Do you sell a book or a career?

scarletpeaches · Oct 11, 2005

Earlier today I posted my query letter for critique (oh, shameless plug alert: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20344 ) and something Andrew Jameson said made me think.

If you are like me and unpublished, how do you go about making it clear that you are not a one-book-wonder? I decided to put in a short paragraph about my WIP to show this, but some people think it is unnecessary, whereas others say go ahead, you're selling not just your single manuscript, but a whole career.

I don't know what else I could possibly put to sell myself as a writer, so I thought I would ask everyone here what their thoughts were. Do you concentrate on the particular book you are selling, or always look ahead to the next one and sell this to agents/publishers in your query letters, too?

blacbird · Oct 11, 2005

Personally, I don't seem to be able to sell either one.

bird

Tish Davidson · Oct 11, 2005

Agents are interested in careers. Publishers tend to be interested in a single book, or at least they look at writers one book at a time.

unthoughtknown · Oct 11, 2005

Wouldn't the excellence of the book indicate whether you are a "one-book-wonder"?

Excellence being = fabulous writing style, fabulous story, fabulous characters and the ability to leave a lasting impression with the reader... (enough to make them keen to buy your next book!)

scarletpeaches · Oct 11, 2005

jsando - I'm still working on my fabulousness!

Getting there though.

Bufty · Oct 11, 2005

Tish Davidson said:
Agents are interested in careers. Publishers tend to be interested in a single book, or at least they look at writers one book at a time.

So an Agent would reject what they thought was an excellent novel with selling potential simply because it was maybe a one-off? I'm not so sure about that - it seems a rather narrow view.
And there's no guarantee that a declared career writer's first novel is going to be followed by another that will sell, surely.

scarletpeaches · Oct 11, 2005

I guess what I'm asking is - is a mention of your WIP entirely redundant? I mean, it wouldn't actually put an agent off, to see a mention of my next book in a query letter, would it?

Christine N. · Oct 11, 2005

Interesting question. Most agents and/or publishers probably don't want to know about your WIP, unless you've already been published. Does that sound catch-22?

Agents MIGHT want to know about the WIP, IF they like your writing style, but think that what you've actually submitted isn't right for them. (ask Dragonjax

) That can happen. But, I would let the agent ask YOU 'so, what else have you got?'

If the agent doesn't like your style, or thinks your writing isn't ready for publication, then mentioning the WIP is irrelevant.

I mentioned my WIP in my query to an agent, but only because a) I've already had one book published, so I've got a little street credit and b) because the book I subbed, although written as standalone, is the first in a planned series. I wanted to give her an idea of what she was getting herself into LOL. She didn't even blink, and asked for a partial (of the sub, not the WIP).

If I hadn't already been published, I don't think I would have mentioned the WIP at all. Putting the cart before the horse, as it were.

Publishers don't want to hear about WIP's, usually. Again, I mentioned it to my publisher, because this was not my first book with them.

aadams73 · Oct 11, 2005

I added a line to my query in my two line bio that reads something like this:

I am currently at work on my next "characters name here" novel and also a single title mystery novel.

That's it. And I'm newly agented so it mustn't be too off-putting.

scarletpeaches · Oct 11, 2005

So a good compromise would be to say you are working on something, name it, but not say what it's about and just concentrate on the book you're currently selling them?

aadams73 · Oct 11, 2005

scarletpeaches said:
So a good compromise would be to say you are working on something, name it, but not say what it's about and just concentrate on the book you're currently selling them?

I think so. That way they know you're not just going to sit around waiting for book number one to sell before putting pen to paper again. I think most agents want more than a one hit wonder but not to be bombarded with specifics until they ask.

maestrowork · Oct 11, 2005

IMHO, it doesn't matter much if you mention your WIP, but make sure you focus on this ONE book in your query. Then let the book speak for itself.

Tish Davidson · Oct 11, 2005

Bufty said:
So an Agent would reject what they thought was an excellent novel with selling potential simply because it was maybe a one-off? I'm not so sure about that - it seems a rather narrow view.
And there's no guarantee that a declared career writer's first novel is going to be followed by another that will sell, surely.

No, of course not. Agents are in business to make money. If they think they can sell a book, they'll represent it. But an agent may take on a client who has written a book that they think they can sell but that does not necessarily have wide appeal if the agent things that the client writes well and has a lot of potential to write something with wider appeal.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 11, 2005

WIP

Agents and publishers both want writers who they believe will write more than one novel. Most first novels lose money. Most second novels lose money. Agents and publishers usually make their profit from the third or fourth novel, simply because it takes time for most writer to build a following.

It does no harm to mention a WIP, but it isn't really necessary, either. If the first novel isn't any good, a WIP doesn't matter. If the first novel is good, it's going to be taken on, whether or not you mention a WIP.

JERETHAL · Oct 11, 2005

You got to let em know you're the catz ***. Tell em you got candy for their eyes,info for their brain and toe wiggling exercise to boot. Tell em why your story will make people buy it. BUYING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.

Tell them how to design the cover, knock em over with a killer synop, give em a title they can get excited about, make your first sentence set a tone that lives up to the hype, follow that up with some info for the brain, some images for the eyes, make em nervous, make em sweat, make em wiggle their toes, make em laugh, make em do something, make em think anything but" this book is gonna suck".

After ya do that, they'll call ya and say "hey, what else have you written?"
Then you say " I'm a writin fool; thats all I do."
Then they'll say " send me some more stuff to look at. Better yet, send me an overview of everything you've written and a brief synopsis of everything, I'd like to show your stuff to a few friends."
Then you say " get me some money for what ya got so I can buy some stamps."
Then they'll say " okay, I'll get you an advance. Get your stuff ready to send."
then you say " okay, send me an advance and I'll get a nice package to ya in about a month."
Then they'll say " okay, I'll be sending along some paperwork for you to look at and sign for me. Call me if you have any questions or concerns."

Then you come on this forum and let everybody know you're the catz ***.

ecouteuse · Oct 12, 2005

It's really not that great an idea to mention the next WIP in the intial query. In sales, you never end a pitch by distracting the customer with something else they might want to buy later. Same with queries. Agents are going to assume that you're working on something else when reading your query anyway, so there's no need to waste the page space to belabor the point. Secondly, you want them to be jazzed up about that specific work. This about the worst-case scenario -- they're almost ready to say, "send it" but they're not quite sure if they like the sound of the next one or they're more interested in the next one which is clearly not finished, and then it all just turns into too much of a "should I bother" question and so they (generally) won't. The time to mention the next work is after they've responded positively to your book, or if they ask you.

(I know some people mention a WIP and still get the agent... but this is more the exception, I believe.)

fwiw, I didn't say anything in my query to my agent about the book being the first in a potential series. I didn't want to scare her off. When she called to want to rep me, she asked then, I said it was a series, and we took it from there. (Yes, the books sold, three-book deal to St. Martin's in a pre-empt.)

hope that helps,
-toni

Torin · Oct 12, 2005

jsando said:
Wouldn't the excellence of the book indicate whether you are a "one-book-wonder"?

Excellence being = fabulous writing style, fabulous story, fabulous characters and the ability to leave a lasting impression with the reader... (enough to make them keen to buy your next book!)

Harper Lee was a "one book wonder", and the book was most definitely excellent, IMHO. But she never wrote another book.

Chris

cwfgal · Oct 12, 2005

I'm inclined to agree with those who say to focus on the current work you're trying to sell, leaving mention of WIPs for later if asked. That's how I sold my first novel. Mentioning other stuff just dilutes the attention and enthusiasm you want them to have for the current project.

Beth

Christine N. · Oct 12, 2005

Come to think of it, I didn't actually mention the WIP's by name, only that I saw subbed book as the potential book one of a Book of Six/Seven series (when I e-queried her, I titled the book " blah blah blah (book one of Blah Blah Blah)" )

I think I said only that book two is in its second draft and I had a partial outline/plot for book three. So yeah, she knows I'm in this for the long haul, but I really wanted her to look at book one. Three days, send me chapters. <shrug>

So, take that for what it's worth. 95% of the query was about the book I wanted her to look at, 4% was my publishing history, and 1% was what else I'm working on, only b/c it related to the subbed piece.

I certainly wouldn't have mentioned anything NOT related to the book under consideration.

scarletpeaches · Oct 12, 2005

Hmm...my WIP is similar in that it's on the same theme (well, in the same genre)! But it's not part of a series...

stace001 · Oct 13, 2005

i mentioned my WIP (since completed) when I was trying to get representation for my second novel, and while the agent didn't go with that novel, she is currently waiting to read my third novel. If I hadn't mentioned it in my cover letter, she may not have asked to read it.

I say mention it briefly, and leave it up to the agents/publishers.

scarletpeaches · Oct 14, 2005

Did you describe it at all, Stace, or just mention it? I've decided to mention that I am working on something, but am still undecided whether I should describe it briefly, state the genre, or say virtually nothing about it.

Cathy C · Oct 14, 2005

My personal view is that you're selling BOTH. The single book is the "foot in the door" and whether that door stays open depends on your WIPs. Most of the larger agencies represent authors on a one-by-one basis -- meaning that each book has a separate agency contract (or is re-upped with each new project.) When we got our agent for our first book, we explained that we had a big list of other projects in some stage of completion. In fact, we were in the process of TWELVE other books, various genres, various stages of completion. At first, we were clients verbally, because she wanted to see how many books she could sell in a single deal, so that the agency agreement would match the publishing contract. Thereafter, we've just done one-page continuations of that original agreement, on the same terms.

So, the book needs to be the one that starts the ball rolling, and each subsequent book is a separate thing that keeps the momentum rising. There are several projects that our agent has declined to represent, mainly because they're not in her preferred genre. However, it's a big agency (one nice thing about that for us multi-genre writers), so hopefully as time goes along and our name increases in the marketplace, one of the other agents in the agency will take on the off-genre books. Yes, the agent looks at the career, but each book is a stepping stone TO that career, so they deal with the stones that they think will pave the best path.

Hope that helps!

TeddyG · Oct 14, 2005

I agree. I think you are selling BOTH.

BUT...I think your first query to an agent has to be totally concentrated on that ONE project you are trying to sell.

Even if they don't buy it, but you are lucky enough to maintain a relationship with the agent, then the WIP may come up. Actually, it always does sooner or later. And even if the agent does bite and goes for it, it still may not sell. But by that time hopefully the agent will know you better and your writing carreer better.

And since publishers often change their needs, and thus the agents do to match publication demands, if the agent knows of your WIP and it fits in with what a publisher wants to see, you may be in the right place at the right time.

It is a lot of talent, a great deal more luck (and I do believe in that all elusive word), and some more talent.

Rothschild was once asked how he amassed so much capital in one lifetime, and he answered, "It is 99% luck and another 1% of luck"

Teddy

Jamesaritchie · Oct 14, 2005

Agents

I think it's good to remember that nomatter how an agent works, even if you have a three year contract with her, you're still working on a one book at a time relationship in teh sense that she can, and will, refuse to attemtp selling any novel you write that she believes simply isn't good enough.

A good agent will always try to get you a multi-book deal, but deliver a bad book, and all bets are off.

Do you sell a book or a career?

scarletpeaches

blacbird

Tish Davidson

unthoughtknown

practical experience, FTW

scarletpeaches

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

scarletpeaches

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

aadams73

A Work in Progress

scarletpeaches

aadams73

A Work in Progress

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Tish Davidson

Jamesaritchie

JERETHAL

ecouteuse

Torin

Wandering vaguely

cwfgal

On the rocks

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

scarletpeaches

stace001

Look into my eyes

scarletpeaches

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

TeddyG

The Other Shoe Will Fall!

Jamesaritchie