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- Feb 13, 2008
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Now, before I say anything else, let me throw this out there. I know the typical responses will be
1) Just write the damn thing.
2) A good book will sell.
As for 1, I AM writing the damn thing, and nothing said here is going to change that. It will be done, hopefully pretty soon if I manage to be at least somewhat disciplined. As for number 2, yes there's Of Mice and Men, and apparently the notebook is also pretty short. But let's face it. To claim that all good books get published is to claim that the system is perfect - which is simply not true.
What I'd be very interested to hear are some honest, down-to-earth opinions regarding how much more difficult it will be to get this published, as opposed to a longer work. It is YA, by the way.
One agent that I voiced these concerns to said "just write it," though she also told me that for my previous book and ended up turning it down due to the very concerns that I brought up (that it was a bit plotless.)
Another, however, made a point of saying that it would be very, very difficult to get a novel of that length published, especially from a debut author.
It's ironic because the first book had a story but I couldn't write it, the second book didn't have a story but I could write it, and the third book, well, maybe I'm being presumtious but I'd like to think the writing AND the story are there this time. It's just a question of whether there's enough of both. xP
Also, I'm thinking that when I query I will avoid mentioning the length. Do you guys think that would be a bad idea? My thought process is that if the agent is intrigued and requests the sample and enjoys it, then length won't be an instant deal breaker, especially if he/she falls in love with it. But if I mention it straight up, it might put someone off from requesting it just because of the greater difficulty that would probably go into selling it.
As I said, I'd very much appreciate any and all input.
1) Just write the damn thing.
2) A good book will sell.
As for 1, I AM writing the damn thing, and nothing said here is going to change that. It will be done, hopefully pretty soon if I manage to be at least somewhat disciplined. As for number 2, yes there's Of Mice and Men, and apparently the notebook is also pretty short. But let's face it. To claim that all good books get published is to claim that the system is perfect - which is simply not true.
What I'd be very interested to hear are some honest, down-to-earth opinions regarding how much more difficult it will be to get this published, as opposed to a longer work. It is YA, by the way.
One agent that I voiced these concerns to said "just write it," though she also told me that for my previous book and ended up turning it down due to the very concerns that I brought up (that it was a bit plotless.)
Another, however, made a point of saying that it would be very, very difficult to get a novel of that length published, especially from a debut author.
It's ironic because the first book had a story but I couldn't write it, the second book didn't have a story but I could write it, and the third book, well, maybe I'm being presumtious but I'd like to think the writing AND the story are there this time. It's just a question of whether there's enough of both. xP
Also, I'm thinking that when I query I will avoid mentioning the length. Do you guys think that would be a bad idea? My thought process is that if the agent is intrigued and requests the sample and enjoys it, then length won't be an instant deal breaker, especially if he/she falls in love with it. But if I mention it straight up, it might put someone off from requesting it just because of the greater difficulty that would probably go into selling it.
As I said, I'd very much appreciate any and all input.
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