Is it even worth bothering with vampires any more?

Mistress Elysia · Jun 30, 2010

I will stick my hand up and admit it: I wrote a story with a vampire in it. I came up with (what I thought) was a pretty unique backstory for why my chap was a vampire and why he does what he does, but now I am seriously considering scrapping that and going with something else. My reason? Because I would lay money that by the time I get around to sending my ms to agents, no respecting publisher is going to touch vampires with a ten foot cattle prod.

Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just being a bit of a Marvin about it all?

Liosse de Velishaf · Jun 30, 2010

Hi Marvin.

Good writing will always sell. Don't worry too much about market trends.

ChaosTitan · Jun 30, 2010

The vampire markets are saturated right now, but agents are always willing to take on a story that has good writing and a unique twist. If you believe your story has both, submit it.

hillaryjacques · Jun 30, 2010

Despite what you might hear, vampire books are still selling. However, it appears to mostly be established series rather than new books, though some agents still say they like vampires (maybe they just haven't updated their web pages).

The question of timing is a good one. You have the story. Say it takes a year to get agent representation and rewriting done and another year before going to press: if vampires are tired now, they aren't going to perk up two years down the road.

I guess, ask yourself if this should be a practice novel, or can the character be changed...is vampirism integral to the story?

Mistress Elysia · Jun 30, 2010

That's what I like to hear - good old optimism flying in the face of my Marvinistic ways!

hillaryjacques said:
I guess, ask yourself if this should be a practice novel, or can the character be changed...is vampirism integral to the story?

The novel is in the process of being typed up (I handwrite first and then re-write it as I type. It's long winded, but I think better that way) and your question is kind of... complicated. Complicated, because the character is complicated. I have tried to morph him into something more incubus like, but what I need is that primal dread that vampires bring - he *needs* to be feared and despised by the masses for the history to work, and he definitely needs a hunger that may potentially put the main protagonist in possible danger. I know it's not your usual vampire story (indeed, whether he is actually real or not is up to the reader - he could quite easily be a construct of the MC's imagination), but I do worry that any potential agent will go 'not bloody vampires *again*!!' and toss it on that basis alone.

Guess I just gotta jump and find out, eh?

Jamesaritchie · Jun 30, 2010

No one on earth has a clue what will be hot or cold six months from now, let alone two years from now. If you submit what you write, the worst that can happen is that agents and editors will say no. If you don't submit what you write, you've already failed.

When you start something, finish it. When you finish something, submit it.

LynnKHollander · Jun 30, 2010

Some people still like the classics ~~if not today then tomorrow.

Rhys Cordelle · Jun 30, 2010

The vampire trend will probably linger until a while after the last Twilight movie, then simmer down, then spark back up again in a few years time. Even if you can't get representation now, I'd say see it through. You can always put it aside for later potential release and get to work on something else.

Sharii · Jun 30, 2010

I thought Vampire markets were saturated with Anne Rice. Look how wrong I was. XD

Kweei · Jul 1, 2010

Vampires always come and go. Try not to worry about it too much and write the best story you can. There will always be a market for it. If it doesn't sell now, maybe it will sell later. But you won't know until you finish it and get it out there

I keep hearing that angels and demons are also overdone, but I just stick my fingers and go lalalala because that is what I am writing right now. If I think too much about will an agent want it or will it sell to an editor or should I do something else, then I'll never get anywhere and it will bring down the story. I'll worry about that stuff later.

Easier said than done, of course

Barbara R. · Jul 1, 2010

You've already written it, so it deserves a chance. And if you're going to send it out, do it with conviction. Lots of agents, good query letter...the whole enchilada. You never know. Good writing trumps everything.

Good luck.

Barbara

Fame<Infamy · Jul 4, 2010

Vampire books are still selling, most of the talk I hear trying to down play that just seems like denial. The Vampire novel has been pretty popular for a while now, it doesn't show much sign of slowing, but you should write what you want and if its good enough and unique it can still make a big splash.

Wolvel · Jul 4, 2010

Vampires are undying no pun intended, you think the market is dead and boom here they come again.

That being said I have written a vamp story only because I came up with a twist I have not seen from a vamp point of view.

Oberon89 · Jul 5, 2010

Last week when chatting with my editors at Del Rey they said they're still seeing lots of vampire submissions (these are agented submissions) but the angel thing was a fad that's already died off a bit in terms of submitted novels. (That conversation and more was blogged about here.) That tells me that A) agents are still shopping them around because B) publishers are still buying them. They don't buy all of them, of course, but enough to make it worth a shot. If your book is fresh and bloody, they'll make room for you in their catalog.

linfred4 · Jul 5, 2010

I say send it once you are done. I am working on one myself and I am almost done with the editing. Then I will take a deep breath and send it off.
I think as long as there is a story and the grammar is good you should be fine.
I wish you the best, good luck.

Mistress Elysia · Jul 5, 2010

Thanks, guys, for your input in this - you're a far more optimistic bunch than the other writing forum I am a member of! When I spun them my vampire idea, they kind of collectively went 'eww, vampires... don't spoil your idea by making him a vampire!'. Which was a tad disheartening...

JaiSim · Jul 5, 2010

I have worried about this as well but I finally told myself-I don't care what else is out there! I am going to finish this book! Write what you are passionate about and you will tell the best story you are capable of telling.

Kitty27 · Jul 7, 2010

I have a seven book series about vampires. Rock on,fellow vampire writer.

Right now,a frightful epidemic is afoot. Emo vampires that snivel incessantly and terrorize innocent chickens are in. It's hard out here for those of us that write the total opposite. But I firmly believe the tide will turn.

I will continue to write vampires and keep pushing for my books to be published. Finish your story and give it your all!

KTC · Jul 7, 2010

there will always be a next-big-thing. something done right will always sell...no matter if its premise is something perceived as tired and overdone.

Fame<Infamy · Jul 7, 2010

Kitty27 said:
I have a seven book series about vampires. Rock on,fellow vampire writer.

Right now,a frightful epidemic is afoot. Emo vampires that snivel incessantly and terrorize innocent chickens are in. It's hard out here for those of us that write the total opposite. But I firmly believe the tide will turn.

I will continue to write vampires and keep pushing for my books to be published. Finish your story and give it your all!

This epidemic seemingly started about 20 years ago...

Kweei · Jul 7, 2010

Oberon89 said:
Last week when chatting with my editors at Del Rey they said they're still seeing lots of vampire submissions (these are agented submissions) but the angel thing was a fad that's already died off a bit in terms of submitted novels. (That conversation and more was blogged about here.) That tells me that A) agents are still shopping them around because B) publishers are still buying them. They don't buy all of them, of course, but enough to make it worth a shot. If your book is fresh and bloody, they'll make room for you in their catalog.

So there's been a drop in angel subs? Hmm. Wonder what that means for me. I don't tend to follow fads. I just write what I want, but my current WIP is about angels and demons. I just happen to like that topic.

Saoirse · Jul 7, 2010

That's a bit of a relief, as the novel I want to shop has vampires in it. But, they are totally different from anything I've ever seen. Hopefully, it will be a good thing.

Cheers,
S.

skunkmelon · Jul 14, 2010

Just when I think I'm tired of vampires . . . and I LOVE vampires . . . along comes another book that makes me excited about them all over again. It's always about the writing and the story. Good luck

Oberon89 · Jul 14, 2010

K.L. Townsend said:
So there's been a drop in angel subs?

At Del Rey, submitted by agents, yes, there's been a drop in angel books. Don't know if that's consistent in the industry as a whole.

Hmm. Wonder what that means for me. I don't tend to follow fads. I just write what I want, but my current WIP is about angels and demons. I just happen to like that topic.

I think it means you should write it, if you like it! Why write something you don't like?

It's always a good idea to write what you want, and make it the book you want to read.

Kweei · Jul 14, 2010

Oberon89 said:
I think it means you should write it, if you like it! Why write something you don't like? It's always a good idea to write what you want, and make it the book you want to read.

Oh I am. It's what I want to write and what I'm having fun with. Plus, there are a lot of other things going on within the storyline as well. I just couldn't help but pause and wonder if it means it will be tougher sell or not.

That sort of thing is out of my hands, though, so I don't try to dwell. Besides, I'm still writing it. Got a long road ahead of me. At least I've loving it.

(Aside from those times I want to pull out my hair, heh.)

Is it even worth bothering with vampires any more?

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