like hiring someone to remodel your home...it's real work, and it takes real money to hire someone to do it for you. Of course, there are builders who will take shameless advantage of the novice homeowner.

As a writer, you'll probably want to have those skills yourself eventually anyway, and you won't get them by sending your stuff to be professionally edited (though you will learn a lot, if you pay attention). A few good writing classes might or might not be a better investment. I can't really speak to that issue.

But it sounds to me as if she thinks your manuscript is close and is willing to take another look once you make changes. The editorial thing is just one way of getting you some good solid help in making those changes.

quote:

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An agent should not refer you to an outside service for which you have to pay. An agent's job is to make money for you, not to not find ways for you to give money away. A kickback arrangement is often the incentive for such referrals. If an agent tells you your manuscript needs work and then recommends a specific editing service, the editing service may have promised to give the agent a percentage of whatever you wind up paying. The same goes for vanity publishers and fee-based print-on-demand self-publishing services, which often provide finder's fees to agents who persuade their clients to accept pay-to-publish contracts.

Note that there are times when an agent may suggest a writer hire a reputable independent editor--for instance, for a salable project that needs developmental work that the author, in the agent's judgment, can't provide. Such recommendations can be perfectly legitimate (though a writer should do some careful thinking before deciding to go this often very expensive route). But questionable editing schemes are extremely common, and receiving an editing referral should always make you wary. (For more on the pros and cons of independent editing, see the Book Doctors and Independent Editors page.)

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But you can't know just from something like that. It could be a further elaboration on the old scam. I go back to your first question. If she won't consider seeing your manuscript again unless you pay up, then it's no good.

Whether such editing might be worth your money...some of what you say argues that it wouldn't be anyway. If a service you've never used is giving you sticker shock, you should usually put it off till you really know you need it. And like I said, you're going to want to learn how to do this stuff for yourself well enough that someone else will pay the editor. That doesn't mean that you definitely shouldn't get it professionally edited, it just means there are valid reasons for holding off on that right now.

Really, the two are separate issues. You need to be confident that your agent makes money by representing successful writers rather than suckering marginal ones. Don't go with an agent if you don't believe in that person.

You need to believe that the editing service is going to be worth your money or it won't do you a lot of good. Don't pick up the service if you aren't confident it will really help you.

Since this is only the second rejection this particular novel has received, I'm thinking that sending to other agents (there are precious few publishers in the UK who will receive submissions direct from the author for children's books, although there are some) will be the best bet and seeing what they say. If I'm getting more 'close' rejections as it were then professional editting is something I might consider.

Has anyone else here seen advice to that effect? Does it seem sound advice to any of you?

Edit: Ah, pooh. I missed the children's market bit, too, so not sure it applies to Gwalchmai's case at all. But I'm still interested in opinions of the advice.

I have heard the "publisher first, then agent" advice, but I've also heard that if you fail to sell the ms, it becomes doubly hard to find an agent to represent it, because all the bridges have been burnt at the places they would have sent it. Again, not sure how true that is.

I think the truth probably is that there's no one method that works for everyone, but most methods will work for some someones.

Having a publisher would certainly make finding an agent easier but, like Christine said, there aren't as many places accepting unsolicited material now as there used to be. It is possible to go it alone however, although I gather it would take quite a bit of work networking and suchlike in order to get around the no unsolicited MS rule. That, unfortunately, requires a bit more time than I have in my life at the moment so being able to leave things to an agent is kind of appealing. Going it alone also requires you to have a pretty good understanding of the market in order to make the best deals possible. There is help available for this, as well as help available regarding contracts and what everything means in them, but again, it requires more time resaerching etc. on your part.

Brinestone, a professional editting service can cost quite a bit apparently, or so my research tells me. However, when you look at what you apparently get with some of them, I suppose it could take a bit of time on the editor's part, so fair enough. Here are a couple of links to give you an idea:

http://www.writersworkshop.co.uk/fees.html
www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk/tlc/FeesandSubs/index.html

On a side note, I heard that publishers that claim to not accept unagented manuscripts are for the most part bluffing, trying to cut down on the immense piles of slush that arrive weekly. The worst that could happen if you sent it to one of these is an unopened rejection. Then you'll know for sure which ones are bluffing and which ones aren't.