My first novel (which was also the first anything I ever wrote) was repped by a fine, reputable agent, and it didn't sell. After a few submission rejections, the agent lost interest in the prospects (and me), and we eventually parted ways. Knowing what I now know about the publishing industry, there were problems with where and how she was pitching the novel. Though I read and enjoy historical romance, Book#1 was a historical novel that included a love interest, and was not by any means a historical romance. The letters coming the romance editors rejecting the novel, said as much.
While I was waiting the months on submission, I worked on researching and writing book #2. I also began tooling around on the internet and learning all I could about the publishing biz. When book #2 was finished, it was a better, more marketable book, and I landed a better agent. After eight months of being out on submission, Berkley/Penguin offered a 2-book deal, the second book of the deal being sold based on a synopsis for the next project I was researching.
I learned an awful lot throughout the entire process, but probably the most important thing I learned was the difference between an agent who finds a commodity she wants to sell (agent #1) and an agent who finds a writer who's career she wants to develop (agent #2).
Though difficult and painful, the valuable lessons learned from my failed first foray into the publishing world propelled me to eventual success, and so I don't look upon that experience as a failure at all. Just last week, my editor at Berkley picked up my next two books, the sale again being made on synopsi. I now have a writing career.
We have it in our power to begin the world over again. — Thomas Paine
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