Sending up the Baconsmom bat signal.

mrsconn23 · December 2016

Dear Prudence,
While he has a full-time job, my boyfriend considers himself a writer first. He’s had shorter works published and just spent two years on his first novel. He sent the first chapter to numerous publishers only to get rejections or no response at all. He’s just gotten rejected by the one publisher who asked to read the whole novel. Each rejection is painful to him, and the whole thing has left him devastated and questioning his passion. I’m trying to be supportive, but don’t know enough about the industry to offer helpful advice. Given the state of publishing nowadays, I always thought it may be a long shot even though he’s talented. He was just starting on a second novel, but says he’s giving up if this first one doesn’t go anywhere—that it’s not worth the time and effort. What’s the best way for me to support him through this, and is there any advice you’d give to him?

—He’s Losing Hope

bleve0821 · December 2016

I read somewhere that Piers Anthony sent his first manuscript to every publisher, from A to Z straight through the alphabet, until he found someone who wanted to publish him.

I've never tried to get any of my writing published, but I've done plenty of research on the subject because one day, I'd like to be. It's not impossible, but it's certainly difficult, which is why there are more and more authors self-publishing. If BF's only aim is to get his voice heard, not profit from his work, that might be an avenue to start with. If he's writing only for the recognition and whatever profits may come... Well, fall down 7 times, get up 8.

I am sure he is discouraged, but if writing is truly his passion, if I were LW, I would continue to encourage it. It is worth the time and effort if BF finds the act writing and story-telling fulfilling. Just because the market doesn't seem to exist now doesn't mean it never will.

MissKittyDanger · December 2016

Rejection is hard on any level, but when you're put down with something you're passionate about it seems to hit harder.

LW needs to remind her bf that many classics were denied before getting published and he needs to keep going. Maybe start a blog - get the story out there and people interested, that way the publisher knows there is already a following.

missJeanLouise · December 2016

I am pretty sure you can self publish through amazon. I have never done it but I have a friend who published a children's book that way. I think

charlotte989875 · December 2016

I publish academic writing so a different thing; that said this field is hard. The most common answer you will ever receive is no. Yes it sucks to pour years of work into something and have it rejected, but that's the business. I just had a piece R&R (revise and resubmit, which still is likely to be rejected) that I've been working on for roughly 4 years.

I feel for the LW and the BF, but at the same time, this is the deal you sign up for. You research, write, get rejected, make edits, send it out again, keep improving until someone does publish it. You have to have a thick skin.

PrettyGirlLost · December 2016

Maybe he's not a great writer? Maybe the subject of the novel is unappealing or the plot has issues?

Writing is an art, and like any art form you need to seek feedback from others so that you can refine and improve. He should consider going to some workshops, get involved in a writers' group, take some classes, and solicit actual feedback from others.

*Barbie* · December 2016

This could be another "The Beginning of the End" (Missy Flow) classic! He should totally self-publish.

baconsmom · December 2016

THE FIRST NOVEL GOES IN A TRUNK.

Seriously. The first novel is shit. Maybe you can come back and re-write it one day (cough A MURDER OF VAMPIRES cough), but you cannot send out the very first one and expect it to hit.

Similarly: Most writers who end up trad-pubbed go through dozens, if not hundreds, of submissions to AGENTS before getting one. And then again, with multiple submissions to editors. I don't know why he's trying trad-pub with editors first; that's weird, unless he's completely committed to a small-press publication, which would not be my first choice. Even then, an agent is helpful in the trad-pub process.

And why is he devastated by all these rejections? That's the biz. If you can't handle it, and if you're all, "I WILL QUIT WRITING I AM SO DEPRESSED", then please do. It's already a crowded field, and we don't need you. I've always said that if you CAN stop writing, you should, because it's not really the calling it needs to be for you. It's a brutal industry, and I would advise people to do literally anything else if they can. Like, what will he do with bad reviews?!

If he is going to stick with it, he needs other writers. He needs a critique group or a writers' group or even just some writing friends, even if they're virtual. You cannot do this job without connections, either - and you have to hustle and make them yourself.

I'm guessing he just shouldn't be doing this. "I think I'll write a novel" sounds great, but it's a shit job in a shit industry, thankless and grinding and awful. And I'm not just saying that because I have writers' block, either. I mean, it's amazing when something's done, or something is well-received, but mostly it's a lot of being by yourself, forcing yourself to do hard work, with no immediate feedback or recognition. And this goes on, sometimes, for decades. It's not for hobbyists.

short+sassy · December 2016

Great Prudie letter timing! I have a brilliant idea for a kid's Christmas book. If I do say so myself, I think it could take off...but probably only within the SE Louisiana area.

But since I'm too lazy to do anything about it, I'll give you all the gist.

In this area, a local X-mas legend is Papa Noel (Santa Claus). His sleigh...though in my version it is a pirogue (like a canoe)...is led by eight alligators. All of this part already exists in folklore.

Cue my idea. Rouxdolph the White-Nosed Alligator. It's basically the Rudolph story. But with an albino alligator who, through his alabaster skin, leads Papa Noel's pirogue better through the darkened swamps in order to deliver presents to all the children of the Bayous.

The End

I know, I'm a goofball, lol. There used to be a famous albino alligator at our local zoo. But he died some years ago. He was my inspiration for the story.

*Barbie* · December 2016

*Barbie* said:

This could be another "The Beginning of the End" (Missy Flow) classic! He should totally self-publish.

SITMFB - @mrsconn23 - if you have TBOTE, PRETTY PLEASE send it to me! We didn't do the secret satan this year and at this rate, i may never get to read it in full.

ernursej · December 2016

I'm in the camp of tell him you support whatever direction he wants to go. If he gives it up, don't push him to continue.

mrsconn23 · December 2016

*Barbie* said:

*Barbie* said:

This could be another "The Beginning of the End" (Missy Flow) classic! He should totally self-publish.

SITMFB - @mrsconn23 - if you have TBOTE, PRETTY PLEASE send it to me! We didn't do the secret satan this year and at this rate, i may never get to read it in full.

I think GBCK has it. And also, no secret satan has given me the sadz. We need to reinstate it next year.

GBCK · December 2016

I do--and it gave me the saz that I haven't shared it...it does need to make the rounds again

kimmiinthemitten · December 2016

I mean this is like not making it onto American Idol basically. Me thinks he needs to drop the Jack kerouac writers facade and just grind.

PrettyGirlLost · December 2016

kimmiinthemitten said:

I mean this is like not making it onto American Idol basically. Me thinks he needs to drop the Jack kerouac writers facade and just grind.

Or take the hint and go solicit feedback to see WHY no one is interested in your novel. Baconsmom should email him her post, lol.

When I was taking my studio art courses we had critiques several times a week. It can be very valuable to get feedback from others, especially our professors who had been arting far longer than we had and kind of knew what they were doing. Classmate comments were hit or miss for useability ;-)

Like Baconsmom said, novels are a saturated field and not only are there a ton of writers already out there, but there are a lot of shitty writers out there. . . I can't tell you how any times I read a New York Times Best Seller or Oprah's Book Club hit or "The next Gone Girl" and think, well that was pretty meh- plot was predictable, characters cliche, etc.

Sending up the Baconsmom bat signal.

Re: Sending up the Baconsmom bat signal.

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