Heavy edits on book while out for review?

[generaljake]

Hi all! Can anyone tell me whether this is 'normal'? I have written a book, it is currently out for review. I wrote it quite quickly in the first six/seven months of the year or so (having had the contract for ages) and took a couple of months away from it. Having come back to it with a bit more distance, I've spotted loads of areas where it needs heavy editing, revised structure, that kind of thing. I feel a bit paranoid that it's gone out for review already. For those of you who have been through this process, is it normal for books to be written like this? I've never done this before so not sure. I'm feeling a bit paranoid that the reviewer will see it in its previous state, which I've realised now was even more unfinished than I thought! Thanks in advance.

I’ve only written one book but I had to submit a final manuscript before it went out for reviews and then I had to make some brief amendments after that. I would speak to the editor if I were you because it sounds like they will need to send it out again for review if you are to make substantial changes. If I were the editor, I’d speak to the reviewer because they might not have started reading it yet. If they haven’t, it seems fair to ask them to pause it until you have rewritten, given that reviewing manuscripts is time consuming and largely unpaid. I wouldn’t be impressed if I did a review and then got sent a rewritten one which I’d have to review again.