tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post5706037026243671465..comments2023-11-28T06:18:53.641-05:00Comments on In Propinquity: Pitch Wars commentary from a mentorJulie Sondra Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-72568569527182666282014-08-16T00:10:11.680-04:002014-08-16T00:10:11.680-04:00There's a huge difference between a first publ...There's a huge difference between a first published novel (debut) and the first time you've ever tried to write one. That's what I'm talking about. Though you might see "this is his first novel" on jacket copy, it usually means it's the first book that's sold. As for "if you're a first time author, say so," you don't have to say "I've never written a book before, LOL"--you can just be clear that you have no publication credits. Keep in mind that many people who have never published BOOKS still have writing credits (short stories, published articles, journalism experience, workshop credit, etc.). I have no idea why not mentioning that it's your first book would imply anything about how easy it would be to sell your book. Absolutely debuts are easier to sell than previously flopped or poorly selling authors. But since I'm not talking about debuts, I guess that's moot.<br /><br />The first book an author writes is usually not very good. Almost all of us have learning novels. There are exceptions, but they're pretty rare. And if an agent is curious about whether you've ever written anything else (which they usually are, when they offer to rep what you offered them), that's when you can tell them if it actually is your first attempt at a novel. I don't think it can help you at all at the query stage to say you're submitting the first novel you ever wrote. Hopefully that makes it clearer what the context is for my recommendation!Julie Sondra Deckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-30541089344470435772014-08-16T00:05:02.880-04:002014-08-16T00:05:02.880-04:00Yes! Those are great to have if you can get them! ...Yes! Those are great to have if you can get them! Some crit groups just turn into cheerleaders (and you might need those too), but yay for crit groups that will tell you what you need to know rather than what you want to hear!Julie Sondra Deckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-60493446403115869832014-08-16T00:04:24.311-04:002014-08-16T00:04:24.311-04:00More than welcome. :)More than welcome. :)Julie Sondra Deckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-88720410714649185872014-08-15T16:42:43.368-04:002014-08-15T16:42:43.368-04:00This is really helpful. Thank you for being so spe...This is really helpful. Thank you for being so specific. One thing struck me, though---nearly everything I've read, on agent blogs and the like, has said that if you're a first time author, say so (this is usually in response to people fretting over a lack of writing credits), and don't be concerned about it, because they're going to judge the work based on the work. But you've suggested the opposite here. I've also read that a debut author is an easier sell for an agent than an author who's published, but flopped. So, isn't mentioning that it's your first novel a wise thing to do in that case? It's not the sort of thing you'd be able to (or want to) keep secret. No?<br />Thanks again for this and other posts that have been very illuminating about the process.B. DuBoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17934793308908873727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-2035354285932060202014-08-12T21:35:37.313-04:002014-08-12T21:35:37.313-04:00Great information! Makes me very glad I have a rel...Great information! Makes me very glad I have a reliable critique group!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-26097692493982858452014-08-11T22:22:53.111-04:002014-08-11T22:22:53.111-04:00Really helpful tips, thanks! Esp. about the query ...Really helpful tips, thanks! Esp. about the query and bio.Rosalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533288555696717340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-45441058444871057912014-08-11T19:48:14.330-04:002014-08-11T19:48:14.330-04:00Thanks for taking the time to share this informati...Thanks for taking the time to share this information. Very helpful in its specificity.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800038834357995493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-74054134657728017212013-12-18T19:28:20.487-05:002013-12-18T19:28:20.487-05:00Amazing that you gave everyone feed back and you n...Amazing that you gave everyone feed back and you now care enough to share. I wish I had queried you because of that.<br /><br />Best to you.pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05587289732878835426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-41143902818923930802013-12-13T18:43:05.820-05:002013-12-13T18:43:05.820-05:00An excellent and most helpful post! Thank you so m...An excellent and most helpful post! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00971369961003776636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-5230816294527832182013-12-13T17:59:37.061-05:002013-12-13T17:59:37.061-05:00Some might disagree with me and say that's a g...Some might disagree with me and say that's a good thing because it's an early sign that your pages will also have rough language. But I think you can show us with snark and sass without having any actual cursing primarily because this is, when it comes down to it, a business letter proposing a professional relationship. I'm 100% happy with swearing happening in the pages, though. I think if it's possible someone might have a differing opinion, it's best to err on the side of caution with this one.Julie Sondra Deckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15755582329896793392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-11832619803330629332013-12-13T17:46:42.592-05:002013-12-13T17:46:42.592-05:00Thanks. These are useful guidelines.Thanks. These are useful guidelines.KathleenKernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17222375615838493713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793202434796167753.post-63795639539769858982013-12-13T17:23:35.616-05:002013-12-13T17:23:35.616-05:00Great entry! I am 100% guilty of having an f-bomb ...Great entry! I am 100% guilty of having an f-bomb in my query, mostly to keep with the voice of the query. I didn't know that was frowned upon as so many of my CPs liked it =). Good things to know going forward. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com