I've written two novels and am wondering where to go next. I write literary fiction. And sorry if this sounds conceited and whining--that's not my intention, I just could really do with some advice here!
My first novel was loved by five of the ten editors who read it, who all wanted it. These editors worked at large presses: Harper Collins, Random House, etc. Comments from the editors at the time included things like, "The best submission I've read this year," and "a remarkable talent." (I only put those in to show off. I'll stop now.) However, their sales teams all voted against it, as they felt that it was too dark, too bleak, and would therefore be too difficult to sell, so in the end it was not taken on. I got my agent (a relatively big name--I turned down someone at PFD to go with her) on the strength of that novel, and she has told me that she will get it published one day but that in her opinion it's not a first novel, it's a second or perhaps third. She is very enthusiastic about it, even now.
I've recently finished my second novel and my agent has now told me that while she thinks it's wonderful, she doesn't think she can sell it. She says that while it's sophisticated and accomplished it's too "quiet", in that there's a lot of the characters' interior lives but not enough action, and the market at present demands things which could perhaps be adapted for film or TV.
We're going to wait a few weeks (everyone's away on their summer holidays at the moment) then decide what to do about it.
She's happy to submit both novels to smaller presses: but has told me she'd rather I wrote something else with more stuff happening, which she can submit to the bigger places, with a view to selling both existing novels to the larger presses eventually, once I have a Reputation. She is convinced that I will get there, sooner or later, and that it's worth waiting. She's told me that if I'm really not happy with her judgement she'd be happy to help me find a new agent, and will give me introductions to them: but she'd rather I stayed with her (and I like her, I want to stay where I am--she is very open and honest with me AND she's very well respected in the publishing world).
When I'm at full-strength I feel inclined to stay with my lovely agent, follow her advice, keep writing, and wait until I get accepted by the big boys. But sometimes I hanker for publication and am tempted to ask her to look for one of the many wonderful small presses who might want to take me on.
So, what do you all think? What are the advantages or disadvantages of each option? Should I look for publication now, wherever I can find it, or hold off and hope for a Big Deal?
My first novel was loved by five of the ten editors who read it, who all wanted it. These editors worked at large presses: Harper Collins, Random House, etc. Comments from the editors at the time included things like, "The best submission I've read this year," and "a remarkable talent." (I only put those in to show off. I'll stop now.) However, their sales teams all voted against it, as they felt that it was too dark, too bleak, and would therefore be too difficult to sell, so in the end it was not taken on. I got my agent (a relatively big name--I turned down someone at PFD to go with her) on the strength of that novel, and she has told me that she will get it published one day but that in her opinion it's not a first novel, it's a second or perhaps third. She is very enthusiastic about it, even now.
I've recently finished my second novel and my agent has now told me that while she thinks it's wonderful, she doesn't think she can sell it. She says that while it's sophisticated and accomplished it's too "quiet", in that there's a lot of the characters' interior lives but not enough action, and the market at present demands things which could perhaps be adapted for film or TV.
We're going to wait a few weeks (everyone's away on their summer holidays at the moment) then decide what to do about it.
She's happy to submit both novels to smaller presses: but has told me she'd rather I wrote something else with more stuff happening, which she can submit to the bigger places, with a view to selling both existing novels to the larger presses eventually, once I have a Reputation. She is convinced that I will get there, sooner or later, and that it's worth waiting. She's told me that if I'm really not happy with her judgement she'd be happy to help me find a new agent, and will give me introductions to them: but she'd rather I stayed with her (and I like her, I want to stay where I am--she is very open and honest with me AND she's very well respected in the publishing world).
When I'm at full-strength I feel inclined to stay with my lovely agent, follow her advice, keep writing, and wait until I get accepted by the big boys. But sometimes I hanker for publication and am tempted to ask her to look for one of the many wonderful small presses who might want to take me on.
So, what do you all think? What are the advantages or disadvantages of each option? Should I look for publication now, wherever I can find it, or hold off and hope for a Big Deal?
Whereabouts are you from?
