Into the Fire

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Stubborn . . .

 

                  
Stubborn

Some Christians insist we can't righteously be "stubborn", but we can be "determined". Semantics, my friends.

Either way, if you're seeking publication, chances are you're going to have to lose some of either. I know what you're thinking – or I can guess. Of course, you say, you can't be stubborn if you want to be published. You have to give and take with the editor(s). You must be "teachable" and compliant with your work. And then you ask, "Why would you have to lose any determination?" After all, so many in the biz will tell you perseverance trumps talent in the publishing industry. Keep after it long enough, and you'll gain favor.

Determination must be accompanied by the ability to compromise. Compromise is a dirty word to me. It can mean that nobody wins and a less than satisfactory resolution is achieved by individuals giving up something of value. That doesn't bode well for the long-term psyche of that individual. And the individual is inevitably the author making the sacrifice. Determined to be published can result in some unpleasant choices but if the ultimate reward is gaining the publishing crown, ultimately it will be worth it. Or so it will seem. To some. Sometimes. Which can be well and good.

Stubborn carries the weight of "no compromise". Not giving up and not giving in. Neither fares well in publishing circles. Stubborn implies an unwillingness to see your work through an editor's eyes, to believe in their insights, and to trust them to help you produce the best product. However, for me, stubborn simply means standing firm on those areas where you're convinced subtracting them will not benefit the meaning of the story.

I'm not advocating stubborn-ness for the sake of it. I'm being truthful in admitting it's difficult for me to be any other way.

 

                     
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Father, help me to be stubborn in all that you have for me to do. That's all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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5 responses to “Stubborn . . .”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    I don’t think of it as stubbornness, because stubborness can be a stumbling block. I think of it as discernment when it comes to our writing.
    I had to face that question a few years back when my Genesis entry came before an editor. The manuscript was turned down as not right for their house (which I knew already) because they only published romance (that’s where I also learned that in the publishing industry, even if the category is non-romance, they still mean romance. Talk about stubbornly clinging to something!)
    Point is, though they didn’t say it in just those words, I had other authors, published and non tell me I was crazy not to adapt the story to meet the house’s needs.
    I wasn’t even the least bit tempted to change it because that wasn’t what the story was about. And while I could envision a storyline involving a romance for the main character in a follow up novel, he just wasn’t ready at that time in his life for a romance. I’d been living with those characters for six years. The editor and author friends hadn’t.
    Discernment.
    The same thing we have to use every time we work with our crit partners. Sometimes they have fantastic advice. Sometimes it’s not so great. We’re the only ones as the authors of our works who can decide.

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  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Well said, Brenda. And I agree with you. Changing your story just to satisfy (but not guarantee) their supposed “need” really does nothing to validate your writing. It’s important – at least to me – to have my writing ring true for me. I see you feel the same.

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  3. Brenda Anderson Avatar
    Brenda Anderson

    I think you have to decide what’s important to you: getting published or changing to story to fit the publisher’s needs.
    I once had an expert advise me that my hero & heroine were too messed up, that they needed counseling, & should never get together. She told me to rewrite the story without all the issues & make it a sweet romance. Uh, no.
    Also, out of frustration because my contempories weren’t garnering any interest, I wrote a novel that was strictly romance to appease the market. That romance did attract attention, of course, but one expert said it wasn’t sweet enough, another worried about it not being my passion.
    So, my attempts at being teachable have led to more frustration. 😉
    I guess if a publisher were interested, though, it would come down to what they wanted me to change. I’d be malleable in some areas, & not in others.

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  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Some things work with change. The core of our hearts in a story being changed to meet a standard formula? Not so much. I’ve been amazed at some of the suggestions you’ve received, Bren. Jaw-dropping dumb mostly because they wanted to insure a status quo without imagination and unique characters with their situations. That these professionals recognized your writing talent but didn’t trust your story? Ridiculous.

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  5. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    A story without issues? Where’s the conflict? LOL!

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