Oh god

[ImperialBlether]

Yesterday I got the email I've always wanted from an agent! I won't paste it in here just in case but it includes the words:

Really impressive
Stunning denouement
Powerful psychological thriller
I want to talk to you
Send me the other one (I've written two)

It says just about everything I've wanted to hear - it's been a long time coming but wish me luck!

Read the thread, Fellatio; it wasn't good news!!

New title, that should read.

And forgot to say: GOOD LUCK!

But thanks!

Abra1d, thanks and congratulations on getting it published. What sort of books do you write?

Sorry IB I hadn't appreciated you had subbed the second book.

Do you feel you've run out of options for it now? Or are there more agents to try?

Either way, you're right, it's very very competitive at the mo. Agents are overun with subs and at the same time, publishers are being more and more cautious, which filters down to the agents.

The industry is in a poor state . But this does mean you shoud not take any rejection as a judgement of your writing. Just a reflection of an economic crisis (coupled with a lot of other shit the industry brought on itself)...

Thanks, IB.

I write novels that blend historical with crime/psychological. Someone did something bad in the thirties and it comes back and hits their family in contemporary times in an unexpected way, that kind of thing.

Oh I want to do something like that, Abra1d, with something that happened in my family. My dad discovered it during his research into the family tree. The problem is that I'd have to do so much research into the era (1870s) and there are people like Sarah Waters who do such a fantastic job.

I do like that sort of novel, though.

Wordfactory, I'd sent this agent both submissions at the same time - I could submit via her website but asked her first. She said both had promise and asked to see the first one. That's when I got the comments above.

I think I won't submit book 2 to any more people at the moment. It's dispiriting when they don't reply and besides, the first agent is meant to be reading it. I need to be upbeat to get through this new book. I thought I have a thick skin and do when it comes to criticism, but I feel I got so close and then it all fell through.

Oh well. Onwards and upwards with this new book!

Oh Imperial, I'm so sorry to hear this. This is why I hate the wanky world of Agents!! Have you thought of self publishing on Amazon? I've done that and now sold 20k copies. I'd get them both uploaded and see if you can make it on there.

Oh bugger. Sorry to hear that.

Yes, I love Sarah W and Helen Dunmore

I just don't have the time to devote to advertising and marketing fackinell. If I have time I want to spend it writing. 20K is fantastic. My brother is doing the same though and has only had a few hundred and it's meant such a lot of effort. I'm not on FB or Twitter and I just can't see myself doing all that - I'd love to if I was published in a regular way but to go from nothing to 20K is something I just don't think I could do! How long did it take to build it up?

How do you reach your readers, fackinell? Do you do free days and approach blogs, etc?

See what you mean, Imperial. An author page on FB doesn't take long really and I post maybe twice a week, it immediately filters to my Twitter account so no effort required.

I first published in Nov 2011 but it was so low in the ranks that it wasn't noticed at all and I sold maybe 50 copies to friends only. The big turnaround was changing to a less crowded genre (comedy) and making it 99p. So from April on its been 20k though its slowing a bit now. TBH my ads haven't been too successful, really.

Amazon does a mail drop of cheap books. I'd be happy to share your ad on my FB page if you PM'd me if you decide to go for it. The good thing about self publishing is the profit after tax is all yours. Fair play to your brother, Imperial, it's a flooded market to be noticed in!!

Abra, I just have my Author page and Twitter account, I've had two retweets from celebs which helped, advertise locally too.

Imperial, if you're subbing it might be worth joining Twitter just so you can follow agents and get some sense of what they're looking for.
You don't need to tweet much yourself but a lot of them are putting info out there that you won't find elsewhere. It will help you get a sense of who is actively looking for clients in your area and who likes the kind of book you have written.
I think it's worth doing for the information you can get out of it, regardless of how many followers you have and all that stuff. It's not only useful for self-promotion.

Also, are you entering competitions? There's a competition run by MsLexia with a deadline in a month or two, and the Bath Novel Award.

Oh, that's interesting, fackinell, thank you.

Second the competitions. Also, getting a few short stories accepted can help give you that 'serious' impression. I remember being so chuffed to get a cheque for £2.50 for the first one I managed to persuade an editor to take. And it means you are a professional writer--writing for money, which gives your subconscious a fillip. :)

I'll have a look out for the competitions.

I've written 1.5 chapters - could have written 4 in the time that took. The .5 is actually chapter 2 - there isn't enough in it.

I feel like crying!

Sorry, that was very self pitying. I'm carrying on, on the basis that you can edit what's there but can't edit a ream of blank A4 paper!

I don't see why you shouldn't cry. I would. I would also swear, and throw things.
I'm sure it's totally normal to be slowed down by something like this, but equally, you will get back on track if you keep sitting down at your desk, which is what you are doing.

Oh I was like Malcolm Tucker when I got her email saying "Let's start afresh"! Don't know whether you watch The Thick Of It but there was a moment just before he was fired when it dawned on him that was going to happen, and he says "Oh no..." and then just explodes. That was me!

Yes, that's the thing, I can blame anyone and everyone, but unless I sit down and carry on writing, I will never get published. Arrgh!

I have screamed with sheer frustration several times.

But, as a friend of mine puts it, what you need to hear is (and excuses for language): 'You want a book? I'll write you a fu.king book.'

It always makes me smile and makes me switch the laptop back on again when I'm feeling defeated.

I really hate the superiority of those in the publishing world. Who is to say the public wouldn't have loved what you've written already? There's a real arrogance about the industry but with so many now SPing, I'd be shiting myself if I were them. I follow another author on Twitter and she said from a 3.99 book she would get 7p after costs, and 10% of that goes to her agent.

fack I think there is a degree of arrogance on the publishing world. But there is also a degree of skill to knowing what will sell.

Obviously they get it wrong sometimes.

As for profit per book - well that's the bleedin' netbook agreement for you!!!! Everyone got fucked over with that.

That said 7p sounds awful! She must have signed a crap contract. One reason to always always always get proper advice. I think too many publishers take advantage to the plethora of writers ready and willing to do anyhting to get published!

Luckily, she didn't sign it, but has with another agent now. I also know of an author (DP's friend) who was made to NC and say she lived 500 miles away from where they actually do. There are some great articles on people going SP after years with an agent to have the freedom to be and express themselves how they want. That said, never say never. I may not always stay indie but feel heart sorry for Imperial's hard work going to waste,