The Coveted Yet Dreaded R&R

Writer: Lisa Williams Kline

I’ve received seven of them over my twenty-plus years as a writer–- the coveted, yet also dreaded “revise and resubmit” (R&R) letter from an agent or editor. This is a sign from an agent or editor that they like a lot about the manuscript, and might accept it if you make the changes outlined in their R&R letter. The inside word among us writers is that these can be an incredible amount of work, and that they rarely pan out. Are they worth it?

Here’s an honest rundown of mine:

R&R #1: One Week of You

My agent, who had sent this manuscript out without success, dropped me. In a tailspin, I sent to 15 agents. One asked for an R&R, asking for my main character to be more empathetic. I carefully revised. She took me on. Success.

R&R #2: One Week of You

An editor from a Big Four publishing house liked it, but in the original version, which was based on a true story, there were bomb threats in a high school, and she wanted me to eliminate them. I changed the threats to April Fools’ Day pranks, but the manuscript still didn’t work for that editor. Fail.

R&R #3: One Week of You

The editors of Blue Crow Publishing wanted me to age up my character, find a better-defined climax, ramp up tension, better describe settings, add more difficulties for my main character, and for my main character to leave her crush in the end. I thoughtfully did the R&R, hesitating only about the main character leaving her crush. I had always thought he was a good guy but my editors wanted me to make him bad. In the end, I did that, too. They liked my revision, took the manuscript, and published it in 2019. Success.

R&R #4: Ladies’ Day

My first adult novel, Ladies’ Day, about women’s friendships, a lost daughter, and golf, is coming out this year, but it’s been a long road. I originally sent it to many agents. One agent asked for an R&R, requesting a closer interior relationship with the main character and less “stoicism.” I had a case of ennui and general despair at the time, so I didn’t attempt the R&R. Now, I wish I’d tried, since she liked it enough to take the time to outline her requests. Fail. 

R&R #5: Contemporary adult novel

One agent liked this novel, and asked for an R&R, suggesting more clearly defined inflection points in the plot. I launched myself into the effort, even hiring an editor to help me find and define the inflection points. “This R&R is like gold!” the editor told me. I revised over the course of about six weeks, then waited on tenterhooks for the agent’s response. But it wasn’t quite what she’d hoped for. I was devastated. Fail.

R&R #6 Contemporary adult novel

One small press sent me an R&R asking for a deeper point of view, a stronger voice, more dynamic characters, and less telling. They also suggested starting the story in a different place. I did change the opening, but felt overwhelmed by the rest of the requests, so never sent it back. Fail.

R&R #7: Between the Sky and the Sea

I had tried and failed with two previous adult novels, but the writers among you can surely identify with my indefatigable desire to write another. This time, I decided to attempt historical fiction–three times as much work as a contemporary novel.  After several years and trying many agents, I tried small publishers. Dragonblade sent an R&R, asking for more sophisticated sentence structure, and more adult thinking on the part of my 20-year-old main character. The publisher assured me, “You can do this!” Inspired, after six weeks of revising, I sent it in. “We like what we see,” was the beginning of her letter four months later. Dragonblade has published my book. Success.

So, my success rate with R&Rs has been 43%.  The up side of R&R’s is that, even if the agent or editor doesn’t take the revision, the manuscript becomes stronger. Maybe some of those failed R&Rs helped lead to later successes. Most of my R&R’s have had to do with strengthening story structure, which is always a benefit. My experience has taught me to do the revision quickly, but also give myself time to really absorb the suggestions. Don’t give up on the work of your heart. As Stevie Winwood said about finding romance, if you get a chance to do an R&R, take it

About the Writer

Lisa Williams Kline is the author of two novels for adults forthcoming in 2023, Between the Sky and the Sea, and Ladies’ Day, as well as an essay collection entitled The Ruby Mirror and a short story collection entitled Take Me. She lives in Davidson with her veterinarian husband, a cat who can open doors, and a sweet chihuahua who has played Bruiser Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Writer’s website: lisawilliamskline.com