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Oh good. The best thing I have is pornographic and unmarketable

Thread starter pepperlandgirl
Start date Mar 22, 2005

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pepperlandgirl

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Mar 22, 2005

#1

That's what an agent who read the first 50 pages of Mad World said anyway. He said he thinks I'm a talented writer, but well, it's pornographic and unmarketable and it will alienate all the readers.

The rejection hurts, but that's not what I'm really feeling right now. I never thought it was pornographic or unmarketable. It's dark and a bit hard-core and rough and not light summer reading, but, I don't know...I had the foolish (though not uncommon notion) that if I loved it enough, everybody else would love it too.

He said he'd like to see my next work. I don't have anything for him right now. A bunch of unfinished WIPs that I don't have any real faith in.

To top it all off, I have received nothing but rejection letters from MFA programs. They base their decisions heavily on writing samples. I'm waiting to hear from two more schools (the most prestigious schools) and then I can try to get my life back together and figure out what I'm going to do once I graduate in May.

Deleted member 42

Mar 22, 2005

#2

Send it to Ellora's Cave or Loose ID or Liquid Silver. (All are e-book publishers, some also do paperbacks, all are .com websites.)

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 22, 2005

#3

It's not erotica though.

Yes, there is a lot of sex. But the sex scenes are not meant to be titilating or arousing. They're not meant to get people off. My characters are so messed up that it's the only way they can communicate, and the scenes evolve and eventually drop off as they learn to actually approach each other as real people.

*sigh* But maybe it is the only way to get it out there. When push comes to shove, publishers/agents/editors aren't interested in what I intended, only what they can sell, and I know this isn't marketable to a large number of people. I always knew. But I also know for a fact that there is an audience for it.

Trapped in amber

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Mar 22, 2005

#4

These are the views of one agent? I hope you carry on submitting it, it sounds good. There might be other agents who do know of a market for this book. Good luck :Sun:

:Sun:

.

Wandering Sensei

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Mar 22, 2005

#5

Laurell K Hamilton has a lot of sex in her books. They sell very well, and they're not considered to be pornography.

DeadlyAccurate

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Mar 22, 2005

#6

pepperlandgirl said:
That's what an agent who read the first 50 pages of Mad World said anyway. He said he thinks I'm a talented writer, but well, it's pornographic and unmarketable and it will alienate all the readers.

Well, you know that's not completely true. You have one reader right here who enjoyed it. His is just one opinion. I'm sure someone out there will like it.

He said he'd like to see my next work. I don't have anything for him right now. A bunch of unfinished WIPs that I don't have any real faith in.

This is very good, though. He thought you were talented enough to ask for more.

maestrowork

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Mar 22, 2005

#7

Pepperland, don't let one agent get you down. Obviously he's not a right match for you. I mean, would you rather him take you on, then ask you to change everything to fit his needs? Or would you rather have an agent who loves your book the way it is?

Don't think of it as you're begging an agent to do a favor for you. Think of it as auditioning an agent -- the right one to represent your book. After all, your book is going to make them money. Maybe if you think that way, you will feel better.

The thing you should be saying is: Thanks for auditioning. Next.

brinkett

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Mar 22, 2005

#8

maestrowork said:
The thing you should be saying is: Thanks for auditioning. Next.

Love it!

veinglory

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Mar 22, 2005

#9

There are markets for all sorts of content so long as it is well written. Some publishers even specialise in the edgier stuff.

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 22, 2005

#10

veinglory said:
There are markets for all sorts of content so long as it is well written. Some publishers even specialise in the edgier stuff.

Heh, can anybody point me towards those publishers?

Alphabeter

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Mar 23, 2005

#11

I know they were graphic novels, but who published Larry...?'s Sin City? (The movie based on them is coming out soon)

They have a dark use of sex.

When you query publishers, that would be a good example to use.

Lady Brick

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Mar 23, 2005

#12

Just a note... Sin City is written by Frank Miller (think he does the art too, but not sure) and published by Dark Horse. Frank Miller is also well known for his work on superheroes, including giving us the dark dark dark modern Batman we all know and love. </uselesscomicsknowledge>

veinglory

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Mar 23, 2005

#13

I read guidelines for a UK publisher recently that wanted gritty, urban, sex, violence etc. Young, edgy and words like that. Hmm. If you send me a synopsis and perhaps a one page sample I will see what I can come up with. ( veinglorisATlycos.com)

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 23, 2005

#14

You've got mail, vein. Thank you very much

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#15

And...strike 2. The second agent didn't even give me a reason why. Ah well, I had second thoughts about him anyway.

I'm not sure what to do now.

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VPX

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Mar 26, 2005

#16

Frank Miller also did the definitive Daredevil/Elektra story arc--an incredibly talented writer--but I love him best paired with John Romita Jr.'s art...</comic knowledge sidetrack>

Pepper--don't get discouraged. It wouldn't be unheard of for you to submit the thing to thirty or forty agents before you found a match. It's trying, I know--but just part of the process.

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#17

Yeah, I know one thing I should do is "keep submitting" but from the latest round of rejections, I'm thinking I need to massively overhaul my query letter. I can't believe a single page of writing intimidates me so much.

I also think I need to come up with a better game plan than the one I have now.

SRHowen

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Mar 26, 2005

#18

How many agents have you subbed to? If I am reading right--only 2?

It took me 65 to find the right one--keep going.

Shawn

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#19

More than 2. Only two asked to read the first 50 pages based on the query letter. Everybody else just sent a polite "thanks but no thanks."

dragonjax

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Mar 26, 2005

#20

pepperlandgirl said:
Heh, can anybody point me towards those publishers?

Pepperland, I sent you an e-mail message.

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#21

Thank you, I got it

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#22

If anybody could help me in this thread I would be much obliged

dragonjax

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Mar 26, 2005

#23

Hmmm. Honestly, pepper, between the two, I liked the first graf better. But I think both versions are giving away too much, revealing too much, and are too long overall.

What's the hook? Why should anyone read the book?

Better yet, give me the "T.V. Guide Version": In one sentence, describe your book. Ready? Go!

pepperlandgirl

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Mar 26, 2005

#24

But in a query to an agent, don't I want to give them as much information as I can?

The reason I don't like the first one is that it makes it sound like the murderer is the "a plot." But it is not, the relationship between Jason and Daisy is the "A plot" and the murderer serves their story.

Hmmm, a one-line tv guide summary? I don't know if I can...

Police detective Jason Squires is dangerously obsessed with the one woman who can destroy him completely.

um...or...

Daisy Winters is obsessed with a man who wants to own and break her, yet loves her because he can do neither

Last edited: Mar 26, 2005

dragonjax

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Mar 27, 2005

#25

pepperlandgirl said:
But in a query to an agent, don't I want to give them as much information as I can?

Nope. You want to give them just enough to want to read a sample of your work. Don't show the smoke and mirrors, just a part of the magic trick.

pepperlandgirl said:
The reason I don't like the first one is that it makes it sound like the murderer is the "a plot." But it is not, the relationship between Jason and Daisy is the "A plot" and the murderer serves their story.

Hmmm, a one-line tv guide summary? I don't know if I can...

Police detective Jason Squires is dangerously obsessed with the one woman who can destroy him completely.

um...or...

Daisy Winters is obsessed with a man who wants to own and break her, yet loves her because he can do neither

I like the first one better; the second one, even though you mention Daisy by name, it's not really about her, is it? It's about the guy obsessing about her.

Okay, using the first description, I'd say that's a terrific hook, but it's not a one-sentence description of what your book is about. Don't worry about subplots at this point. A really stark, bare bones "WHAT IS THIS" is what I'm asking for.

So, pepper, what's your book about? (No fair cheating and saying "About 300 pages.")

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