FIRST TIME NOVELIST - IDEAL LENGTH - Page 3 - Writers Forum

Himani · 07-21-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryG

I believe the modern way to submit sample material to literary agents is to submit something like the first 50 pages, along with a synopsis and CV by way of multiple submissions to around five agents at a time. Your synopsis will inform the agent of the length of your manuscript.

Actually, I know that part. What I meant was what Lin just said about querying a bunch of agents first. Sorry if it wasn't clear, I was tired.

Mike C · 07-21-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lin

You COULD. But why waste your time and money, the agent's time and patience...and groom a bunch of agents to see you as a flake? I'm serious. This just does not make professional sense.

True. As my US business counterpart tells me repeatedly - "You don't get to make a second first impression." And "Do it right - do it once".

Himani · 07-21-2007, 08:22 PM

But I have read about authors who query first, find no interest, slim it down and do a major overhaul, resubmit, and it gets accepted the second time.

Mike C · 07-22-2007, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Himani

But I have read about authors who query first, find no interest, slim it down and do a major overhaul, resubmit, and it gets accepted the second time.

Indeed - but if you know you have a book that'll get rejected, you do the overhaul first.

Rob · 07-22-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorman101

I have just completed my first novel, but still cannot get round the feeling that at 220,000 words it is still too long to be accepted by a Literary Agent, but feel that by cutting anymore than 20,000 words I'd loose the whole storyline.
Has anyone else had any experience with first time submissions that were perhaps too long, if indeed it is.
Any recomendations?

I'm not a novelist, so feel free to ignore me, but I can't imagine not researching before writing to find out what the typical length is for the genre I'm going to write in, and what relevant publishers' expectations are. You only need to look at the shelves in your local book store or check out their publishers to find out the basics. Typical is just that, typical, and there will always be exceptions, but it seems too risky to me to just write something, of whatever length, and then hope that someone might want stories at that length when I'm done. I can't imagine writing 220,000 words and only then asking: I wonder if this is too long?

Once we get past the stage where we're writing for fun, family and forums, we're writing for editors and publishers, and don't we then need to find out what those editors and publishers want?

Cheers,
Rib

Browndragon · 07-22-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryG

I believe the modern way to submit sample material to literary agents is to submit something like the first 50 pages, along with a synopsis and CV by way of multiple submissions to around five agents at a time. Your synopsis will inform the agent of the length of your manuscript.

The "modern" way is to read the agent's submission page and find out whether they accept unsolicited submissions and how they want them if they do.

Your cover letter should normally give the length.

lin · 07-22-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

The "modern" way is to read the agent's submission page and find out whether they accept unsolicited submissions and how they want them if they do.

And if they accept email queries. I don't like dealing with people who aren't even living in the current millenium.