- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
- 85
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- Location
- Orange County, CA
- Website
- kerganedwards-stout.com
Hey everyone,
For my first novel (literary fiction with a gay lead), I've been going down the traditional publishing path, querying agents (and a few publishers), and am now stuck.
I've had two very well-respected industry folks read my novel and tell me essentially the same thing. Here is one direct quote from an indie publisher (who would be the ideal publisher for a book like mine):
Most of the agents I've queried have not been interested in even reading a sample. (And, yes, my query has been fully vetted! ) And even I were to find one, if this is truly the state of literary fiction, would they then be able to sell it???
Given my experience in promotion and marketing, I'm now strongly considering self-publishing (and am well aware of the pitfalls of that.)
If you were me, would you continue hitting up publishers, given what I'm hearing about the world of literary fiction? Continue to look for an agent? Or dive into self-publishing?
Any and all advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!
For my first novel (literary fiction with a gay lead), I've been going down the traditional publishing path, querying agents (and a few publishers), and am now stuck.
I've had two very well-respected industry folks read my novel and tell me essentially the same thing. Here is one direct quote from an indie publisher (who would be the ideal publisher for a book like mine):
"Fiction these days is a challenge for everyone. It's not a gay thing but a fiction thing. There's so much out there and getting attention is a real task. Even on my first list I'm doing just three novels out of 13 titles and spring 2012 looks as though it might be the same. This isn't at all a reflection of my interest in novels but the care I need to take in forming a bankable list."
An agent who read my manuscript reps a Pulitzer-winner and had this to say:
"I read your novel and thought it might be a good fit for another agent here, who then took a look. That agent also liked it, but had previously had a lot of trouble with a very similar book and is just not prepared to try again. I think your writing is funny and contemporary, but I did not find myself with great instincts on selling it. It’s quite a difficult market."
So, my question is this: If literary fiction is a crowded field these days, and these two industry icons don't know what to do with my book, does it even make sense for a first time novelist to continue to try this route?
Most of the agents I've queried have not been interested in even reading a sample. (And, yes, my query has been fully vetted! ) And even I were to find one, if this is truly the state of literary fiction, would they then be able to sell it???
Given my experience in promotion and marketing, I'm now strongly considering self-publishing (and am well aware of the pitfalls of that.)
If you were me, would you continue hitting up publishers, given what I'm hearing about the world of literary fiction? Continue to look for an agent? Or dive into self-publishing?
Any and all advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!