How Close Have You Come

popmuze · May 2, 2009

Used to be you got an agent and the agent sold your novel. (Actually, in my case it was the opposite.)

These days it seems there are a few more levels in between. I've been reading on other threads about three rounds of revisions from the agent alone and then several close calls with publishers.

Since my last two novels are circulating without even so much as interesting rejection letters, I'd like to get feedback from some others who've gotten closer than having an agent send the book around.

In other words, how close can you come without breaking through (not that getting the thing published necessarily results in a breakthrough, but that's another story, and another thread.

Karen Duvall · May 2, 2009

You mean without breaking through to an offer of a contract with a publisher? I have a friend whose agent has gotten her to the acquisition meetings 3 times with 3 different books and 3 different publishers, and still got kicked to the curb. Is that what you mean?

Cyia · May 2, 2009

I mentioned this in another thread, but:

2 years ago, 1st time out in earnest (I'd sent some things off before but never well done), didn't know the "rules" or that you needed an agent for most books, or that editors don't respond to emails from writers. Went straight for the editors at RandomHouse, Scholastic, and Penguin with a pitch for a book series.

Got bites from both Random and Scholastic in less than 3 weeks (never heard from Penguin). RandomHouse liked the story, but wanted their own illustrators (I'd have taken that option if they'd offered

) Scholastic person didn't have room for it, but liked it (didn't complain about the pictures, either

) so he sent it to one of their imprints... that had also just purchased a slew of fantasy books for the next couple of years. I would have taken the "we've got too much fantasy on list" as a form reject if he hadn't sent it on to others.

In the end, no takers... but SO friggin' close ...

From beginning of the search to the end of the line was less than 3 months total.

I've actually reworked the first book a bit and I think it's better now anyway, so maybe I should look for a home for it again.

Gillhoughly · May 2, 2009

Every writer's experience at selling that first book is going to be different. There is no base line, no time line.

Some may never make a sale, others instantly click with an agent and land a 6-figure deal, and there are thousands of variations in between those extremes.

It depends on circumstances and the writing. The 6-figure deal guy had a recommendation and a line edit from Sarah Paretsky.

It took two years and a lot of rewrites before my words were worth buying.

In that time I sent the book to the wrong publishers, skated close to a scam agent, nearly sold to a small press that went bankrupt the week they asked me for a full, was sorely tempted by vanity press operations (saved by Yog's Law) and wrote three more books to keep my head from exploding.

Then a slush editor kicked my synopsis and 50 pages upstairs, and they asked for a full and made an offer.

I understand that two years is a remarkably short time for that process.

If I had to do it again today, better believe I'd have posted the book here on AW to get the feedback I needed to make it better. (My first draft, which I thought was final, doesn't bear thinking about, it was so bad.)

It's different today, but the same. You write, send it out, and keep sending things out until you sell.

E-mails make it faster. Not always, but sometimes.

popmuze · May 2, 2009

It doesn't get easier after 14 books, either. Then you've got your track record to battle and start leaning toward a pseudonym.

As hard as it is for me to believe, I sold my first novel without an agent and based on three chapters and an outline. An editor at Houghton Mifflin had seen a non fiction proposal of mine and thought it would work better as a YA novel. The second and third novels sold to the same publisher, but different editors.

I also sold my first non fiction book without an agent. I was writing regularly for a national magazine and someone introduced me to their editor, who eventually bought my proposal.

When I come to think of it, most of my books were sold through my own contacts. Even the last one, my upcoming 14th, was of the "can you send the proposal to my friend over at such and such..." type phone call to my agent.

So I'm thinking, with two novels out there, another non fiction proposal, another novel finished, I'd better start dusting off my contacts again, rather than waiting around for my agent to call.

He's off at a conference this week anyway.

blacbird · May 2, 2009

Gillhoughly said:
It's different today, but the same. You write, send it out, and keep sending things out until you sell.

Or die.

caw

Michael Davis · May 3, 2009

If I recall correctly, it was 17 months from when I started sending out submissions until the day I got the call "We'd like to publish your book." That same week, I got three calls on two of my stories wanting to publish them. I know, all that time with nada then it poured. I did have publishers and agents request full MS copies after reading the Q & S, but only rejection letters until the call

donroc · May 3, 2009

You name it; I have experienced it.

Feidb · May 4, 2009

Wish I had some experience with that, however I've never got past the "fuck you and die" stage yet.

How Close Have You Come

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

Karen Duvall

Chalice the Hatchet Knight

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

blacbird

Michael Davis

donroc

Historicals and Horror rule

Feidb

Been Here A While