Throw out your first novel...or two?

bylinebree · Sep 4, 2008

Yikes.

I've read a couple of novelist's interviews, where they say to 'throw out your first novel' or 'first three novels.' Very recently, one said this in Writer mag.

Hey, I've only got one completed at this point! It's my baby; flawed, yes, but I'm revising it again and think I know what it lacks. It was asked for twice out of two pitches I made at conferences. So it's got some merit.

And, in the meantime, I am still working on others.

If I wait until I've written four novels, or seven, or whatever, I will DIE before I'm published! And that's one of my goals (er, not to die LOL) ...to be published and have a career at this.

Do you agree with throwing out your first "attempts" or are they good enough to keep sending out?
:Shrug:

TheWritingRunner · Sep 4, 2008

I don't agree you HAVE to "throw them out", but in my experience (as someone who has read submissions and as someone who did write a very enthusiastic but "not ready for publication" first novel), I do think you're 2nd and 3rd attempts will probably be much better -- just because you'll learn so much from writing and rewriting and editing your 1st!

But some people write a KILLER first novel on their very first try, so everyone's different. Good luck and keep writing!

DeleyanLee · Sep 4, 2008

Depends on what they mean by "throw out", I think.

I've got about 30 novels finished. Many have made the rounds and have been rejected repeatedly by agents & editors alike. Some of them never saw hard copy outside of my editing drafts. I don't regret a one of them.

Truth is, the average first novel sucks vacuum and shouldn't be sent out. However the new author isn't always the best judge of how good or bad their work is. Many new author (even experienced author) have the idea that their book is golden and wonderful and will be the next DaVinci Code or Harry Potter. It's possible, but the odds are against it. The advice you're quoting is for the average writer--which no one wants to believe is them, but it really is.

So does that mean you don't try to make your book as good as it can be? Of course not.

Does it mean never submit your first (insert # here) novels for consideration? Not really.

What I take it as is as a reminder to check your ego at the door when finished with the writing process, do everything possible to improve your book before sending it out and to save your ego for the NEXT book you've written, until there's some reason to brag on this one.

Gray Rose · Sep 4, 2008

I've recently read (but don't remember where) that about 33% of published writers break in with their first novel. The rest write multiple novels or short stories before they make it.

I am certainly not throwing away my first. I believe in my work and will stand behind it even though statistics are against me at this point. Now, if multiple agents will pass I will reconsider, but not before I give my work a fighting chance.

Best of luck with your novel!

Gillhoughly · Sep 4, 2008

Those writers are morons.

Keep writing and ignore them. Just because someone sells something doesn't make them a a know all, wise on the craft guru.

Chances are good they're in their "blabbermouth" phase of being a published writer. That kind of validation has them thinking they know everything. My bout with it lasted several years. Some writers never get past it. (Terrible bores, they are, too.)

Tom Clancy's first novel sold, and I still think it's his best. (They weren't afraid to edit him then.)

J.K. Rowling did not toss her first novel, and I'm sure she's quite pleased over how THAT turned out.

It took two years and a lot of rewrites, but my first novel sold AND snagged me a multi-book contract. They're all still in print after nearly two decades.

Hmph. Once my dad came in waving a newspaper interview of James Mitchener (I think it was him) who said, "There are too many writers in the world, we don't need any more."

That was a very rotten thing to put in front of a 14 y.o. who was just trying to tell stories. And even THEN I knew Mitchener was full of horse hockey. All I could figure was he didn't want competition.

I took a hole puncher to the piece, then invited my dad to the bathroom so he could see me flushing the new confetti down the loo.

After that he stopped trying to save me from my fate.

Keep writing and ignore the blabbermouths.

NeuroFizz · Sep 4, 2008

I haven't thrown out a single one yet. 'Course, the day's* not over yet.

* metaphoric "day"

qwerty · Sep 4, 2008

Good grief - I can't contemplate the idea of ever binning anything I've written!

My second attempt at a novel was in a bit of a mess a few years ago, so I put it aside. Last winter I ressurrected it, put it into shape and it got me an agent. If I hadn't kept that old disk (it actually started life on a floppy) I can't bear to think . . .

Nurture your baby, bylinebree. It came out of you. You gave birth to it. It's precious.

Shadow_Ferret · Sep 4, 2008

I "threw out" my first novel because it was seriously flawed and it will take a major rewrite to save it. I didn't just throw it out because of some imagined idea that it's necessary to do so to become a "well-polished" author.

I also set it aside because my second novel was poking me and wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it.

The second one is currently in submission, getting some nibbles.

Mr Flibble · Sep 4, 2008

Um I sold my first novel, so I'm pretty glad I didn't bin it.

Admittedly it was severely edited from it's original form as I learnt more, but then I suspect many books bear little resemblence to their first draft in terms of style / pace / characterisation etc.

My second will ( I think / hope / pray ) require less editing, that's all.

Trunk it by all means. But then maybe you'll pick it up one day with your new and improved writer skills and think 'you know, I can see just how to fix this'

WriterInTheStone · Sep 4, 2008

Don't worry if your first child is screwed up either, you'll probably get a couple more chances.

Karen Duvall · Sep 4, 2008

I got my first agent with my first novel, but it never sold. So it now sits in a trunk, forever. I loved it at the time, I really did! It taught me so much. I rewrote it 3 times, even changed it from 3rd person to 1st person. So the poor old thing is scarred and flawed, but it did its job by teaching me how to write and I'll forever love it for that. But it will never be published, mainly because I've grown as a writer and it doesn't reflect the writer I've become.

I don't believe there's such a thing as wasted words. Every scene you cut, every character you remove, every chapter you revise; they've all done their job to make the work better and therefore make you better as a writer. So even if book #1 doesn't sell, it's okay because it's not the only book you have in you. The more books you write, the easier it will be to accept the possibility your book may not sell. In fact, the book that got me my latest agent (since May of this year) is currently out on submission and I realize the real possibility it may not sell, which is why I'm holding off writing book 2 in the series and starting another series instead.

If you love that first effort and believe it will sell, you don't have to give up on it unless you want to. But you DO have to write a new book. And another new book after that. If there's any secret to being a successful writer, that's what it is. Keep those story-writing muscles in shape and keep churning out the words.

Doug Johnson · Sep 4, 2008

bylinebree said:
I will DIE before I'm published! And that's one of my goals

Mick Jagger should have said, "You can't always get what you want, especially if you want to make a living writing fiction."

JoNightshade · Sep 4, 2008

I would never "throw out" anything I'd written, but I do in fact have a couple of trunked novels. Do I still think I may resurrect them someday? I have hopes.

But the truth is those "failed" novels were great practice. You have to start somewhere, right? And clearly I'm not the sort of genius who can whip out a masterpiece on the first try. (Actually, I tell myself that I'm aiming higher than mass market appeal - I've actually got some real literary goals, which probably take more effort and practice to master.)

And in their time, I BELIEVED in those books. Yes, I sent them around; yes, I wanted them to be published. Should I not have done that? THANK GOD I DID, because I probably made every single stupid mistake it's possible to make in the course of shopping a novel. Now I can say, wow, thank God I made those mistakes back then on those early attempts rather than shooting myself in the foot now, when I actually have a chance.

So write as if you were one of the lucky ones - with all your heart. Put everything you've got into your first novel and give it your best go. And if it turns out your first novel ends up trunked, that's not the end of the world. You start another one, and you give THAT one everything you've got, and more. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so, because if you're stuck after the first novel how were you planning on being a successful novelist anyway?

bylinebree · Sep 4, 2008

WriterInTheStone said:
Don't worry if your first child is screwed up either, you'll probably get a couple more chances.

Nah, she's great in a line of four.
#4 is also great.
Now #2 and 3...um...I do love all four of them.

Guess that's how we feel about our novels too, eh?

(A Big P.S. I didn't really meant to THROW it throw it away - just to stop working on it or sending it, and shelve it on a shelf or a CD. So much for being a word-crafter LOL.)

bylinebree · Sep 4, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
Those writers are morons.

Tom Clancy's first novel sold, and I still think it's his best. (They weren't afraid to edit him then.)

J.K. Rowling did not toss her first novel, and I'm sure she's quite pleased over how THAT turned out.

It took two years and a lot of rewrites, but my first novel sold AND snagged me a multi-book contract. They're all still in print after nearly two decades.

Keep writing and ignore the blabbermouths.

A writing partner just reminded me that Anne Rice's 1st didn't sell either...until later when she pulled it out again. They made a movie out of it.

Thanks Gillhoughly (my mind-tongue tangles when I try to mind-pronounce your screen name, geez!)

FennelGiraffe · Sep 4, 2008

bylinebree said:
Thanks Gillhoughly (my mind-tongue tangles when I try to mind-pronounce your screen name, geez!)

Watch the movie a dozen or two times, and you won't have that problem anymore. :roll:

Sunshine13 · Sep 4, 2008

I hope this isn't the case with me. Yes, it sucked vacuum when I first wrote it 10 years ago (or was it 8?) but it's gone through some extensive revisions, rewritings, etc. But who knows. I'll find out soon enough, I 'spose.

Shadow_Ferret · Sep 4, 2008

Karen Duvall said:
I got my first agent with my first novel, but it never sold. So it now sits in a trunk, forever. I loved it at the time, I really did! It taught me so much. I rewrote it 3 times, even changed it from 3rd person to 1st person. So the poor old thing is scarred and flawed, ....

Can't be THAT flawed if it garnered an agent. Seems like it might be a darned good novel that might just need a minor tweeking, or be brought back out after you've got a few more sales under your belt.

Red-Green · Sep 4, 2008

Don't throw it out. My first novel is propping up the short leg of my writing desk. Very useful.

Phaeal · Sep 4, 2008

Write the book, whether it's number one or number one hundred. Revise it to the best of your ability. Put it out on the market.

The market will decide whether it's publishable right here, right now. If the market says no, either revise again or let it age.

But why ever throw it away? It's a piece of your literary history, and scholars may drool over it someday.

JamieFord · Sep 4, 2008

I wouldn't do it automatically, but you have to be honest with yourself and realize that some stories might end up as learning experiences, and that's OKAY. There's a point in editing and revising where you're probably subjecting your work to a "death of a thousand cuts".

Diana Hignutt · Sep 4, 2008

By first novel earned a Spectrum Award Nomination.

Never, ever, believe in generalizations. Every writer is different, what works for some doesn't work for others.

vrabinec · Sep 4, 2008

Phaeal said:
Write the book, whether it's number one or number one hundred. Revise it to the best of your ability. Put it out on the market.

The market will decide whether it's publishable right here, right now. If the market says no, either revise again or let it age.

But why ever throw it away? It's a piece of your literary history, and scholars may drool over it someday.

Right, my first novel is collecting mold very nicely in the basement.

Gillhoughly · Sep 4, 2008

Gill-hoo-lee. Accent on the "hoo."

We Irish have such creative fun with spelling!

Charlie Horse · Sep 4, 2008

I remember bristling the first time I heard someone say this. I had written a novel, damnit, and it was damn good.

My second novel was so much better.

My third and current WIP kicks all their asses.

Throw out your first novel...or two?

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