dr_pretentious: (Default)
[personal profile] dr_pretentious
Remember how, back in June, I had this weird, wonderful pitch session with an agent? Because [livejournal.com profile] writersweekend had praised the manuscript so highly to her, the agent insisted that I should send my work, even after I told her my big project was too long and totally disassembled for revision, and that the project I thought I could write to the current constraints of the market was barely started. So before the Solstice, I mailed out three chapters of the ubernovel, along with a short story that gives the gist of a stand-alone prequel that's not even outlined yet.

Today I received a request for a full manuscript. Yes, a real live agent actually read my work, and, after reading it, still wanted to see more. Of course I did the dance of joy, scared my cat with my exuberance, etc., and then sat down to reread.

As far as I can figure out the odd counterpoint between the form letter and the brief, enthusiastic, handwritten note on the bottom of the form letter, it seems that the manuscript she requested is the one she knows--or knew in June--that I haven't really begun to write yet. That novel consists of the eight pages I sent her, plus some scrawly, telegraphic, bullet-point notes to myself.

I really, really hope she remembers my assiduous, repeated efforts at full disclosure, because it's considered Bad Form to pitch work as if it were finished when it's not. So now I have to take her up on her if-you-have-any-questions-contact-me invitation.

Something good is in danger of happening. I'm scared to death of fucking it up.

Date: 2005-09-01 07:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] reynaud.livejournal.com
Congrats! No, I do not think you'll come close to fucking it up. Of course, now it seems as if you'll actually have to finish you're editing.

Say, how long do you think this novel is going to end up being?

Date: 2005-09-01 07:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-pretentious.livejournal.com
If I can get the manuscript page count (double-spaced, etc.) down to 800 pages, I'll be overjoyed.

Date: 2005-09-04 08:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] reynaud.livejournal.com
Eh, I've seen quite a few 1000 page novels out there.

Date: 2005-09-04 09:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-pretentious.livejournal.com
The market has shifted a lot since those novels were bought by their publishers, and even when the market was more favorable, it was unusual for first novels by unknowns to be that long.

Profile

dr_pretentious: (Default)
Sarah Avery

October 2016

S M T W T F S
      1
2345678
910111213 1415
16171819 202122
23242526272829
3031     

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 14th, 2026 03:30 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios