Jennifer Represents on New Writers And Series

[deborahjross]

Jennifer Laughran, an agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, offers some thoughts on new writers and series:

Lots of unpublished writers query and say something like: "This is the first book in a series. Books 2 and 3 are complete, I am working on book 4 now!"

This makes me sigh. I read that and see a person who is stuck completely on one story, who is not ready to be flexible and diversify, learn and grow. Not to rain on your parade, but... what if Book 1 is actually fundamentally flawed and you are building a house of sequels on a shoddy foundation? What if it never finds a home? Then all the energy that you spent on sequels is wasted, when you could have been off finding more stories and inventing even more awesome worlds.

The other day a very nice Twitterer inquired during #AskAgent something like (paraphrasing): "I've had book one out on submission for some time... when should I start querying agents on book 2?"

Not to be mean, really, but what's the point? Nobody can take on and sell JUST book 2 if it has to be a series. And nobody has picked up book 1. Sooo....

"Well, I'll just self-publish then!"



Jennifer Represents...: How NOT to write a series, OR, Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Comments

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Nice insight.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I've seen this quite a few times. A new writer will become so enraptured with that first story, he or she focuses exclusively on it. For most -- I'd say all but there are rare exceptions -- of us, we need to practice building worlds, coming up with solid plots, handling tension and character development, learning how to "up the stakes," etc., etc. An early attempt may result in a salable story, but do we really want to build our careers on what is essentially an apprentice's practice piece?

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

I agree. I currently have three wildly different writing projects (mystery, paranormal, novel with strong romantic elements) going on in various phases. There is no local writer's group here nor anyone I can exchange stories with. As I result I have to write and then let things sit so I can come back to it with a fresh eye. Sometimes I'll enter a reputable contest just to get the feedback or hook up with someone to exchange work with vis snail mail. But those never seem to last. ;-(

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Have you tried any of the long-running online crit groups? I've never been in one, but have heard authors swear by them.

[wodhaund.livejournal.com]

I had a friend tell me I should query my first novel and if nobody bought it I should self-publish. I felt pretty doubtful about that, so I didn't do either and looking back on it, I'm so glad I didn't; the whole thing is a mess!

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Most of us need to work through those messes, learning and growing and stretching, hopefully getting better with each one, before we reach "professional" quality. Msrion used to say the first million words were practice. With good, insightful feedback, maybe a critique group or workshop, we don't need that many.

I'd written about 6 or 8 novels (depending how you count them) before I sold my first, and that one I had to revise about 4 times before I sent it out.

You're right on track!