Publishability of First Novel MS?

copeck · Oct 7, 2008

Hi Everyone,
I am sort of new to the world of fiction writing and to this forum so please bear with me.

I read in a 'How to write fiction' book authored by a literary agent, that basically stated that first novel MS of all first time authors should never be published. The book says that all new authors should complete the MS of their very first novel, edit it as best as they can, and then delegate it to the bottom drawer, never to see the light of day again.

Is this a sound advice? That the MS of the first novel of any new author should never be sent to an agent or publisher, no matter how good the author perceives the work to be?

I'll appreciate any insights and experiences regarding this matter.

Thanks.
Copeck

Karen Duvall · Oct 7, 2008

Ooh, that's a touchy one. Some first novels are dogs, but others can hit it out of the park first time around. On average, however, first novels stink. That doesn't mean yours does, it's just an average. Mine was horrible and thank God it was never published, but I thought it was fabulous when I wrote it. I've learned and grown as a writer since then. If I knew then what I know now...

JJ Cooper · Oct 7, 2008

I'd be interested to know if the 'How to Write Fiction' book by that literary agent was his/her first book.

Anyway, I think it's poor advice. Some authors first MS is their best, some not so. History is littered with great first novels getting published.

There's far too many 'How to Write' books being published IMHO.

JJ

Ray Veen · Oct 7, 2008

My first novel was very poorly written. Then I went on to write three more in a series. Turns out I have four manuscripts languishing in my desk.

I don't know whether to agree or disagree with this book of yours, but I would encourage you not to make your second novel a sequel.

Aschenbach · Oct 7, 2008

I think a suitable analogy is that writing is like playing a sport. If you mess around in the park you might think you're a pretty good quarterback. But if you have a trial with a pro team you might find that talent is nothing without lots of training, experience, and being put through the mill a few times.
Writing is just the same, you may think you have talent, but until you have got into the mix and practiced a lot you won't get to pro standard.

Certainly my first novel was garbage, even though I didn't think so at the time. And it didn't deserve to be submitted. But that isn't a bad thing, you just keep going. Very few people make the grade on their first attempt, for most it's about learning and gradual improvement, not overnight success.

Mr. Anonymous · Oct 7, 2008

I'd like to add to what all the above posters have said that previous writing experience matters too. Sure, a certain novel might be your "first," but if you have plenty of experience writing short stories, you can apply what you know about writing good dialogue, characterization, setting the scene, creating dramatic tension, etc, to each chapter of your larger work.

Ender's Game was Orson Scott Card's first novel. But before that, he wrote tons of plays when he was in college (which he attributes to teaching him how to write) and even had his own playwright company, IIRC.

On the other hand, some people who've never really written seriously before one day wake up with a story that needs to be told, and they tell it damn well. So really, it varies. But on the whole, most first novels aren't that great.

Mac H. · Oct 7, 2008

copeck said:
... that basically stated that first novel MS of all first time authors should never be published.

Obviously if we take the quote literally it is utter nonsense.

Would any literary agent seriously say that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' should never have been published?

You could argue that Harper Lee wasn't a 'first time author' .. but it certainly was the first book she wrote.

Ignoring whether the statement it literally true, however, I'd certainly agree with the gist of it.

Good luck!

Mac

Amarie · Oct 7, 2008

There is something to be said for learning how to revise your first attempt. My first novel has been rewritten so many times it barely resembles the original draft, but in the process of working out plotting and everything else, it no longer needs to be kept in a drawer.

benbradley · Oct 7, 2008

Here's my unpublished (pun intended!) answer. From what I've seen and heard it's certainly unusual, probably even rare for someone to sell their very first novel or story of whatever length, but it has happened.

So yes, the chances are against one selling one's first novel, but I wouldn't just "trunk" it right off. I'd want to find one or more beta readers to try it out on, explaining it (this fictional thing, but maybe this November it will be different) is my first novel and all, and asking for basic feedback of "is this publishable?"

Also, I gather that when you finish writing your first novel, you're supposed to start writing another one regardless of how the first one turns out or what happens to it.

gypsyscarlett · Oct 7, 2008

I never believe in absolutes like that statement.
Now, my first novel was penned when I was about 8. So yeah- obviously my first attempt wasn't meant to be sent out.

But- there is no reason to think that someone who has written their first novel- and done the necessary zillion revisions/rewrites/edits, beta reads, studied how publishing works etc...can't succeed with it.

I think the reason most first novels don't succeed is new writers don't have any idea the extent of work they need to put into it. And most importantly, they are unwilling to listen to criticism.

copeck · Oct 7, 2008

Thanks guys, thanks a lot for sharing!
It certainly helps to get feed back from real authors. I appreciate your opinions and insights.

Juliette Wade · Oct 7, 2008

I wrote my first novel and bought a book on how to make queries and sent one off... and I got an agent to look at 100 pages. This is not a boast. When I got those 100 pages rejected I got a single sentence of commentary which changed my writing life. It can be summed up by the following phrase: "your characters didn't come alive for me." That one comment totally changed my approach to writing, and took me enormous leaps forward that I would not have been able to make if I had not attempted to sell the novel.

So in a word, you should go forward with what you've got. What you get back might teach you something priceless - and in the meantime, start writing something new.

Michael Parks · Oct 7, 2008

First novels have sold at auction for more than a million bucks.

Hey, it's happened.

I say write your first. Polish it up. Then go through the hoops to find out how good it is. Proceed from there as needed.

copeck · Oct 7, 2008

Thanks Juliette and Michael for your insights.

ishtar'sgate · Oct 7, 2008

copeck said:
Is this a sound advice? That the MS of the first novel of any new author should never be sent to an agent or publisher, no matter how good the author perceives the work to be?

I'll appreciate any insights and experiences regarding this matter.

Copeck

I didn't write my first novel to shove it in a bottom drawer. It took a bit of time but it was published. Not everyone feels the same way about it though, just my opinion.

eyeblink · Oct 7, 2008

Do bear in mind that in many cases, someone's "first" novel might not be the first they've actually written. There may well be one or more sitting in the author's bottom drawer, unlikely to see the light of day, by which they learned how to write.

I think that's what the agent is getting at - get that first novel out of your system, put it down to experience, then write the next one which will hopefully be much better.

I agree with Mr Anonymous up to a point - a background in short-fiction writing certainly would help, but there are structural and pacing aspects to novels that you can only really learn by writing novels.

I wrote my first novel a ages 13-14 and no it won't ever see print. It was written in pre-word-processor days, on a typewriter, and I don't think the MS exists any more.

JJ Cooper · Oct 7, 2008

My first novel will be published next year (hopefully I'll sell a couple of copies). Nothing in the bottom drawer and no previous writing credits.

I suspect my situation isn't all that rare.

JJ

Mr Flibble · Oct 8, 2008

JJ Cooper said:
My first novel will be published next year (hopefully I'll sell a couple of copies). Nothing in the bottom drawer and no previous writing credits.

I suspect my situation isn't all that rare.

JJ

Snap. It's with a small pub, but it's getting published. No previous writing experience, other than the occasional shopping list.

It happens.

Nakhlasmoke · Oct 8, 2008

I would say that my first five novels are utter shite and deserve to languish in the drawer.

*shrug*

I'm a slow learner though, so take it for what it's worth.

it's a good general guideline as far as I can tell.

Phaeal · Oct 8, 2008

Mr. Anonymous said:
Ender's Game was Orson Scott Card's first novel. But before that, he wrote tons of plays when he was in college (which he attributes to teaching him how to write) and even had his own playwright company, IIRC.

Actually Card published a number of novels before Ender's Game:

Hot Sleep 1978
A Planet Called Treason 1978
Songmaster 1979
Hart's Hope 1983
The Worthing Chronicle (replacing Hot Sleep) 1983
Saints (aka Woman of Destiny) 1984

Enders Game did appear as a novelette in Analog in 1977. The novel was first published in 1985.

Scott discusses writing his first novel in his How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, a very interesting read for short story writers trying to "expand" to novels.

For myself, my first novel remains in first draft, awaiting future attention. My second, an ST:TNG novel, became unsaleable when Pocket Books stopped accepting subs a week or so after its completion (I have great timing). My third, going now into the last draft, could be the lucky number. [crossing fingers and toes]

maestrowork · Oct 8, 2008

I know enough people who published their first completed novel (me included) to say this advice is generalized, generic and bogus.

Sure, a good writer can only become better. But if the first novel is good enough for publication, why put it in the bottom drawer? That doesn't make sense.

Put the bad stuff in the drawer, no matter if it's first or 10th manuscript. And get that publishable ms. out there.

Dale Emery · Oct 8, 2008

copeck said:
The book says that all new authors should complete the MS of their very first novel, edit it as best as they can, and then delegate it to the bottom drawer, never to see the light of day again.

Is this a sound advice?

I don't think so. I say send it to editors and agents, and let them decide what they want to do with it. Why on earth would you decide for them?

The authors of that book must be thinking that a first novel is likely not very good, and that some harm can come from sending a bad novel to an agent or editor. The first assumption is probably true, but that matters only if the second assumption is true, only if you can hurt yourself in some way by sending out a lousy novel.

So: What harm are the authors of the book expecting? That your novel will not only be bad, but so bad that word will spread through the publishing industry and damage your prospects for the future?

Dale

Seaclusion2 · Oct 8, 2008

Juliette Wade said:
"your characters didn't come alive for me." .

Reminds me of an old Twighlight Zone episode where the author was so good that when he dictated a characters traits into a tape recorder, They literally came alive and appeared as living people.

On the other hand, when he destroyed the tape recording, the characters disappeared into nothingness.

Richard

bramble · Oct 8, 2008

If I thought first novels were unpublishable, I'd scrap it now and start on my second.

copeck · Oct 8, 2008

Dale Emery said:
So: What harm are the authors of the book expecting? That your novel will not only be bad, but so bad that word will spread through the publishing industry and damage your prospects for the future?

Dale

Sounds kind of scary, right?

Publishability of First Novel MS?

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