Need Advice

midazolam · Feb 7, 2013

I won't get into my sob story here, although I will say I'm one of those unlucky few (or many? feels like just a few) who has had two agents for a combined total of four years, and no sales. I've seriously lost count of how many manuscripts I've written, revised, and revised again. It's over ten. I've been on sub multiple times for multiple rounds with multiple different projects. I've worked so hard for this, and over the last few months, I feel like my muse or whatever finally gave out. I tried to work on other projects and always gave up around the 10K mark. I think I realized this is never going to happen.

I've been with my current agent for about three years. He doesn't seem to love what I write, and in fact seems to actively dislike it, which I think just gets me more depressed. But I don't love the idea of trying to find a new agent, especially after the (somewhat) promising connections my agent has made. Several big publishers have asked to see my next work, whatever that may be (at this point, it looks like nothing), so I don't know if that will carry over to a new agent. What I do know is that I'm no longer writing what I'm interested in, I've been kind of forced into outlining (otherwise my agent tells me I've gone off the rails and can't work with what I've written), and I can't get excited about anything new. I also can't even READ anymore. I read books that people recommend and I just get depressed that bitter and etc. that this writer got published and I'm still a failure. I know, bad attitude. But I'm never encouraged. I have no hope. All I wanted to do was write a book that the public could read and enjoy (I don't want to self-publish because I have zero platform/fanbase/marketing skills. I'm also broke).

Has anyone been down this road? Any advice to offer?

ucf612 · Feb 7, 2013

I don't have any advice but you sound very sad so I just wanted to offer some support. You're not a failure, even if you never get published you're not a failure. TONS of people say they're going to write a book and never do. Lots try for an agent and never find one. You've been a success at BOTH those things! Maybe you need a break? I hope someone else who has been through the same thing can offer help. I've never even gotten through a 2nd draft.

Meems · Feb 7, 2013

I'm sorry it's been so difficult. Your experience sounds like it would make a rock bitter, let alone a thinking, feeling person.

We all know that rejection isn't just part of this writing thing, but about 99.9% of it, though that doesn't make it any easier.

I'd have to say, though, that the one line that struck me the most in your post is the part about you not enjoying what you write, or not writing what you enjoy anymore. Because this is such a brutal process, with so much rejection, the only thing that makes it worthwhile is writing what you believe in and love. It's axiomatic for any artist to believe in the value of what he/she is creating. So when you take that away, what's left? Is it even worth it anymore?

cornflake · Feb 7, 2013

I don't know that this will help but had your books been published by now, you could be in the exact same place, just with published titles.

Many, many, many writers have books, even several, published, and they don't make a big splash, or enough money to buy a nice place a write for a living, and maybe that doesn't get houses excited about the next books and round they go.

I'm saying this not in any way to discourage you but to maybe help you try to reevaluate your ideas about failure vs. success and what you want out of it. If you've written that many novels, at one point I'd think you loved to write.

Write what you want. You've landed two agents, who have apparently submitted your stuff to publishers who have expressed some measure of interest. This isn't what you want in full, but it's more than many people ever get to.

Write what you want, take a break from the agent/submission process for a while maybe, and see what happens. Write because you want to and you enjoy it and maybe because you want to write about this, I dunno. Eventually, you'll find your way to something, but I don't think bitter and grumpy is what you're looking for, or you wouldn't be posting.

max929 · Feb 7, 2013

midazolam said:
I won't get into my sob story here, although I will say I'm one of those unlucky few (or many? feels like just a few) who has had two agents for a combined total of four years, and no sales. I've seriously lost count of how many manuscripts I've written, revised, and revised again. It's over ten. I've been on sub multiple times for multiple rounds with multiple different projects. I've worked so hard for this, and over the last few months, I feel like my muse or whatever finally gave out. I tried to work on other projects and always gave up around the 10K mark. I think I realized this is never going to happen.

I've been with my current agent for about three years. He doesn't seem to love what I write, and in fact seems to actively dislike it, which I think just gets me more depressed. But I don't love the idea of trying to find a new agent, especially after the (somewhat) promising connections my agent has made. Several big publishers have asked to see my next work, whatever that may be (at this point, it looks like nothing), so I don't know if that will carry over to a new agent. What I do know is that I'm no longer writing what I'm interested in, I've been kind of forced into outlining (otherwise my agent tells me I've gone off the rails and can't work with what I've written), and I can't get excited about anything new. I also can't even READ anymore. I read books that people recommend and I just get depressed that bitter and etc. that this writer got published and I'm still a failure. I know, bad attitude. But I'm never encouraged. I have no hope. All I wanted to do was write a book that the public could read and enjoy (I don't want to self-publish because I have zero platform/fanbase/marketing skills. I'm also broke).

Has anyone been down this road? Any advice to offer?

Failure is reserved for those who allow it to creep in. You are on these boards looking for advise/support and as such you have already defeated failure.

The thing you have to realize is there is no shame in trying and falling short of your goal. As cornflake mentioned, you have to embrace the journey since the intended destination may remain elusive.

But he was correct, write what you want to write, I guarantee there will be an audience for it...how do I know? Cause Glen Beck made 80 million dollars last year proving there is an audience for anything, It's only a matter of time till your voice falls onto the right ears.

max929 · Feb 7, 2013

These people also stumbled before they ran

Jamesaritchie · Feb 8, 2013

It can be a tough, depressing road, and you may need to step off the road for a time, rest, refill the well. But one thing I'd say you have to do, as distasteful as it will be, is to drop this agent and, when the time is right, find another.

An agents who dislikes your work is not a good agent for you, and probably not for anyone. No agent should represent work unless they really like it, and have faith in it. Doing so is bad for the agent, and worse for the writer. This dislike can rub off on editors, and make the whole process a lot harder than it should be. A good agent doesn't have to make connections. She already has them in droves, and editors trust her to deliver quality work on a regular basis. Doing so is the only connection that matters.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 8, 2013

max929 said:
But he was correct, write what you want to write, I guarantee there will be an audience for it...how do I know? Cause Glen Beck made 80 million dollars last year proving there is an audience for anything, It's only a matter of time till your voice falls onto the right ears.

Not to be a downer, but Beck didn't make that money writing novels, and wouldn't have earned a dime from any kind of book had he not already had a national audience and a salary of almost forty million dollars.

Voice is nice, but it's writing well that matters. With fiction, it's writing well, having a story people want to read, and having the ability to create characters they love. With nonfiction, it's being able to write well, having a platform, and having something to say that a lot of people want to hear.

You may not like Glenn Beck, but millions love him, and he does not prove there's an audience for anything, or that just anyone can succeed. It is not only a matter of time until a given writer's voice falls on the right ears. Sometimes there are no right ears, and sometimes the writer simply lacks the ability to say anything readers will pay for.

Whatever you think of Beck's message, he has one that attracts hundreds of thousands or people, and he says it very, very well.

BigRed · Feb 10, 2013

"I've been with my current agent for about three years. He doesn't seem to love what I write, and in fact seems to actively dislike it, which I think just gets me more depressed."

In my opinion, this line says it all. I'd say it's time to step away from this agent, clear your head, write about what you love and start again. Negativity breeds negativity and I think you may be in a rut. I would personally cut ties with this person, who obviously doesn't support you or your work and get back to you.
Having an agent is exciting, sure. But unless they are on your side, support you and love your work, what's the point?
Whatever you decide, I hope you rekindle your love of writing.

Polenth · Feb 10, 2013

If the agent hates what you write, and won't let you write the way you want to, I don't see what you gain by staying. All it's doing is discouraging you from writing.

Undercover · Feb 11, 2013

Yeah, I agree, if you've been with your agent for years and nothing's happened and he doesn't even like your work anymore, I'm actually surprised you are both together. Why is he hanging on to you if nothing is happening? More importantly, why are you?

And just as a note to all, having an agent isn't the b-all and end-all. Sometimes you're better off researching a publisher on your own and submitting directly the ones that will take unagented subs. Sometimes it's better to be in control of your own work. Whatever you do, I hope it works out for you.

MsJudy · Feb 16, 2013

I agree--time to break with the agent. What good does it do to have connections, if the book they want to see isn't a book you want to write?

It won't be easy to start over again, but it doesn't sound like it's going to get better any other way.

Treehouseman · Apr 21, 2013

I had a go on the agent merry-go-round with no sales and my muse died, she did.

How I got my mojo back was:

Stopped writing for a "publication" goal. (Or altogether if that's your thing)

Went into another art-form for a while. I wrote a screenplay and made an indie movie, with all the art and costumes myself.

I wrote "fun" things, fanfic, blogs.

Then one day I realised I had an idea for a short story, and after 6 years absent my muse returned. I ditched the agent early though.

Need Advice

midazolam

ucf612

Meems

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

max929

Fear is a only a barrier

max929

Fear is a only a barrier

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie

BigRed

Write to live; live to write!

Polenth

Mushroom

Undercover

I got it covered

MsJudy

Treehouseman