Is it better to first contact a writing agent in the U.S.?
- Thread starter Ashigara
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There are books with mechs in the US/UK, like Iron Widow, though I'm not sure about magical girls (after a quick search, I've come up with at least one book - Chosen Ones - so those are about too). Either way, as other people have said, these tropes are really popular here these days, with anime and manga being a very standard interest for kids and adults. Personally, I'd recommend trying US agents possibly first, because I think the market for it is a bit stronger there than the UK (with aforementioned books both being US publications).
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Don't be sorry. I'm just saying - you do you. Write your writing.
There are never any guarantees.
I suppose. I just think that manga is a visual medium, and I'm not good enough at writing to translate all that visual spectacle into words. And yes, manga is a thing, but the kind of stuff (I think) more relevant to my situation would be light novels. Would something like light novels work in the US, especially with regards to a foreign genre like Magical Girls?
It is a visual medium, but there are novels I posted about in that post which try to translate those ideas into prose, so you could have a read of them and see how they go about it. I don't think light novels are really a thing, outside of translations, so I'd put them forward as just novels.I suppose. I just think that manga is a visual medium, and I'm not good enough at writing to translate all that visual spectacle into words. And yes, manga is a thing, but the kind of stuff (I think) more relevant to my situation would be light novels. Would something like light novels work in the US, especially with regards to a foreign genre like Magical Girls?
Light novels aren't published in the US/UK outside of light novels from Japan being translated (as far as I know), so I'd recommend presenting your novels as just 'novels' rather than calling them 'light novels' when approaching agents.
I see. I think my novel-esque writing style is much different from what LNs I've read anyway, so I can't market it as an LN. But still, thanks.
What does it cost you to try? Sure you have to invest time in writing a query letter for US agents (see Queryshark and AW's Query Letter Hell for that), but beyond that all querying is done by email.
If you want a good listing of UK SF/F agents then have a look at my website here: http://martinowton.com/pdf/sf.pdf
If you want a good listing of UK SF/F agents then have a look at my website here: http://martinowton.com/pdf/sf.pdf
Thank you. And I will try eventually when I'm done with edits and beta reading. Right now I've only begun editing and don't think I should start querying at this stage.
I agree. My advice would be to get as many eyes on the manuscript as you can and listen closely to what they say about it. If several people offer the same points in critique you need to take those points seriously.
I've seen a few small presses that take on litRPG and other niche nerdy stories. They could possibly be interested in your book.
No shame in self publishing though. My current project is one I plan to serialize online, and it's nice to write without the stress of "oh God will any publisher even want this???"
No shame in self publishing though. My current project is one I plan to serialize online, and it's nice to write without the stress of "oh God will any publisher even want this???"
Curious.
I don't know, it doesn't seem like a route I'd be confident taking.
Every publishing route takes confidence. Getting traditionally published is harder than ever. I've heard countless stories of very talented writers being rejected by 100+ agents before signing with one, if they sign with one at all. It's still worth pursuing if that's what you truly want, but steel those nerves for a lot of doors getting slammed in your face.
However I also know for a fact that there's an audience for your genres. Light novels with similar plots are getting bigger all the time, and there's no rule that they have to be Japanese and Korean only.
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This is why you need to research the marketplace before you start writing to make sure that there's a place that you fit in. You probably wouldn't get published by a large publisher but there may be small niche publishers who might be looking for works that appeal to a small segment of the book-reading population in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. In the future though, know who you're writing for and how you're going to get it into their hands first. It saves a lot of stress later on.
Then keep writing and improving! Hopefully people will want to read the next thing you write. I feel like you're so hard on yourself, I just want to give you an online hug.
You don't want to know how many words I've written and literally scrapped and thrown in the bin/trash can/whatever you'd like to call it. I don't even know exactly how many. I don't want to check
Exactly. If I wasn't here talking about writing right now, I might well be standing on the street corner, staring meanly at the passers-by
If I am rejected, the onus rests on me to grow a thicker skin and keep trying.
I am not writing a light novel. Also, I'm not sure about the 'no rule that they have to be Japanese and Korean only.'
If people didn't want to read my first few ideas, it does not bode well for my other ideas.
But you'll be better at executing your ideas after you have more practice.
Sorry, bad wording on my part. I meant giant robots and magical girls is something I see in light novels a lot, and you might find readers among their fans.