A New Direction
For the past year and a half, I've been submitting a historical romance. While it garnered a few requests, it has also garnered its share of rejections. The last rejection was filled with good advice and an invitation to resubmit.
I think I'm going in a new direction though.
My other manuscripts are contemporary romances. If an agent sells my historical, there's a good chance I'll be expected to continue writing historicals. Right now my heart is with contemporaries.
Thus, the historical is done making the agent rounds. One of my contemporaries is ready to be queried and I think that will be my new direction.
Which direction are you headed in? What's your favorite genre to read? Do you realize that you may expected to continue writing whatever you first submit?
Thanks to Diane for inspiring this post
I think I'm going in a new direction though.
My other manuscripts are contemporary romances. If an agent sells my historical, there's a good chance I'll be expected to continue writing historicals. Right now my heart is with contemporaries.
Thus, the historical is done making the agent rounds. One of my contemporaries is ready to be queried and I think that will be my new direction.
Which direction are you headed in? What's your favorite genre to read? Do you realize that you may expected to continue writing whatever you first submit?
Thanks to Diane for inspiring this post
Comments
Have you, or anyone else got any insight into that one?
btw- I like your new direction. If your heart is heading somewhere else it is always best to follow :)
There's always publishing under a different name for fiction too, but if you're a bestseller with your memoir, I have a feeling you can break out of the box.
Kaye Dacus is a new one who comes to mind... she has a historical series out with Harvest house but also writes contemporaries with Barbour. Her first novel was published January 2009...
My point is it can be done!
Thanks Krista! I know that I can do it, but I think the ability to break out of the box may depend on the success of our first books. But maybe not... *grin*
Here's another thought, do those changes slowly as you sub your contemporaries so that you have a historical for an agent to shop too once you break in with the contemporaries.
I can't wait to see you agented and your work sold, Jessica!!
Terri, I'm so nervous. It's been a long time since I subbed to contests. Whew. Thanks for the pep talk!
Eileen, you're so sweet! Really, have such a gentle and sweet spirit. Thank you for your encouragement. :-) I think the agent's advice in her rejection was probably pretty valid. I probably will relook at the story and see how I can fix things. Thanks for the suggestion. It's very good and doable. Alot of authors write both genres, why not me? Heehee!
I think you are taking a wise direction, one inspired of the Lord. May He bless your work and give you favor. Many readers will not look at an historical, but love contemporary.
I keep plugging away on my "nutty with a dash of meat" nf books. They have a home somewhere...
I write mostly fiction short stories about contemporary women and how they overcome their trials and tribulations.
But I've done horror, romance, sci-fi on ocassion and they've gotten published. It was fun to step out of my genre and experiment with others.
Wishing you success in all your writing endeavors.
But, yeah, if you're positive that's the only historical you'll ever write, maybe you should wait until you have a few contemporaries sold before returning to it. Then again, you're really close to selling. Maybe you could publish it under a pen name.
Blessings:)
Thanks Karen! Wisdom is the principal thing, right? :-)
Hi Linda, wellll I don't know if I'm really close *grin* but knowing I could resubmit feels great. :-) I probably will write more historicals someday, but for now, contemporary feels good to me.
I hope they find a home too! You're a wise, encouraging woman. :-)
Donna, all I can say is WOW. You're very diverse and my hat's off to you, especially because you've been successful at it.
Diveristy definitely opens our possibilities.
Jessie, that's good that you stick to the same genre. It's not bad to diversify, but if all your stories are in one genre, I'd think it would be easier to build your audience.
Hey Patti,
That's so cool! I have NO ideas for YA and I'm amazed by those of you who can write it. It's like you're in touch with your inner teenager.
And I'm the old fogey. *grin*
It would be hard to pass up on an invitation to resubmit.
Anyway, I'm still in the historical camp, although recently I've been more of a historical/fantasy writer. I've only recently come up with one idea for a contemporary; 99% of my ideas still have that thread of history in them. I don't mind if I become a historical/historical fantasy writer--I honestly can't think of ever being anything else.
Oh and favorite genre to read is historical too--although I'm finding myself drawn more and more to fantasy.
As for me, I am very aware that I'll be stuck writing what I first submit. So far it's been okay, and my agent has said she'd like to see something else from me, so maybe I won't be stuck? Who knows.
(I hope I'm not the only one who recalls it...)
I wish you great success this year, Jessica, whatever you do! This is always a nice place to come and visit.
Debra, I'm trying to remember which story of yours I judged...I only remember that it was really good. Hmmm. I love historical romances too! They're so fun.
You never know, Elana! I hope you find your perfect fit of genre (s). :-)
Hi Dara,
Whoops! Maybe I subconsciously stole your title? Sorry about that. *cringing and grinning* I had thought you wrote historical fantasy anyway, because of Lady of the Snow. I think that would be an interesting genre to read.
Hey there, Rejection Queen. :-) Trust me, I got lots of form rejections. I'm extremely thankful this agent gave me her opinion. Especially since it resonates with me and I think she may be right.
I primarily read/write contemporary YA, however I've recently also branched out into paranormal YA and it makes me wonder which I'd prefer to write more of consistently.
Thanks for planting the thought seed!
Just had a great discussion today with my mentor/spiritual director about seeking a balance between grace and discipline with my kiddos.
Totally not the writing direction to which you were referring, but it's where I am at the moment. *grin*
Trusting God to lead me!
Hi Belle, that's too funny! But it's definitely doable. :-) Thanks for stopping by!
Karen, I completely understand. I struggle with that too. Whew. This parenting thing is hard work, right? *grin*
Thanks for stopping by! Yeah, it is odd. The whole time I was wondering, what if she wants to rep me? Will I have to stay with historicals? But she didn't and now, in a strange way, I'm both sad and relieved. I'm not sure about YA, since I don't read much of it anymore. I use to love the contemporary YAs though.
Bethany, wow, YA urban fantasy? That sounds really, really intriguing to me. Go you! And thanks for commenting. :-)
Kristen, that's awesome you're trying out something new. I have no doubt you'll succeed.
I can't believe you're on book 3 already! The first one in that series didn't come out yet, right? Wow.
Those are tough decisions. I pray the Lord will give you wisdom and direction.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I think you made the right decision for you. I've got a really good feeling about your contemporaries!
You can always go back to historicals years down the road if you want to try something different! ;-)
I think you are being very smart.
It really is good advice to write what you love most because when you sell, your readers will want to read more of the same and your editor will be invested in your work and not want to hand you over to another line/department.
So, I agree, simply set the historical aside for now. You can always revise and sell later if you change your mind.
Wishing you all the best of luck!
I see what you're saying. If I sell a romance, I'll have to keep writing romances. I'd be okay with that.
My first two novels were contemporary fiction. The just-contracted My Name is Sheba is historical fiction (really no one knows what it is, and that was one of its problems!!!!). I am returning to my first love, contemporary, and plan to stay there for awhile.
You get'em, girl! With ya!!
Patti
It is "spooky" to think a writer would be tagged to one genre just becaused he submitted it first. Doesn't seen fair.
Hi Nancy,
I'm not sure fair is the right word, but I know what you mean. I guess it's because the publisher has to lay down a lot of money before the author makes any, so they want to make sure they stick with what works. That's my take, at least. It's not the rule though, just what's more common, I think.
I'll admit, there are authors I love who write different genres and I'll only read one of their genres. I don't read JD Robb, love Nora Roberts. Loved Victoria Holt, but not the books under her other name. Those are just a few examples. :-)
Patti, no worries. LOL Tomorrow is nothing thought-provoking, just some links. :-)
Thanks Nancy and Susan!
Thanks Anita! I feel good about my contemporaries too. For now, that's where the love is. *grin*
-Alisa Hope
First Friday Fiction
Hey Linda,
You're the best crit bud ever! Thank you for your constant support. :-)
Keli, it's funny because you went back to historicals and I'm focusing on contemporaries. :-) I hope you have some exciting things happen this year with V&V!
Deb, I'm sure you do! Keep going after what you want. :-) The nice thing is, I don't think the memoirs need to be in chronological order.