Experiences With Editors - Shane Jones

Shane Jones on his experience with Publishing Genius editor, Adam Robinson:

Adam Robinson made love to my book. I had previously sent the manuscript of Light Boxes to dozens of indie publishers and emailed every editor I knew trying to get them to read it. Most didn’t respond. Others held the book for several months before rejecting it. Many responded with how they were closed for submissions or just didn’t find the story interesting enough. I probably contacted close to forty publishers.

 

But Adam Robinson at Publishing Genius Press responded in such a positive and “human way.” What I mean by this is that he discussed the book, asked questions, and really seemed to care. He was professional, but laid back, and it felt very natural. There was a connection and desire by me and Adam to make the book happen.

 

My agent recently read the original “contract” me and Adam had and said it was “Hilarious…And oddly touching in its innocence and its let's-make-a-tree-fort spirit.” I couldn’t agree more. Part of the contract said how Adam “wouldn’t be a jerk.”

 

After Adam decided to publish the book, we emailed. We emailed hundreds, if not thousands of times. I wish I had all those emails (I have a tendency to delete things). I imagine we traded at least 2,000 emails discussing my book, possible changes, and little edits here and there.

 

From Adam’s notes, I did one big overhaul on the book. The book (what I sent Adam was basically a first draft) came together in this big swoop of two-month-edit-love and then some little things here and there. I’ve never worked harder in my life on one piece of writing.

 

Writers can be skeptical of editors. I understand this. I’ve worked with other editors who believe in changing nothing, that the author has full control. This is a blessing and a curse. Other editors want to change everything and line-edit. This is extremely dangerous. I got lucky with finding Adam Robinson. He understood me and the book and offered changes/edits that I could reject or accept. Most of the time, his edits were spot-on.

 

We worked well together. It’s this kind of relationship – a general understanding of writer-to-editor-and-editor-to-writer on a compassionate and human level, and a strong desire to make a book “happen,” that yields the best result.

 

Shane Jones is the author of Light Boxes – originally published by Publishing Genius Press in February 2009. The book will be reprinted by Penguin Books in June 2010. The film option was recently purchased by Spike Jonze with Ray Tintori scheduled to direct.

Comments

[Maureen Hume]

Congratulations on your persistance and unwavering belief in your book.
For me it's such a spiritual time of year and to hear a fantastic happy ending makes me smile...a lot!

[christopher earl.]

I love thinking about how those 40'ish editors are probably kicking themselves for not taking your MS when they had the chance, but at the same time, it seems like had it not been for your work with Adam, it wouldn't have been nearly the success it turned out to be. I've unfortunately not read it yet, and am being patient for the reprint. I've heard really great things about it. Congrats on it, Shane.

[Dan Wickett]

I'd actually like to think that those other editors are thrilled for Shane and Adam and that the right thing happened - an editor that truly connected with the manuscript, even in a first draft'ish form, began a series of discussions with the author that led to a great book being published. Something that they're both really proud of.

That it also led to the bonus of a movie project and a reprint by a bigger houses is great news for both - but not really what you're thinking of when you, as an editor/publisher, begin that process of conversation with a prospective author.

And ideally, those 40'ish editors are just as thrilled with the choices they made to publish - those manuscripts that grabbed them the way Shane's grabbed Adam. That maybe have sold 20 copies or maybe have become award winning, raved about books, but in either case are books that the editors and authors are proud to have worked on together.

I say all of that as one of the 40'ish. One that is very excited for both Shane and Adam and their successes on this collaboration.

[christopher earl.]

Good words, Dan. And, you're right. I think I let my assumed/misplaced schadenfreude get the best of me there.