Is It Your Manuscript or YOUR Manuscript?

I think many of us remember the classic "italics" lesson from our schooldays:

You broke the lamp. (Not your sister - you.)

You broke the lamp. (You didn't just chip it.  Your broke it.)

You broke the lamp. (Yes, Mom's favorite, the one she adored.)

Your broke the lamp. (Not the ashtray, but the lamp.)

How useful italics are for emphasis - not just in writing, but in speech.  And in recent weeks I have found myself using italicized personal pronouns in speech when discussing manuscripts.  A bit of analysis:

**

Author to me:  "This is my manuscript."

My reaction:  Good; I respect that.  You feel an ownership of your book and want to implement your vision. It is your labor of love and you want a modicum of control over it.

**

Author to me: "This is MY manuscript."

What I hear: "How dare you think you can, should, or have the right to make suggestions or comments, or God forbid, point out things that don't work or will cause the book not to sell?  This is MY book, and you should recognize its perfection."   All righty then!  Go get yourself a contract with someone who appreciates that approach to writing.

**

Me to author: "This is your manuscript."

What I am saying: "I am going to make suggestions for improvement, but it is up to you regarding what to do with them.  I don't want to affect your characters, plot, or writing in any way you are uncomfortable with.  Therefore, look at each edit as a suggestion for improvement from a professional who does this for a living, but if you feel strongly about something, let's discuss. I see myself as a collaborator, not a tyrant."

**

Me to author: "This is YOUR manuscript."

What I am saying: "Get with the program, please.  We are working hard here to help you craft a book that will review well and sell lots of copies.  Stop expecting us to do all the heavy lifting; the fact that you wrote a first draft doesn't mean you now get to sit back, see it typeset and printed, and then suck down the champagne as huge royalty checks roll in.  You'd better get with the program, because if we withdraw our support of this book, you are really not going to be in a good place.  Not that we'll tell you that, of course - we'll just put our time and money into authors who are cooperative, market-aware, and yes - pleasant."

**

Me to Author, or Author to Me: "This is our manuscript."

My reaction:  Thank you for recognizing that we are partners in an investment-based business.  You have spent your valuable time and energy writing and trying to get published; we have spent our time doing everything we can to maximize its success.  When the book sells, we both win; when the book does not sell, we both lose.  We are a couple, you and I, agreeing on how to raise our children while respecting each other's differences.  We want to succeed, and we want some fun along the way, and we're in it together. 

 

Comments

[Chitrader.wordpress.com]

Good post. As a yet to be published author, I can't believe the primadonna attitude any writer would cop when they should know they're not the ones with the power in a book deal. Whether my manuscript is the greatest literary work in the history of written words, or not, if a publisher chooses not to publish it, game over. Why would anybody jeopardize their chances of getting published in any way, shape, or form?

I say, let the ego wait until after the book is published. Then mount your throne and proceed to rule the literary landscape. As for me, I'll gladly work my ass off with any publisher or editor who is willing to take a chance on me, in hopes of producing the best book possible. The same goes for any subsequent work I may produce.

Sign me up for the 'This is our manuscript' program.

[Elspeth]

Ha! I learned this in theatre school, when we would change the emphasis word by word through a sentence. The meaning changed radically every time.

Those acting lessons come in handy now that I write.