FIRST novel novelists?

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

I'm seeing a lot on the forums about people who have published first novels, but had drafted several others. Is there anyone who has successfully published, or is in the process of prepating, a first novel that is their actual FIRST novel? And if so, how has your editing process been going?

Right now I'm currently in the process of trying to publish my FIRST novel. It's the first novel I've ever drafted for publication, and I've worked very very hard on it. I know I've heard a lot about first novels never being ideal for publication, but I have drafted and re-drafted and revised and revised and had peer edits galore, and I would really like to do all I can to see this novel off peoperly. I'm interested to know what other peoples' experiences have been and if they were successful. ^_^

Jenan Mac · Feb 21, 2008

I tried and tried to get my first* published, and ended up shelving it. I may resurrect it someday, but for now I'm chalking it up to "learning experience". And it's been a valuable one-- I can tell an enormous difference between the first couple drafts of that one and my first bits of the current WIP.

*well, okay, my second, if you count the unfortunate creation of 1976

Toothpaste · Feb 21, 2008

My published novel was my first completed novel, but it wasn't my first attempt. I'd tried to write several over the years, but never really made it past page 20. Alex was the first time I'd actually been able to finish something, and work through the rough patches instead of giving up, as well as going through it and editing it thoroughly. In fact that was the reason I decided to look into how one gets published. Before that I had never dreamed it was possible for me to write something publishable.

However . . . I have written two plays, both of which were produced. And I have been writing all my life, taken writing courses, and had a father who was a brilliant creative writing teacher and writer in his own right as a mentor. So while Alex was my first novel, it wasn't that I lacked practice.

As ever, getting your first novel published is still rather . . . novel . . . but, yes, it can happen.

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

Well now I feel less alone ^_^ It's certainly not my first attempt. I've wanted to pursue writing since grade school, and as a result I have produced many horrible, horrible, horrible pieces that I should probably deny in a court of law. I did take a few writing workshops/classes that humbled me severely. This is my first novel but I've been applying years of painfully-learned advice to it. Thanks for giving me a bit more hope!

Toothpaste said:
My published novel was my first completed novel, but it wasn't my first attempt. I'd tried to write several over the years, but never really made it past page 20. Alex was the first time I'd actually been able to finish something, and work through the rough patches instead of giving up. In fact that was the reason I decided to look into how one gets published. Before that I had never dreamed it was possible for me to write something publishable.

However . . . I have written two plays, both of which were produced. And been writing, taken writing courses, and had a father who was a brilliant creative writing teacher and writer in his own right. So while Alex was my first novel, it wasn't that I lacked practice.

As ever, getting your first novel published is still rather . . . novel . . . but, yes, it can happen.

bluntforcetrauma · Feb 21, 2008

tomothecat said:
I'm seeing a lot on the forums about people who have published first novels, but had drafted several others. Is there anyone who has successfully published, or is in the process of prepating, a first novel that is their actual FIRST novel? And if so, how has your editing process been going?

Right now I'm currently in the process of trying to publish my FIRST novel. It's the first novel I've ever drafted for publication, and I've worked very very hard on it. I know I've heard a lot about first novels never being ideal for publication, but I have drafted and re-drafted and revised and revised and had peer edits galore, and I would really like to do all I can to see this novel off peoperly. I'm interested to know what other peoples' experiences have been and if they were successful. ^_^

Editing is absolutely the pits. Nothing seems to happen as quickly as I want it to. I can't comment on being published, as I haven't been. Of course, I ain't done editing yet. Good luck.

juneafternoon · Feb 21, 2008

I won't talk about publishing cos I don't even have an edited novel, but I think you should go for it. Get experience in the submission process. And hey, it might happen! Who's to say that what you've got isn't publishable? Just remember that if it doesn't happen this one time, that doesn't mean it won't ever happen. The biggest challenge of being a writer is remaining a writer.

timewaster · Feb 21, 2008

tomothecat said:
I'm seeing a lot on the forums about people who have published first novels, but had drafted several others. Is there anyone who has successfully published, or is in the process of prepating, a first novel that is their actual FIRST novel? And if so, how has your editing process been going?

When I sold my first novel it was definintely my first novel. Though I'd played around with some ideas for novels, I'd never written more than a few chapters. I had also written eight younger children's books for the same publisher who took the novel so I wasn't an unknown quantity.

I think the thing with editing is that you can get too hung up on word level detail where in the first instance what matters is that it keeps you turning pages - that the pace is right. It helps to look at the shape of it where it is tense where it gives the reader a break, but at every point it should pull the reader onwards. I try to get rid of anything that doesn't do that.

Charlie Horse · Feb 21, 2008

I loved my first novel as if it were one of my children.

Now it's locked away in a closet.

(Note to self: teenage daughter might need same treatment as first novel.)

Anyway, after going through the process with my first novel, drafting, re-drafting, letting people read it, editing some more, querying, getting rejected, etc. etc., I started my second novel.

I love my second novel as if it were one of my children...

johnzakour · Feb 21, 2008

First novel I published was the second I wrote. The first one I was wrote was the second one published.

seun · Feb 21, 2008

My first novel isn't anywhere close to publishable. Neither's the second although I'm fond of both. Fond meaning I know they're shit books but they're my shit books.

I recently finished my seventh book and if any of the last five get published, I won't care that they weren't my first completed book.

lucky8 · Feb 21, 2008

I'm just about to start work on my first novel and I think that going through the process of trying to get it published is as much of a learning experience as actually writing the thing. If it doesn't get published I will at least (hopefully) have built up contacts and when I come to submit the second one I will have all that information and experience to draw from.

Zelenka · Feb 21, 2008

I'm on about my fourth novel I think and none of them are publishable. I did try with the first one and got relatively good feedback, though all 'no' nonetheless, but I've shelved it and just cannibalised certain elements for the fantasy I'm writing at the moment. I've been writing all my life really anyway, had a few bits of script performed at theatre college and such, nothing really beyond that, so my 'first' novel wasn't like my first attempt at writing, just my first attempt to seriously put everything together as a book. Like seun, if I get anything published, I don't care what number novel it is.

donroc · Feb 21, 2008

I had completed 5 novels before I sold the 4th, and immediately after that the 5th also was sold. Twice I came close to selling my first, and the reason why not is a story too long for this or any other thread. Maybe some night over a great bottle of wine.

Hopcus · Feb 21, 2008

I too was not able to sell my very first book attempt (hopefully I won't be saying the same thing about my second novel in a few years) but I would still like to someday rework it and sell it. I just love the two main characters so much; I can't leave them in the dark forever.

Phaeal · Feb 21, 2008

If you believe that you've polished your first novel to its highest possible sheen, or at least to the highest sheen you can give it at present, do two things:

1. Study the publication process, create a query package, and start submitting to agents. Pay close attention to the responses you get. All form rejections without encouragement could be a sign your novel isn't up to market standards yet and needs more work. Encouragement could be anything from "good but not for me" to "maybe with these changes" to "not this novel, but send me something else." Proceed accordingly, either back to editing or to sending out more queries.

2. Start writing your second novel! And put the fact that you're working on it into that query. Agents are looking for writers, not just the one work in question, and nothing soothes the inevitable sting of rejection more than knowing you're fashioning new (and improved) arrows for your quiver.

SmartAsh · Feb 21, 2008

I've never really finished any of my novels... I can't ever get them to feel "right" to me. I know I should be braver and just start sending the queries out

Oh well... maybe this will be the year I FINISH something!

Good luck!

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

I am in fact working on a second novel and have quite a bit of the outline down. How would I tactfully place that into a query? I wasn't sure if it would be too showy to do so, coming from a no-name.

Phaeal said:
If you believe that you've polished your first novel to its highest possible sheen, or at least to the highest sheen you can give it at present, do two things:

1. Study the publication process, create a query package, and start submitting to agents. Pay close attention to the responses you get. All form rejections without encouragement could be a sign your novel isn't up to market standards yet and needs more work. Encouragement could be anything from "good but not for me" to "maybe with these changes" to "not this novel, but send me something else." Proceed accordingly, either back to editing or to sending out more queries.

2. Start writing your second novel! And put the fact that you're working on it into that query. Agents are looking for writers, not just the one work in question, and nothing soothes the inevitable sting of rejection more than knowing you're fashioning new (and improved) arrows for your quiver.

donroc · Feb 21, 2008

Stick only with the first in your query. They are not interested in WIPs or other unpublished stuff, and you'll be fortunate to arouse their interest in your query regarding the first.

jannawrites · Feb 21, 2008

I'm closing in on the completion of my first novel. Like some others have said is true for them, I've had other ideas or starts, but this is the first that's actually made it anywhere near fruition. And I do feel it'll be worthy of finding representation for. Publication is my absolute goal with it.

Good luck!

Cassidy · Feb 21, 2008

johnzakour said:
First novel I published was the second I wrote. The first one I was wrote was the second one published.

Same here. I sent the publisher my second and they accepted it and asked if I had any more... so I sent them my first and they took it too.

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

Wow. Nice. What agent?

Cassidy said:
Same here. I sent the publisher my second and they accepted it and asked if I had any more... so I sent them my first and they took it too.

Marian Perera · Feb 21, 2008

tomothecat said:
I am in fact working on a second novel and have quite a bit of the outline down. How would I tactfully place that into a query?

My novel's title is Before the Storm, so my letter ended with, "Before the Storm is a stand-alone novel, but it has sequel potential (the next two titles would begin with During and After)".

Not quite "I'm working on the sequel", but it got a few requests for partials.

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

Aha. My second isn't a sequel though (I guarantee no sequel potential with any of my novels.)

Queen of Swords said:
My novel's title is Before the Storm, so my letter ended with, "Before the Storm is a stand-alone novel, but it has sequel potential (the next two titles would begin with During and After)".

Not quite "I'm working on the sequel", but it got a few requests for partials.

Mumut · Feb 21, 2008

I've written a few short YA stories I haven't bothered trying to get published so I suppose the first novel length work I wrote was the first book I had published. It's lucky it was accepted, though. I couldn't have had my second work published first because it is the sequel. I'm happy to say that the second novel has also been accepted for publication now, so my first was first and my second will be second. Having the second one accepted by a publisher gets me off the hook. I've had people pre-order copies from a number of book stores.

So keep trying with your first. Start writing your second but keep returning to the first and to you proposal letter. Reading them after some weeks will be like reading someone else's work and I always find it easier to criticise other people than myself!

Shweta · Feb 21, 2008

tomothecat said:
Aha. My second isn't a sequel though (I guarantee no sequel potential with any of my novels.)

Does everybody die?

I remember Jo Walton's comment when someone called her Prize in the Game a sequel. It was something like "How could it be a sequel? Everybody's dead!"

FIRST novel novelists?

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