Fiction Series?

I've heard it's best to sub the first on its own, and suggest that there is series potential rather than overwhelm an agent. I'm sure smarter people will be by shortly with more detailed advice.

I can only agree. I'm not agented (who needs an agent when you're not a bestselling author? and even then??) but my publisher had no trouble accepting the first book in a trilogy. In fact, she quite like the idea that two more books are to be written.


Nickie

Query the first one as a stand alone, but mention in said query that you have completed two other novels which follow on from it.

millworth said:

querying a completed trilogy of commercial women's fiction?
. . . are there agents looking for this kind of thing even if novels can stand on their own?

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Agents are indeed looking for commercial woman's fiction. It's a very hot field.

My advce would be to query only one manuscript -- the first one. I'd suggest not mentioning that you have two more completed manuscripts.

Here's why --
When the agent opens a query and finds you have three completed and unsold manuscripts,
she's going to assume you've been agent hunting for a couple of years. The agent will think she's the hundredth agent you've tried, which is not flattering. And she'll see the manuscript as shopworn.

Once the agent gets excited about your writing, she'll be delighted to know you've got manuscripts waiting in the wings. But maybe tell her about them when she's read the complete ms and wants to sign you.

I don't see any problem with an author's debut book being the first book in a series, especially since this is also a standalone work. Lots of publishers offer debut writers two or three book contracts, so a series might suit the publisher just fine. Your agent will give you better advice on this and know the best way to sell you.

job said:

Agents are indeed looking for commercial woman's fiction. It's a very hot field.

My advce would be to query only one manuscript -- the first one.

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Agreed.

job said:

Agents are indeed looking for commercial woman's fiction. It's a very hot field.

My advce would be to query only one manuscript -- the first one. I'd suggest not mentioning that you have two more completed manuscripts.

Here's why --
When the agent opens a query and finds you have three completed and unsold manuscripts,
she's going to assume you've been agent hunting for a couple of years. The agent will think she's the hundredth agent you've tried, which is not flattering. And she'll see the manuscript as shopworn.

Click to expand...

Perhaps the answer to this problem then is to mention it's part of a series, but not suggest the series is written and completed. Instead offer it as the first of more to come.

PGK said:

Perhaps the answer to this problem then is to mention it's part of a series, but not suggest the series is written and completed. Instead offer it as the first of more to come.

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Unless and until you sell that first book, none of the others matter.

Beth

First, make sure you run your query by people who are used to writing queries. You only get one first chance to make a first impression.

Second, this may defy logic, if every book can stand alone, I'd query the strongest book, and not mention the series until they give you feedback.

If they see you can write, they will want to know about the other books. Again, you get one chance to win these people over. Show your best.