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A Man of Very Few Words
When even a 17 syllable haiku is too long
Last year I wrote a 360-page book that attracted the attention of one of the world’s most celebrated literary agents.
He was so moved by my writing that he immediately took me on as a client and one week later sold my book to one of New York’s leading publishing houses.
My editor there absolutely loved the book, but felt that I had “gone on too long” in several places and requested that I tighten up the writing before publication, which I am pleased to say I did without much complaint, leaving me with a much leaner and meaner 272-page manuscript.
The publisher’s focus group, however, a vital part of the editorial process, noted that one of the chapters — the longest one — seemed better suited for the sequel — an observation, I thought, that was quite astute and also inspiring, as I had not until that time thought my book was good enough to merit a sequel.
So I got to work, excised the too-long chapter, tweaked a few segues and in just a matter of days was the proud papa of a still-very-commanding 189-page tome, “destined,” my publisher declared, for the New York Times Best Seller List.
