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Does the Gold Medalist in Swimming Need to Know Gymnastics

Does the Gold Medalist in Swimming Need to Know Gymnastics

Do you think editors and agents have different (lower) standards for writing thats submitted by an author-illustrator as opposed to someone whos "just" an author?
As you can imagine, I am a writer who cant draw a cube.
Some of the feedback I get from my agent has really challenged me to reach for something a lot higher with my writing. Then I see some books that are being published, and its like they got some kind of pass. I feel like if I sent my agent a story like that, hed send it right back to me and wouldnt even consider showing it to publishers.
Are the standards different for an author-illustrator if the art is good enough to sell an otherwise lackluster story?

If a submission wins me over partly with writing and partly with art, should I think less of it than the submission that won me over solely with writing? Both verbal storytelling and visual storytelling are talents, and both are strengths in a book.

So the answer to your question is yes, in some cases its ok that the writing isnt as wonderful as in other manuscripts since theres such strength in the art.

Its not ok to feel these people got a pass-- they still had to submit something powerful. Just like you do. If you sent me a manuscript whose development of setting was non-existent but whose plot-development and characters were wonderful and made the manuscript worthwhile all by themselves, it would be ridiculous for me to reject it, right? Just because your strengths arent what some other peoples strengths are?

Dont think of yourself as being in the same race with author-artists-- think of yourself as being in the same Olympics. If you both end up on the winners stand, it will be for different skills, but your accomplishments will both be worthy of the honor.

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