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So, the other day, I was reading around Absolute Write, like I do sometimes when none of the other Twifties are online, and I stumbled upon something that troubled me pretty greatly. With all the excitement about actually making headway on the writing of my book, I forgot that, at some point, I'm going to have to start querying. You know, appeal to people other than myself.
Basically what I discovered was that I'm not supposed to be writing a series in four seperate parts, I'm supposed to be writing a stand-alone novel that has series potential. Immediately my heart sank a little and I was kind of discouraged. I mean, I've been planning this series for quite some time now, and especially in the first book, I was planning quite the cliffhanger ending. I don't know how much people like cliffhangers in the first place, but it was going to be pretty cool, let me tell ya.
I thought a bit about it after talking to some of the twifties and realized that I wouldn't have to change my book that much. I would just basically have to add some sort of story arc or arcs that could be resolved in the first book so that I would be able to market the thing.
The more I think about it though, the more it upsets me. I don't want to change my book just because a publisher or an editor wants a stand-alone novel as opposed to a series. Somehow, that just seems cruel to me. I know I'm probably over-reacting, but it's something I can't control, not this soon.
I also realize that, of course, people need to see at least some sort of resolution at the end of the first novel. And they will, I'm certain of that much. The book wouldn't really end if nothing was resolved, but having a cliffhanger ending doesn't really compute with "series-potential".
All right, this is a rant, but I guess what I'm asking is, do you agree with this? Do you understand it?
What's your opinion on the whole matter? I know most of you aren't writing series in the first place, but still, I should think that maybe in the future you will. Then again, I could be wrong. Either way... tell me what you think!
7 comments:
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January 21, 2010 at 1:32 PM
Yes, I understand it. But I think that if you really believe that you could pull off a cliffhanger ending, then go for it. Really. Don't change it just because other people feel that's the "right" way to end a book. Rules aren't perfect. Rules can, and sometimes are meant to be broken, and if you follow each and every miniscule little rule you will have an extremely boring book. So break them. Not all of them, but break the ones that your book is meant to break. Good luck ;)
btw this is bclement412 ;)
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January 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM
I kinda agree with agree with both Para and B.
These rules exist because agents and publishers think books that follow these guidelines are more likely to sell. Therefore, those are the books they're most likely to represent/buy. Even phenomenally great writing might not help you. What they're looking for is phenomenally sellable writing.
But, on the other hand, I'll always say write what you want to write. (Case in point: my monstrously huge WIP, which has no hope of ever being published until I slash it into bite-sized pieces.)
You can always write another book. Maybe that one will fit nicely into the publisher's ideal mold. Then when that one makes millions, they'll be much more likely to take on a series. ;)
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January 21, 2010 at 8:29 PM
It wasn't that long ago that I read something like this. So when I found the perfect way to end my novel I was so happy, but if there wasn't going to be a book after it, everybody would be angry with me lol. :(
But I've thought a lot about my ending, and have come up with a much better ending now! I just had to think about it for a bit.
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February 1, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Yeah, me too. I've been thinking about it a lot and I think I've figured out how to work around this little bump in the road, haha.
About Me
- Mikey
- I'm seventeen, living in Colorado. An aspiring writer. I try but fail most times. I'd like to think I pick myself up and keep going though. I have a fetish for the human spirit and abuse it as much as I can in my stories just to show how strong people can be. Lame, I know. I really like Imogen Heap, Lost, Grilled Cheese, Fantasy in general, and movies. I want to learn more about directing, producing, acting, and all that jazz eventually.
January 21, 2010 at 12:24 PM
I don't share your outrage, I'm afraid. The publishing industry doesn't owe anybody anything. You can write whatever you want. What you can't do is break all the rules and expect your work to be just as saleable as that of somebody who followed them.
Your odds of publication are already tiny. Break all the rules, and your odds are apocalyptically tiny. You'd need to be an astonishingly good writer to overcome disadvantages like excessively high wordcount, cliffhanger endings, etc.
I'm not that good of a writer, so I follow the rules.