Would you finish writing a trilogy if a publisher didn't accept your first novel?

[Lorna]

I haven't got to this point yet, but this a question that's been playing on my mind. I've been working on a trilogy for over two years and since February this year have been focusing on writing the first novel and getting it up to a good enough standard to start looking for an agent / publisher. I'm hoping to complete it by the end of the year.

If you were in a similar situation and your novel was rejected by a good number of agents / publishers would you take this as a message that your project was a waste of time and begin something else? Or would you decide that even if your novel does not fit in with the current market and those agents / publishers tastes your work still has value, self publish and press on?

My thoughts at the moment would be that after careful reassessment for fundamental flaws - plot holes etc. I'd do the latter.

[Phil the Drill]

Personally, I tend to shy away from wanting to write a series for my first couple of books. I just have an aversion to doing that even though some of my earlier efforts (that were aborted) were planned series. I tend to want to go the way of Joe Abercrombie (although he did write a trilogy), and do stand-alone books set in the same world. Characters can make "cameos" from other books, but they're not all tied together. That way if several publishers don't like one book, then I won't have two or more other books in the same storyline that would be essentially useless.

I'm all for series though. I enjoy reading series and I'd like to do my own eventually, just not for my first major outing.

If self-publishing is your thing and you have the passion to really try to get it out there, then I'd suggest going that route if other publishers pass on it.

[TWErvin2]

Lorna,

I can relay to you, my experience, that might help you as you move forward.

I've written one novel (a SF novel) that has made its way out of the slush pile with two large publishing houses. It's currently with one now, on the managing editor's desk (well in the electronic queue) awaiting a full read and decision. (Glaciers move faster than many things in traditional publishing). I don't write trilogies, but more along the lines of series. I wrote the first three chapters of the next novel in the series (the first novel is standalone), to keep the same voice and tone, etc., and to make it easier to pick up the project. It's easier if something is started than beginning anew after a long time away. I also have an outline/information of where the 2nd novel will go.

With my first published fantasy novel (Flank Hawk), it took several times getting out of the slush pile before it was finally accepted by a publisher. It too was written as a standalone, but with the potential of a series. I had the idea and information for the next novel in a file, but I did not start writing it (Blood Sword) until after the first novel was accepted. While waiting for Flank Hawk to find a home, I worked on writing short stories and some other projects. And I did not begin Soul Forge (the third novel in the First Civilization's Legacy Series) until Blood Sword was accepted for publication.

I felt that if the first novel in a planned series couldn't sell, there was little reason to expend time and energy on other novels in that world/with those characters. I could work on something new, realizing that if I found success with the new project, those other novels might eventually find a home with that publisher, or another publisher, once a successful track record/readerhsip is established.

Some folks will certainly chime in here stating that you should self-publish, especially if you cannot find a publisher. That's a viable option, and nothing wrong with it. It is an opporutnity that has much more potential than it did even four or five years ago.

If your heart is in writing a trilogy, I think that is something to consider as you move forward. You're going to spend a lot of time writing and revising and editing. If your heart isn't in a project, the chances of having the motivation to finish it, especially if there is not guarantee that a publisher will pick it up, is going to be difficult to keep up. You're going to probably read and revise and edit the first novel at least six or eight times.

Good luck as you move forward. If you write a compelling story, one that readers will find interesting, it'll eventually find a publishing home. If it doesn't, you can give it that home via self-publishing.

[Chilari]

In principal, I'd like to think I'd keep writing, but I think in practice I'd be demoralised. What I'm working on now is designed to stand alone, but there are two additional stories that would follow if it is a success. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket, partly because I'm worried I won't finish this story, partly because I don't know if it will sell, and partly because I always have plenty of other ideas and concepts and if I lose passion for it in favour of another story I don't want to leave readers hanging. So my plan, I think, is to allow the space for a sequel without making it look like there will definitely be one.

Having said that, I haven't actually decided yet whether to try traditional publishing first or self-pub straight away. I would ideally do some research into them before making that decision. So the whole question might become moot.

[yachtcaptcolby]

This is one advantage to self-publishing: if you want to write a trilogy, you write the trilogy and put it out there. No waiting for someone to notice your first book, decide to take a chance on it, and like it enough to offer to publish the rest of your work. Granted, there's a lot to consider when self-publishing (finding an editor, finding a cover artist, laying out and designing your final product, marketing yourself...), but if you want to just write what you want to write and get it out there, it's the way to go.

[Lorna]

Thanks for your replies everybody. What sensible people you are.

@Phil

Personally, I tend to shy away from wanting to write a series for my first couple of books.

Perhaps if I'd come to this website and listenened to what sensible people do instead of deciding to go on the crazy mission of creating a whole world two years ago I would have been more cautious and not ended up in in a possible predicament.

@TWErwin2

(Glaciers move faster than many things in traditional publishing).

This really puts me off the idea of traditional publishing. I have seen sites with 5 month waiting lists, I'm guessing this is the case even if you go through an agent. Eek. I am a seriously impatient person.

I had the idea and information for the next novel in a file, but I did not start writing it (Blood Sword) until after the first novel was accepted. While waiting for Flank Hawk to find a home, I worked on writing short stories and some other projects.

This seems like a good idea. My only problem is after taking a month or so off this damn series I get pulled back to it. I really struggle to write anything else with as much passion.

You're going to spend a lot of time writing and revising and editing. If your heart isn't in a project, the chances of having the motivation to finish it, especially if there is not guarantee that a publisher will pick it up, is going to be difficult to keep up. You're going to probably read and revise and edit the first novel at least six or eight times.

@Chilari

but I think in practice I'd be demoralised

That is the opposite of my problem. I can't put the bl**dy thing down. If impatience is my worst quality, I'd probably say motivation's my best (hang on a moment, or is that obsessiveness?)

I know if this novel didn't get taken by a publisher it would be many years (if ever) before I wrote a different novel and attempted to get it published again, knowing how much work's gone into it, and how much I've given up (horse, car, social life) to buy the time to write it. I don't think I'd be able to move on and put my heart into anything else until the series was complete either.

@yachtcahtcolby

if you want to just write what you want to write and get it out there, it's the way to go.

Now self-publishing's beginning to sound more appealling... (My main issue with self-publishing is formatting. I just know I'd make a huge mess. Plus I can't even persuade people to buy raffle tickets. However am I going to market a book?).

I think at this rate I'm going to home print it, home bind it, stick a copy in my local library and call myself published. End of.

[Sheilawisz]

Lorna, if I had sent my very first Fantasy novel to a publisher just to see it getting rejected, I would not have cared: I would have continued to write the second novel and then the third, because I love my story, I love my characters, I love my worlds and I write for myself first, and for possible publishers second.

In fact, I am glad that I never sent my first novel to any publisher...

Let's say that they would have accepted and published it, in the version that it was back then. Today I would feel terrible, because my first novel has evolved a lot and today it's much better than it was when I finished it!!

I think that we should not feel a hurry to publish our works =)

[Zero Angel]

I'd say the answer to your question is another question:

Are you writing to sell your work or are you writing to tell your stories?

If it is the former, then no, if it is the latter, then yes.

I personally would finish. I don't write stories I'm not interested in, and from the sound of your posts, you feel the same way with your stories. If you don't get picked up, then make sure that you think it is a quality work and publish yourself.

[JonSnow]

Lorna, if I had sent my very first Fantasy novel to a publisher just to see it getting rejected, I would not have cared: I would have continued to write the second novel and then the third, because I love my story, I love my characters, I love my worlds and I write for myself first, and for possible publishers second.

In fact, I am glad that I never sent my first novel to any publisher...

Let's say that they would have accepted and published it, in the version that it was back then. Today I would feel terrible, because my first novel has evolved a lot and today it's much better than it was when I finished it!!

I think that we should not feel a hurry to publish our works =)

I have re-written the first half of my first book at least a half dozen times over the past decade. And each time, my writing gets better and my story deepens. For new writers, I think this is fantastic advice. Don't rush it. Finish it, and try to publish it when the work is ready (if it ever gets to that point) to be published. But then again, I am writing for the pure satisfaction of creating something. If I never get published at all, I won't be let down. If I do, it will be gravy.

[Steerpike]

I would keep writing it. If I finished the first one it means I believe in the story. A novel could bounce around for a couple of years getting rejections before selling. So unless you jump to another project, you'd be well into the second book, or even finished with it potentially, before you know whether the first will sell. It seems to me the best course is simply to go by whether you believe in the story. If so, then you write it.