2019-10-01_Writer_s_Digest

WritersDigest.com I 51

Acolleaguecouldleavetheimprint
andtheyinheritanadditionalfour
booksovernight.Thentossinreal-
lifestuff: kidsbarfing,trips,liga-
menttears,anda deservednight
ortwooflooselyclutchinga glass
ofwineandjuststaringfaintlyinto
themiddledistanceandyou,my
friend,haveyourselfa newturn-
arounddate.

Consider what kind of writer you are and to try not to work

against it. If you are a writer who has to put your buns on the

chair every day or your muse starts eating her own hair, then

have a seat! But you can’t expect to have the same high word

count every day—that’s just not fair to you.

Barbara Poelle is vice president at Irene

Goodman Literary Agency (irenegoodman.

com), where she specializes in adult and

young adult fi ction.

But do not despair! You can be

proactive in this situation in order to

make sure you aren’t repeatedly clear-

ing your calendar for edits that never

appear. About 10 days before your

editor said he would have your revi-

sions, email your agent and remind

them of this deadline. Your agent can

then shake loose the likelihood of

that occurring, and then can get in

front of any delays and establish the

new turnaround for your timetable

as well, buying you a night or two

of well-deserved wine clutching and

faint staring yourself. WD

#WritersDigest100

Writer’sDigestturns 100 in January2020!Helpcelebrateour 100 thanniversarybytellingushowWriter’sDigesthas

LQÁXHQFHG\RXUZULWLQJSUDFWLFH³ZKHWKHULW ZDV\RXUÀUVWLVVXHIDYRULWHFRYHULQWHUYLHZRU ELW RI DGYLFHD FRPSHWLWLRQ

ZLQQHU\RXUÀUVWE\OLQHRU DQ\WKLQJHOVH:ULWHWR XV RU EH VXUHWR XVH:ULWHUV'LJHVWRQ VRFLDOPHGLD