How many of you DID NOT give up on your first novel?

Prawn · Sep 12, 2006

I am at 64K on my first novel, and the other thread about giving up on your first novel scared me. I avoided reading it for several days, before breaking down. It was a pretty discouraging thread for someone coming in on the home stretch of his rough draft of his first novel.

Does anyone have any good stories about first novels? Ones they liked, ones that were good ones that (whispers) might have sold?

seun · Sep 12, 2006

This probably isn't the answer you were hoping for but either way: my first book is crap. I wrote it about six years ago and wouldn't consider submitting it now. While I have a soft spot for it simply because it's my first book, it's still crap.

I wouldn't say I've given up on it from the POV of being fond of it, but it will never be read by anyone again.

aadams73 · Sep 12, 2006

Prawn, don't let the statistics get you down and don't for a second feel that you're wasting your time. Every time you put your pen to paper(or hands on keyboard) you're exercising those writing muscles and (hopefully) learning something. Very few people are perfect at anything right off the bat.

Shadow_Ferret · Sep 12, 2006

I have not given up on my first novel, as I explained in the other thread. It is just on temporary hiatus while I work on my second one.

My first novel, if I do say so myself, has very interesting characters, exciting action, and many good plots and subplots and twists. It's just needs a dedicated effort on my part to do the revisions because it clocks in at nearly 200,000 words.

Diana Hignutt · Sep 12, 2006

Maybe this will help. I finished my first complete novel in 2000. A fantasy thriller. I got wrangled in by two scam agents (first one, then the other). The second scam agent "landed me a deal" with a scam publisher (regarding which there is a rather long thread in the Bewares forum). The book was published and I promoted it like there was no tomorrow--got major newspaper coverage, national tv interviews, dozens and dozens of radio interviews. But, it was a scam publisher; only so much was going to happen. I was lucky enough for the book to be nominated for the 2004 Spectrum Award, however. Stupid as I was I eventually figured out that I was in the grips of a scam publisher, I got a lawyer and got my rights back. Another publisher offered me a contract for the book and then, after nine months, cancelled it before publication.

Here and there I've queried agents to no avail. Then, a couple of weeks ago, a noted fantasy writer of my acquaintance contacted me out of the blue and asked me to send a copy to the top editor at a top fantasy publisher. We'll see what happens.

I will never give up on my first book. I might leave it aside for a while. Sooner or later it will get picked up. I'm not in a hurry. I've written other things. Had another book published. I'm working on a couple other books. But I will never give up on that first book. Never.

jchines · Sep 12, 2006

I buried my first book because it was a bad book. Bad dialogue, overly purple description, cliche characters. There were some good bits, but overall, it was a mess. (I did recycle one of the characters in my second goblin book, though

)

With that said, I'd still suggest you finish the book. Why? Because it will give you practice at finishing a book. You're learning right now. Maybe this book is good enough to sell. I'd be surprised, given that it's a first novel, but I'm certainly not going to say it's impossible. I learned a lot from mine, not the least of which was that I could actually do this.

Writing the end of a book is a skill we need to learn, just like the rest of it. How do you wrap up plot threads and resolve all of those questions in a way that's both satisfying and true to the story?

And of course, there's the most important reason: until you finish, you don't get to brag that you've written a book!

Saundra Julian · Sep 12, 2006

I still love my first book and will see it published one day!
Hang in there...

NeuroFizz · Sep 12, 2006

The first attempt of my first book was crap, mostly because I didn't bother to learn the craft. In the meantime, I got my act together (to a degree) with my second book. When done with number two, I resurrected book number one. So, now book two is really serious book number one (and published by a small press), and book one is now serious book number two (and just sold to a mid-sized publisher). This isn't a "bestseller" story, and probably never will be (such are the odds), but it's a story still being told, with two more completed works being shopped and another in progress.

Even if your first attempt is crap, don't give up on the story (if you think it's a good one). It can be resurrected and reworked so it avoids the trunk (my trunk is empty thus far).

earthshoes · Sep 12, 2006

I remain in love the concept behind my first book (sci-fi) and will return to it when I'm ready to do a major re-write. It's unique and I suspect will have wide appeal. However, I need to go off and learn some other things and write some other books first.

mary
never give up

DamaNegra · Sep 12, 2006

The first draft for my first book was absolute crap. I have rewritten it so many times it's finally taking shape. I'm never giving up on it. Never. It doesn't matter how badly written something is, there are parts of every novel that can be salvaged and turned into a better novel. Just don't get stuck on your first novel for years or you'll never finish anything.

Carrie in PA · Sep 12, 2006

My first attempt sucked. However, I adore the MC and the story, so when I'm done with this WIP, I plan to start from scratch and do it justice.

waylander · Sep 12, 2006

My first novel is currently on the desk of the editorial director of a major UK publisher as a requested resubmisison. I've also had half a dozen US agents read the full manuscript.
But.........I wrote and published a lot of short fiction before I did the novel.

icerose · Sep 12, 2006

I should have.

My book fell in with the same scam publisher as Diana's did.

I have plans to rewrite it as a completely new book as it is part of a larger series that I believe very strongly in. I just can't do it right now. It's too painful at the moment.

badducky · Sep 12, 2006

When I was in my senior year of college, I looked around at all the professors I knew, and all the other writers in the writing program. I knew that I was just as smart or talented as any of them, and I had something they didn't have -- or, rather they had something I didn't have. I have no common sense. I went for this book thing relentlessly.

I outlined, built a world, built characters, built early sketches and early scenes. I kept working on it. After about a year, I had a very solid first draft. After another year, I had a real, honest-to-goodness book on my hands. I started sending it out, and collecting rejections.

I was rejected by Tor, Daw, and Baen. I was rejected by many, many, many literary agents.

The day before my 25th birthday, Wizards of the Coast asked to see the full manuscript. One year later, they made an offer.

I then turned around and made a list of my dream literary agents. I cold-called them. One of the agencies that hadn't initially rejected me prior to my offer read my book, loved it, and picked me up.

So, this all started when I was 22, and I'm 26 today. And I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

"NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER" - Commander Peter Quincey Taggert

(This timeline is not to be trusted for future reference with WotC company, as there were mitigating internal things happening that slowed them down. It sucked, but it's long over, and isn't it cool how an editor championed my book for a very long time until the smoke cleared? I think so...)

Mark Lazer · Sep 12, 2006

I'm not working on my first-started novel, but I haven't given up totally on it yet.

Jamesaritchie · Sep 12, 2006

Novel

My first novel sold, and I wrote it start to finish in three weeks, so there's always hope.

Prawn · Sep 12, 2006

Now were talkin'! I am glad to see that not all first novels sucked. I think with a few month's perspective, I might see the flaws in mine, but right now I am in love with it, and it was depressing to se a 40-post thread detailing the depths of my self-delusion.

Southern_girl29 · Sep 12, 2006

Honestly, my first novel was really bad. It was full of head-hopping, adverbs, too many dialogue tags, really bad, stilted dialogue and more. I haven't really given up on the story; I've just given up on it in its original form. I'm going to start all over. I love, love, love the MC and I like the story, too. My second novel, while I think it works in it's present format, needs some work to it. I'm going to restructure it as soon as I get finished with my WIP which I'm very excited about.

Popeyesays · Sep 12, 2006

I sold mine to a small press (nearly micropress) after 26 rejections (pubs and agents). I finished it in May this year and sold it in mid-August. I'll be lucky to sell a couple thousand probably, but if I do, then I can see about another pub releasing it.

Regards,
Scott

Zolah · Sep 12, 2006

First Novels?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

If that don't cheer you up, nothing will.

Patricia Lieb · Sep 12, 2006

Did not give up on first novel

I didn't give up on my first novel, nor second; I have three other novels (all romance) in their first draft that have been in a trunk for years. Doubt I'll ever return to them because I'd find writing something new from scratch more interesting and exciting. Also, I like writing true crime and have written a book of 17 true crime cases.

How could one give up? I can see trashing a story that doesn't move but at the sme time, start a new one. For me, writing is like reading a book.... quite easy.

By the way, I'm starting a "Book of the Month" on my Website at <http://liebbooks.com> I will choose the book from people who write about their books in the guestbook there. Include your Website so that I can pull a copy of your book to include.

Aubrey · Sep 12, 2006

I was one of the people on the other thread who was able to get a reworked short story, sequel, and eventual prequel (when I get around to finishing it) out of her first serious novel attempt. I think I may one day make it into a novel,. Usually first novels have large problems, seeing as how the author is in the middle of a huge learning progress, but often there's things in there that are good enough to be reused. And if you're really lucky, you might have a complete skelton that you can rebuild a novel around.

TrainofThought · Sep 12, 2006

Hi Prawn,

I haven’t given up on my first novel, too much faith and love for it. Don’t let other writer’s decisions sway you into throwing it away. If you love it and want it to flourish, hold onto it. In the Rejection and Dejection thread, writer, Elizabeth Slick, received 500 rejections for her one and only book, http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35272.
It just depends on what you think of your story and your dedication. Good luck.

AdamH · Sep 12, 2006

If you believe in the story, doesn't matter if it's your first or your hundredth, finish it.

I didn't give up on my first novel even though there were many times I just wanted to throw it into a trash bin and torch it with a flamethrower. But, finally...and recently...I finished it. It's a much different story than what I envisioned so many years ago.

I reality, I've probably written equivalent to four novels before I got to this current incarnation. So I think that's about right for any beginning writer.

darkkazier · Sep 12, 2006

Wasn't "The Historian" Elizibeth Kostova's first novel? Mrs. Kostova got a 2 million dollar advance from Time Warner and sony bought the movie rights for 1.5 million. So some few hopefuls first novels do amazingly well.

How many of you DID NOT give up on your first novel?

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