That's a great idea for a blog, Gud (You might tell her the correct spelling is "go-fer". Or, you know, not). That concept of support is very very important to people who have to carve time out of their day for their art or craft.
When H was carving and painting figurines, or making pysanky, to be given to others as a gift from our family, I was in charge of the music, backrubs, sandwiches, fresh tea, kid wrangling, parent wrangling, and kibbitzing about color and design. And when I was working on the last drawer novel, I would eat when a plate of hot and delicious food was put between me and my keyboard. Physical and practical support is invaluable to someone with limited time to devote to their art.
oh god, this conversation is going so badly. moral support, please. my hands are shaking. i feel terrible. i might start to cry.
I'm sorry it's going badly Allyson. This is about redoing the chapters I assume? You're doing what you have to, he let this go for a year, you're not going to be able to move forward without him not holding up his end.
God, so awful.
Sorry, Allyson.
I'm a greedy backstabber who would never have gotten this far without him.
Friendship over.
I feel awful. I stood my ground, but it couldn't have gone any worse than it did.
I'm a greedy backstabber who would never have gotten this far without him.
Okay, wait-- he wrote three chapters out of ten that he then didn't work on for nearly a year?
EPIC FAIL on his part.
It's on my part, too. I should have recognized it earlier. I didn't. His feelings are terribly hurt and he's lashing out.
But the appropriate response to a massive rewrite is never "(Agent Kate) is just one opinion, why do we have to make changes?"
Okay, wait-- he wrote three chapters out of ten that he then didn't work on for nearly a year?
Yes, exactly.
I don't know a lot about publishing, but I'm pretty sure that your agent is not just one opinion.
I'm sorry, Allyson. The conversation had to happen to go forward. I hope he sees things differently after time passes.
And you know, this book might not find a publisher, anyway. I'll just be happier with the end product when it's done my way, even if I self-publish it.
