If a publishing house says they are interested in my novel, but need some changes, what are my chances?

Question

A major publishing house told my agent they are interested in my novel, but that they would like me to address some concerns with the novel first. Essentially, they'd like to see me make an effort at revising my work with the changes in mind. Do major publishing houses do this often? What are my realistic chances of getting published now?

Answer 1

I've never had anything published, but my guess is that this is a pretty good thing. I think that pretty much every author has to make some form of a change to their book or novel before it is published- it's part of the good editing process. They want your book to be the best that it can be, and to be as successful as it can be. I would not be afraid to make the changes. My guess is that if they are asking for a few changes, they are to help convey the message of the book more clearly and to improve the quality in more than one area. I would say that your chances are pretty good still if you make the appropriate changes. Even if they aren't perfect, if you get close you and an editor will be able to perfect them before publication.

Answer 2

Make the effort to make those changes and hopefully they are so moved that they decide to take you on. Publishers don't make requests too often. Bear in mind though, that just because they seem interested in your work, it doesn't mean that your efforts will be rewarded. There are times that the person within a publishing house who is interested in your novel might change jobs in mid-stream and there you are--right back where you started.

Make the changes and do it as soon as possible and wish for the best. Good Luck, and I mean it.

Answer 3

If you sign a contract with them, those changes will be out of your hands. I would find out what they are first. The standard writers' contract gives them the right to make whatever changes they want including the title. The best person to ask is your agent. If you have one, why are you asking here? That is what you are paying your agent for. Your agent gets royalties for making such decisions.

They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 4

Change your manner to conceive the world as you do conceive right now and you will get the chances of getting published. This publishing house' concerns with your Nobel are in fact your own concerns that you have right now in your life.

Answer 5

Your agent should be answering your questions, but i take your concern to mean you don't necessarily trust your agent's advice (good instinct.)
My three published books all had changes requested by the publishers and greatly improved the final product. You're looking at your creative vision and they are looking at the book's sales potential.

Answer 6

Congrats!
You should listen to them and make the changes. They are professionals, and are usually willing to compromise if there is something you are adamant about keeping in the story, but it's in your best interest to take their suggestions to heart.

My editor made me change the ending to my book. The Ending. I thought I was going to die, but once I re-wrote it, I realized that she was so right.

There is no author on the planet who doesn't make revisions based on their editor's suggestions, even the "big" ones. Good Luck!

Answer 7

They are really interested and want to see how well you can manifest the changes.

A whole lot better than "Does not meet our needs at the present time."

Answer 8

It means that they are really interested in your work and what to improve it.Congrats Yaar!
Cheers to a budding writer!
All the best in ur noble endeavour.
Rohan ;)

Answer 9

It's called editing, and it's perfectly normal.

If this is your first novel, go with them immediately and do what they say.

Answer 10

I would say they are pretty good if you make the changes they're asking for.