First novels, and such

[desperance]

People have been musing on - and asking other people about - that breakthrough, the first novel that actually gets bought: was it the first you wrote, how long did it take to sell, so on and so forth.

Hee.

My first published novel? Not only the first novel I ever finished, or ever came close to finishing; it was commissioned. People paid me to write a novel, before anyone had any evidence that I could.

*is smug*

But that was special circumstances, and I was writing for a series, very much to formula. And it was a long time ago, in a different world.

My first real novel, if we discount that - well, yes. Still my first novel written, first one sold. That was harder: my agent tried for a commission and couldn't get one, so she made me write the thing. Took four years and two drafts, but I got it done (with all the usual anxieties of "OMG this is crap, I'm writing the Wrong Novel, why didn't I do [any one of a dozen other ideas] instead...?") and then she sold it.

And since then it's a long list, more or less as many books as there have been years, and I don't quite remember but I think all my published books have been commissioned. I've got a couple that I wrote on spec, which are still waiting for the right publisher. That's okay, my drawers are capacious and my patience is legendary; one of these days...

Comments

[sora-blue.livejournal.com]

Is commissioned like work-for-hire? Or is it another beast?

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Commissioned in this context is "Chaz, we like your three chapters and a synopsis; here is a contract and some money, go away and write the rest of the book and we promise to publish it."

Is good. Is not so common nowadays, more and more publishers want to see the complete manuscript, even from established authors (bestsellers aside, obviously). Ten years ago I could - I did! - go to a new publisher and say "Look, I've been writing crime for Hodder for a few years now; and I've got this idea for a horror novel, which doesn't really suit their list but would look admirable on yours..." and pick up a commission for the asking. And then do the same again with another publisher for my first fantasy series. These days I'd pretty much have to write the whole book on spec.

[sora-blue.livejournal.com]

Ahh! I think I've heard that called a proposal, but I can't name anyone off the top of my head who sold on a proposal and not a completed manuscript. At least not anyone writing genre or fiction.

Have you heard about the new HC imprint? They're trying to go with low or no advances and profit sharing. (Also not buying back unsold books from the stores.)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Ahh! I think I've heard that called a proposal, but I can't name anyone off the top of my head who sold on a proposal and not a completed manuscript. At least not anyone writing genre or fiction.

It's unusual, certainly, for a first novel - but everything about my career path has been unusual. I was, what, twenty-three at the time - which, at the time, was unheard-of. These days kids almost expect to sell their first book out of college, but not then.

Have you heard about the new HC imprint? They're trying to go with low or no advances and profit sharing. (Also not buying back unsold books from the stores.)

Just heard about it today - I think it's a US experiment, that they're not bringing over here yet. I'm distrustful; anything that begins with a major wealthy publisher not giving any money to writers sounds to me like a bad thing. And mix in the fine Hollywood tradition of megamovies technically not making a profit: I'm sure HC has learned from them, and I would really not like that kind of a contract.

[sora-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's a lot of people who expect to sell before college, too.

The HC experiment is not something I'd want to be involved with, but I imagine it could theoretically work for high profile non-fiction by "celebrity" authors. Which would only make it more Hollywood. :(

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

This reads a bit like the business model of Citron Press, whom I came across when they did a pitch at the Durham Literature Festival in 2000. They went out of business shortly after. They actually asked writers to put up just under £400 and then went for a profit share. They said it was not vanity publishing and indeed just before going under (owing authors up to £3k each in royalties) they dropped this fee.