Thursday, June 04, 2009

Is this your "first novel?"

I suggest in the post below that you do not query after you've written your first novel; that you wait, write a second, revise, then query.

The question then arises: is this your "first novel?"

You betcha.

When I receive a query letter with the phrase first novel, my assumption is you have not been published. In fact I'm praying this is NOT the actual first novel you've written.

I don't care how many are in the portmanteau in the attic wrapped lovingingly in pink ribbon. I only care if you've been published previously.
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4 comments:

  1. Emily Cross6/9/09, 4:06 AM

    This reminds me of this Ray Bradbury quote -

    "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kate Levin6/12/09, 3:11 PM

    I've often wondered about this. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Weronika Janczuk6/13/09, 1:47 AM

    This is great to know--I've been trying a lot of new things with my writing, experimenting and I've racked up more than two complete manuscripts, so I have the experience--but yet I don't have to admit it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. PurpleClover6/13/09, 2:29 PM

    This actually scares me. Because the wip I'm working on is my first. I'll have to pray I can whip it into decent shape and then hurry on to the next while I query.

    But thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete

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