Thread by @Maria_Tureaud

I've reached the point during #RevPit where I get really down and out. For those who don't know, I'm not only a Developmental Editor, but I'm also an author, and I've been on the other side of contests more often than not. A thread. (1

Until #RevPit the idea of subjectivity didn't quite sink in. The daunting task of reading really great queries, and incredible pages...it takes a toll. Like, how am I supposed to only pick one?? At least agents can request as many awesome manuscripts as they like! (2

@KyraMNelson bared her soul on this the other day, and you can read her thread here (3:

https://twitter.com/KyraMNelson/status/1381772630903058433?s=20

It hurts, from choosing a manuscript to work with, all the way down to feedback. I work with authors all the time, and often feel angry when their gorgeous work gets rejected. And as Kyra said, luck plays a larger role in publishing than anyone would like to admit (4

I realized this maybe four years ago, when my writing was finally 'there,' and it took four more years to write a story to land on the desk of the right agent. You can read about my journey here, but I warn you, it's daunting (5

mariatureaud.com/2020/08/20/how…

#RevPit is also hard, because I know I can make all these manuscripts stand proudly in the trenches, and would gladly take you all on as clients. This isn't about who's best, better, or 'there.' It's about a delicate balance of work to be done vs. the time we have to complete (6

It's also about which manuscript might need a Full Manuscript Critique vs requiring a Developmental Edit. Do we have craft issues or structural flaws? Of the structural flaws therein, which can we complete in 8 weeks, given 2 of those weeks are mine--to complete the edit (7

6 weeks to rewrite a manuscript. That's TIGHT. So that's where I'm at right now. The excitement of receiving subs has passed, and I'm furiously taking notes as I try to decide time frames, and which manuscript needs x or y work (this is for my requested material) (8

Normally, I take 4-6 weeks to complete a Dev Edit. This gives me time to really sit and brainstorm, to look at the beats, to work with the story and mold it. And the author can take as long as they need to execute the vision. But for #RevPit we're on a schedule (9

So, yeah. I'm really feeling the pressure today. Just remember, for #RevPit in particular, it's not about what's good, bad, or going to sell. It's about the balance of work needed vs the timeframe we have. And as someone who was rejected from RevPit many yrs ago, just know...(10

that #RevPit or ANY other contest, isn't the be-all, end-all/only route to reaching your goals. I'm proof of that. So, I have no idea what I wanted to thread about, & lost my way, but I have a major sad thinking about the task ahead. Just know I love you all and your words (11

Oh and it was @jenichappelle who rejected me, and thus #MariaVsJeni was born Hahahahahaha!