Are Your Trunk Novels Salvageable?

underthecity · Jan 23, 2012

As I work through rewriting my current YA novel, my thoughts sometimes turn to my previous "adult" novel which I also worked on so hard for so long, only to have it rejected by everyone in the industry.

Last year I agreed to do a beta swap with another AW member and her comments really showed what was wrong with the story structure and everything else. Although I've trunked the novel, sometimes I wonder if I could rewrite it (again!), cut out the secondary characters completely, cut out subplots, and move the action around until it's shorter and leaner.

But that could take weeks. Months. And in the end, I have no idea if it could sell. Just like before.

I'm wondering if other AW members feel their trunk novels are worth saving. Could you rewrite them again, now that time has passed since you gave up on them? Or are they lost causes for whatever reason? Perhaps a major rewrite can't save them. Or you've just moved on, and now use the trunk novel as a learning experience.

In my case, I would rather not tinker with it again. Even though I went through at least three different query letters in QLH on three different occasions, I think only one agent ever asked for a partial. So, in the end, I regretfully think that it was the story reflected in the query that nobody wanted to read.

Mark W. · Jan 23, 2012

Any story is salvagable given enough time and experience. The question is if you WANT to invest the time to save it. It sounds like you don't, so I would say move along and use the trunk as a learning experience.

scarletpeaches · Jan 23, 2012

Yes; I've done it.

I've adapted characters and plotlines and drafted them in to more up-to-date books which are now published. My very first trunk novel from when I was eighteen needed a hefty going-over to become an erotic romance.

I've even donated past titles and characters to another writer (who then chose to forget my contribution to her work, but, whutevs) so you could say I've properly cannibalised my back catalogue.

The finished, published products bears little resemblance to the trunked novels which originally inspired them, but the connections could be made if you know the correct chain of evolved characters and/or events.

lizbeth dylan · Jan 23, 2012

I'm currently doing that. The story and characters have been in my head for nearly 20 years. I finally sat down and wrote it all out about 12 years ago. Had a friend read some of it. Even entered the first chapter in a convention contest where it got some good feedback, took 2nd place in that division and the judges pointed out the things that didn't work.

I started working on the edit when life got in the way and it all got boxed and shelved. I had a disk and a printed manuscript, that I would pull out every year or so to read. However the disk was damaged and the file lost so I'm currently re-typing, editing as I go.

I've never let anyone else read it. My 2012 resolution is to get the edit finished sometime this year and send it off to someone to tell me yea or nay.

I'd rather try, fail and know for sure than to continue to wonder, "What if?"

Hip-Hop-a-potamus · Jan 23, 2012

scarletpeaches said:
Yes; I've done it.

I've adapted characters and plotlines and drafted them in to more up-to-date books which are now published. My very first trunk novel from when I was eighteen needed a hefty going-over to become an erotic romance.

I've even donated past titles and characters to another writer (who then chose to forget my contribution to her work, but, whutevs) so you could say I've properly cannibalised my back catalogue.

The finished, published products bears little resemblance to the trunked novels which originally inspired them, but the connections could be made if you know the correct chain of evolved characters and/or events.

That's a thought. I had several people read my first and love it, but I know some of the language had to be cliche'. The story was first rate though. I myself was amazed at how everything came together at the end. I'll always love that book because it inspired me to finish a novel at last, and showed me that obsession can be a GOOD thing.

Cathy C · Jan 23, 2012

Um... maybe. If I don't poke at it too hard. Probably it would take a full re-write for the one I'm thinking. It was a long time ago, and I've learned a LOT since then.

dangerousbill · Jan 23, 2012

underthecity said:
As I work through rewriting my current YA novel, my thoughts sometimes turn to my previous "adult" novel which I also worked on so hard for so long, only to have it rejected by everyone in the industry.

I've got three novels in cold storage. In two cases, the problem was in asking for critiques before the first draft was finished. However well-meant and even-handed, the suggestions threw my thinking off the rails so I ended up in dark alleys with nowhere to go.

On rereading, I can see several ways I can pull these stories out of the freezer and bring them to life again. The problem is that I have a readership now, who are expecting more stories like the two I've published.

Chasing the Horizon · Jan 23, 2012

I don't believe I could ever write a full-length novel without at least having wonderful characters to carry the story. Of course, that doesn't mean the plot or setting or even theme are any good. So, does writing a completely new plot in a new setting with a different theme but the same characters count as "salvaging"? Lol.

eggs · Jan 23, 2012

The problem with trunked novels for me is that my voice and the quality of my writing has changed so much since I wrote them. I think any work I'd do on them now would stand out like a neon bandaid on a cut knee. That would be too jarring for a reader to suffer through!

I have thought about taking some of them and editing the 80K down to about 40K and putting them up on Amazon as novellas. The level of editing needed to do that would entirely rework the voice and style, making the bandaid issue go away.

alaskamatt17 · Jan 23, 2012

My trunk novels are pretty laughable, but I would love to salvage them anyhow.

Mharvey · Jan 23, 2012

In my sig, I have the "Bottom Drawer"

These are the novels that, if I ever get published, I'll have an agent read and say: "I think there's issues with them, but... I'd like your opinion either way."

This is like "Trunked Lite"... they have potential, but are missing something IMHO. Most people who read them liked them. In fact, my present WIP is taking almost all the characters from one of my Trunked Lites and putting them in a new story that, I think, fixes the biggest problems of the old one.

Then there's Officially Trunked. My first writings. They'll never see the light of day because they suck. They really really suck.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 23, 2012

I never trunk anything. I started following Heinlein's Rule as soon as I started writing, and rules four and five are: 4. You must put the work on the market. 5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

There is no rule six that reads "Unless you think it stinks".

It's a good habit. Sooner or later, someone who knows what they're talking about will tell you how to fix it, or you'll find an editor with no taste to buy it, or an editor with a hole to fill and nothing better than what you offer to fill it.

I've sold a lot of stuff just by keeping it on the market until someone gave up and said yes.

Also going along with Heinlein's Rules, I don't rewrite until an editor asks me to do so, but even if you do feel forced to rewrite something, it should still be much faster than writing something new from scratch.

buz · Jan 23, 2012

I've only recently heard of the phrase "trunk" in this sense, so I could be wrong, but...

I have the idea that a novel that's been "trunked" is something that you keep because, although it didn't work out and is perhaps made more of fail than win, it has some glimmer of potential or inspiration for you. Maybe the whole thing is salvageable with heavy edits; maybe just the premise; maybe just the characters...but something.

For me, though...I don't have entire trunked novels. I have two that were technically novels in terms of word count that I have almost completely forgotten--blocked out, really. Forced them out of my memory. Metaphorically burned and then peed on to put out the flames. They're not in storage; they're dead as hell and if they ever come back to life I will personally beat them to death with a shovel coated in dart frog juice. I will deny I ever spawned them.

Then I have bits and pieces of things, all of which suck, but I keep them because I liked the premise or one scene or one of the characters, and even though those ideas may never pan out, I like to keep them around in case I someday find somewhere to use them.

scarletpeaches · Jan 23, 2012

Chasing the Horizon said:
I don't believe I could ever write a full-length novel without at least having wonderful characters to carry the story. Of course, that doesn't mean the plot or setting or even theme are any good. So, does writing a completely new plot in a new setting with a different theme but the same characters count as "salvaging"? Lol.

I prefer to call it "cannibalising".

Mharvey · Jan 23, 2012

Jamesaritchie said:
I never trunk anything. I started following Heinlein's Rule as soon as I started writing, and rules four and five are: 4. You must put the work on the market. 5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

There is no rule six that reads "Unless you think it stinks".

It's a good habit. Sooner or later, someone who knows what they're talking about will tell you how to fix it, or you'll find an editor with no taste to buy it, or an editor with a hole to fill and nothing better than what you offer to fill it.

I've sold a lot of stuff just by keeping it on the market until someone gave up and said yes.

Also going along with Heinlein's Rules, I don't rewrite until an editor asks me to do so, but even if you do feel forced to rewrite something, it should still be much faster than writing something new from scratch.

This is an interesting philosophy. Have you gotten any novels published with this "never say die" attitude? I've been of the train of thought that you try and, after awhile, you trunk and move on... just never give up the dream of becoming a writer and never stop writing.

Shuemais · Jan 23, 2012

One thing to consider (and this goes along with what SP said earlier) -- even if you can't use the novel itself in its current form ... or any other, for that matter ... you can still use the bits and pieces you like best and use them in other, more current works. I've done that on several stories I've worked on in the past, and doing it with my current project.

Some ideas (or characters) refuse to die. They just crawl into the back of your head, eating all of the hors d'oeuvres and refusing to leave. Pay attention to those -- they might be worth paying attention to in the future.

Darkshore · Jan 23, 2012

My first ever attempt at a full novel was last year. I trunked it at around 40k. I just wasn't ready for it. Salvageable? I love the idea of it so much that I damn sure hope so.

celticroots · Jan 23, 2012

On one WIP I am taking ideas from a previous work and incorporating it into a new story. I am doing the same with another WIP. I like the way both are turning out so far.

NicoleJLeBoeuf · Jan 23, 2012

buzhidao said:
I have the idea that a novel that's been "trunked" is something that you keep because, although it didn't work out and is perhaps made more of fail than win, it has some glimmer of potential or inspiration for you. Maybe the whole thing is salvageable with heavy edits; maybe just the premise; maybe just the characters...but something.

I'm just boggling at the phrase "something that you keep because..." ...because it implies that there are things you don't keep. I have heard of writers who will actually delete specimens of their writing, but I don't like to think about it too hard. *wibble*

For me, everything is potentially salvageable. And the "trunk" is where things go that I wouldn't want anyone to read, ever... at least, not in their current form. A revised, reworked, and maybe, yes, cannibalized version of them could be lurking, perfectly publishable, in my future.

gothicangel · Jan 24, 2012

I think the crime novel I trunked a year ago is probably salvagable, but I don't want to. I've realised that I don't actually really like crime fiction that much, and hated the restraints of the genre.

I love historical thrillers. I love reading them, I love writing them. I spent years writing that one crime novel. Within a year of switching to historicals I have written two books [with one in an advanced state of editing] and beginning to plan a third.

I can't imagine wanting to write a contemporary novel, now.

seun · Jan 24, 2012

I haven't exactly reused characters in the sense of writing them in the same way. I've wondered where they would be ten years down the line and written about them again even though the first book they were in was utter crap. The second book they were in sold so I count that as a result.

I don't think I would ever try to salvage my first two books. They're just not who I am as a writer now. Books 3 and 4 have their moments but probably aren't worth the time as they are. Later ones are more resting than trunked. I may return to them at some point.

shaldna · Jan 24, 2012

My trunked novels are trunked for a reason. They will never see the light of day so long as I can help it.

Literateparakeet · Jan 24, 2012

I love the cannibalizing idea. Definately have to mentally marinate that one.

Cyia · Jan 24, 2012

In whole, or in part, I think all trunk novels are "salvageable" as a writer's skills change. You might not be able to rework the whole thing into something worthwhile, but you can cannibalize scenes for work in other projects.

Never throw passages away; save them to a file where you can find them if there's a place they fit better later.

CallyW · Jan 24, 2012

I got the first novel I ever wrote back out. It was a quest fantasy. I played around with the one idea in it that I liked and it turned into interdimensional sci fi.

There was another fantasy which played with the idea of identity and I got fed up with it and put it through the shredder. When I rewrite that one I'll start again from scratch because there were no ideas in it that I really liked.

Are Your Trunk Novels Salvageable?

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