Agreed. I always feel a little bad posting these things but so many writers worry that it's their work that is lacking when that's not always the case. I'm hoping knowledge is power :)
I once dreamed that I was for some reason at a conference of acquisition editors. There was a big hall full of them, not at tables, they were just wandering around talking to one another, holding drinks. Then began the invasion of writers. They ran, some of them did, into the room, and grabbed the first editor they could, and began talking, shouting. The elevator pitch. The bullet points. The editors cringed, retreated, finally produced weapons. It was bloody. And then I awoke.
My personal experience has just been validated. Seven agents un a row have offered personal comments of really liking my YA/ Scifi Thriller But...each has said not on my list of needs, please submit again if have other works in romantacy or fantasy. UGH!
Karin, this is perfect timing! Pitching agents on my fiction novel - literary or high concept? Guess I'll learn more next week! Thank you for your sage wisdom. It's food for the soul when facing the wait for replies.
This was super helpful thank you so much for analyzing all of that data and laying it out for us. I do wonder how the days changes for children’s novels. That’s what I write and sometimes it feels like a different beast entirely.
You’re welcome, Evelyn! And yes, very different. I’m hearing children sales outpaced adult in the last reporting period so that’s definitely good news for kidlit authors.
Wow, that's so good to hear! Thanks for taking the time to respond and if you ever did a similar article for children's lit I would be very interested to see it!
I had a feeling romansy would be a glut eventually. Hoping for a resurgence in kid fic…meanwhile just gotta keep on keeping on! Great dose of realism, Karin! Thank you!
Loved reading this article this morning! I’ve been fascinated by the publishing world and how agencies are picking books for publication, so this was very informative. Thank you!
So useful. I look at Publishers Marketplace a lot to see what's selling. Thank you for condensing it in such a manageable way. It's fascinating. "Thighs Wide Shut" as a title - cracked me up. Genius.
Posts like this are why this is my favourite Substack
Thanks, Angelique. Appreciation like yours is a wonderful motivator.
I'd definitely reach for a book called Thighs Wide Shut as it made me chuckle
Would love to hear more about high concept and what exactly that means!!
Next week!
An edifying and informative, albeit somewhat depressing, post
Agreed. I always feel a little bad posting these things but so many writers worry that it's their work that is lacking when that's not always the case. I'm hoping knowledge is power :)
Great post.
Thanks, Nicholas!
I once dreamed that I was for some reason at a conference of acquisition editors. There was a big hall full of them, not at tables, they were just wandering around talking to one another, holding drinks. Then began the invasion of writers. They ran, some of them did, into the room, and grabbed the first editor they could, and began talking, shouting. The elevator pitch. The bullet points. The editors cringed, retreated, finally produced weapons. It was bloody. And then I awoke.
You made me laugh, Gary.
My personal experience has just been validated. Seven agents un a row have offered personal comments of really liking my YA/ Scifi Thriller But...each has said not on my list of needs, please submit again if have other works in romantacy or fantasy. UGH!
That’s gotta be frustrating, Marc.
Karin, this is perfect timing! Pitching agents on my fiction novel - literary or high concept? Guess I'll learn more next week! Thank you for your sage wisdom. It's food for the soul when facing the wait for replies.
#subtextandsoul
Thank you for all the hard work. This information is game changing for many of us.
Thank you! I'm glad it resonated with you.
Makes me think of a Victorian séance: you wait in silence, light candles, and hope the spirit of an editor makes contact.
Ha! Great analogy!
This was super helpful thank you so much for analyzing all of that data and laying it out for us. I do wonder how the days changes for children’s novels. That’s what I write and sometimes it feels like a different beast entirely.
You’re welcome, Evelyn! And yes, very different. I’m hearing children sales outpaced adult in the last reporting period so that’s definitely good news for kidlit authors.
Wow, that's so good to hear! Thanks for taking the time to respond and if you ever did a similar article for children's lit I would be very interested to see it!
I had a feeling romansy would be a glut eventually. Hoping for a resurgence in kid fic…meanwhile just gotta keep on keeping on! Great dose of realism, Karin! Thank you!
Gael, I just read that children's sales outpaced adult sales so that's encouraging.
Good news! Thank you! 😊
Loved reading this article this morning! I’ve been fascinated by the publishing world and how agencies are picking books for publication, so this was very informative. Thank you!
Thanks, Rebecca!
I have nothing to say except THIGHS WIDE SHUT improved my evening without even reading the description.
Right? The power of a clever title!
Fascinating insight, thank you!
You’re welcome, Katie.
So useful. I look at Publishers Marketplace a lot to see what's selling. Thank you for condensing it in such a manageable way. It's fascinating. "Thighs Wide Shut" as a title - cracked me up. Genius.
Thanks, Janice. It’ll definitely get attention with that title.