When Selling a Novel Doesn’t
Go As Planned
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Here’s a pessimistic question about selling a novel which every writer needs to be asking unless they want an unpleasant surprise. Specifically, what happens to an agented project after the writing agent doesn't manage to find a publisher for a writer’s work. It's a relevant issue that many authors neglect to consider, because they believe that they’ve found the golden ticket once they get an agent. But that’s not always the case when it comes to selling a novel. One of our Good Story Learning members wants to know:
I’ve been reading some online journals written by creators on submission, and they mention the struggles that come after getting an agent. Do you have any idea of how many AGENTED authors don’t get published, either with their initial project or subsequent ones?
There Are No Guarantees In Selling a Novel
While I don’t have hard and fast numbers at my fingertips for how often this happens in the process of selling a novel, I must emphasize that just because you have an agent doesn't guarantee that you will sell the project that got an offer of representation. Many writers don't realize this. After putting in the effort needed to acquire an agent, many decide to take a break, reflect on their success, and promptly imagine signing a big, juicy book deal. But getting an agent is only the start of the long process of selling a novel. It’s not the end. Far from it.
You still have revisions to do. Most authors don't understand what it means to have a "ready-for-sale" manuscript. A lot of work goes into selling a novel, before the agent can even start to pitch it. Then, once you’ve gone through rounds of revision with your agent and they deem your project strong enough to go out, your agent will put the book on submission. If an editor likes it, they may bring up their own revision suggestions before the contract is finalized. Sometimes they might even ask for a revise and resubmit before contract. (Your agent will be able to advise whether this makes sense or not, of course.) Or your book could be completely rejected by publishers. All in all, this experience requires a lot of patience and willpower and other emotional writer tools, especially when writing rejection like this roll in:
It just didn't catch my attention. Something like it is already on the list. I don't think this can succeed in this incredibly overcrowded market.
The Process of Selling a Novel is Full of Potential Pitfalls
Not every novel is a miraculous success story, even though you’ll hear a lot of those on social media. These stand out because they tend to be the exception, not the rule.
So don’t despair if you are still not able to get a writing agent. Even if you find one, you'll still have a long, uphill battle to selling a novel. I don’t say this to bum you out. On the contrary! I say this because I want you to slow down and enjoy the writing journey itself, because that’s what you are guaranteed. Everything else that you achieve in your writing career is a bonus.
If you do land an agent and a book deal, there could be other ups and downs behind that first victory. Working with a publishing house editor can be tricky. They may ask for substantial changes or request your book revisions quickly to fit their publishing schedule. Once you’re on the other side of selling a novel and the project has been published, there are other issues to tackle: low sales, bad reviews, and dismal event turnouts. (This has more to do with book marketing.)
You might be asked to build a better internet presence. Every part of it seems daunting—but you can make it if you have the fortitude and patience for the journey, the good parts and the bad. Having an agent is like having a coach or a running buddy, who will stand by you and strategize with you every step of the way of selling a novel, but they are not a magic bullet.
My Personal Experience With Selling a Novel Struggles
I feel I must share my own story when it comes to this topic. Before I became an agent and editor, I had my own agent … and my novel didn’t sell. That summer, I received a whopping eight offers of representation and the chance to submit my manuscript to big publishers, thrusting me into the young adult market. I was beyond ecstatic to have over twenty publishers all over the world looking at my old blog and emailing me for submissions. I thought for sure it would lead to selling a novel.
But I was wrong. Looking back on it now, the writing wasn’t ready for a book deal. Simple as that. Plus, the agent I selected (ironically) had limited experience in the kidlit field. I went on personality, not track record. A more experienced agent might have pushed me to work harder and make the project irresistible for the YA audience. After a year in the publishing industry myself, I decided to part ways with my agent to avoid any conflicts of interest. That was my own rocky and unfulfilling road to not selling a novel.
Selling a Novel Perspective
From that experience, I’ve learned that nothing is certain in publishing. You can be thrilled about a project you’ve submitted and still not succeed. Success in the publishing world is a combination of tenacity, an exceptional manuscript, and a passionate agent. But even with an agent on your side, there are far too many variables and obstacles to selling a novel. It feels like an alchemical mixture of luck, timing, and an unknown force working in your favor.
No one can guarantee winning the lottery, but having a literary agent can help increase your chances of selling a novel. It is likely that more published authors have agents than those who remain unpublished. When you have an agent on your side, they can give you invaluable advice and perspective on the industry. Regardless of the strength of your agent’s network, an unpredictable market and changing publishing trends can play a major role in your success or lack thereof. It's also important to have an agent that can help you decide which projects are worth pursuing and which ones won't sell in the long run. Literary agents are a valuable guide and resource for any author, published or aspiring.
That being said, writing agents aren’t for every writer, or every project. And they aren’t the magic bullet for selling a novel, though they can help.
Click here to purchase Successful Query Letters, my book on query letters, including over forty examples with comprehensive notes on each one. There’s a ton of submission advice, best practices, and insider information in these pages, and you’ll really enjoy seeing what other writers are doing in the slush.