What Happens After Your First Book?

[@solarsailer4166]

It's taken me 4 years to write the book I'm querying now. I'm really worried that if I get an agent and a publisher that I won't be able to write fast enough for future books. I draft quickly, but revisions take me a long time.

[@elissahunt]

Don't worry about bridges you haven't come to yet. The writing (and revision) process goes faster the more you do it. WHEN you get an agent, and WHEN the book sells to a publisher, you can mention your concerns to your agent. But for now, focus on writing your next book while the first is in the query process. Leave the worrying for another time.

[@hazelphoenix203]

I'd love to hear about what happens if your book does sell, but sales aren't great. What do you recommend an author do next?

[@rosemaryrichings2564]

I signed with a publisher about a month ago that didn't require an agent because what I was pitching was super niche and their publishing house is a niche publisher that specializes in the same subject matter as what I happen to be writing about. So I essentially skipped the whole "getting an agent" step entirely. I would love to see a video on what you look for in authors who found a book deal without an agent and/or went the self-publishing route but wants an agent for future books. As soon as I had the contract in my hand, I definitely knew what I was missing out on by not having an agent. I would love to see some content on how getting an agent once you have at least one book done is different than querying your first book. What would an agent look for in someone who is seeking representation after having at least one book published already?

[@monamehas5989]

I haven't yet queried my first book but I have started on the sequel. It is with a book coach in training to work with edits.

[@kirtiomart]

Really love your channel. Thank you guys once again!

[@Ruthie888]

Very helpful to have more understanding of how it works. Thank you.

[@ekstn645]

I’m currently on sub for my first book so this is the perfect video for me! Thank you!

[@erikaromerowrites]

This video was incredibly informative. I didn’t realize it was such a huge shift, in regard to the author-editor relationship becoming so pivotal.

[@dlshelton1218]

Man, do I wish I had this convo w/my 2nd agent. Will definitely be having it next time around.

[@bencowles2105]

Timing sees to be the key to getting an agent and a book deal. I am adding tracking the publishing trend cycles to my decision about who and when to query. I have been told by a few friends who have made the best sellers list that paying attention to the trend cycles can make a difference. It requires more patients on my part but I can see the benefit. Can you possibly do a video on publishing trend cycles and what authors should look for as a possible cue to start sending in queries for certain genres.

[@elissahunt]

What I've heard agents say about trends is that publishing is so slow, what's trending now is probably NOT what will be trending in two years (when books that are in the query pipeline can expect to be published). You're best off writing what you're passionate about rather than trying to chase trends.

[@bencowles2105]

@@elissahunt thank you for the advice.

[@MastersofHumility]

Great video! I was surprised that it seems a writer or agent usually doesn't try to sell the next book before the first book comes out. P.S. I can't say I hate being out on submission. If you're cool with most publishers saying no, it's kind of where a new author needs to be.

[@Supvia]

I wish I had an agent to talk to about my next book. I am currently querying German agents and got two responses that they like my style but the topic (historical setting world war 1) is currently not selling. Now I am researching for my next book, but I wish I knew if the setting (German revolution 1918) and the story even have a chance to sell. 🙈 Oh the doubts ...

[@crazybookcanary8941]

You need to shop around for more agents...someone will bite. many of the well known writers had well over thirty or forty rejections before they found the right agent. Try writers digest they may have a list of agents.

[@liegeman717]

Thanks guys. This was very useful!

[@cadengrace5466]

Some of this information is somewhat in conflict for me and my understanding. After I write my first draft of a book, I drop it on the shelf and put a timer on it for at least 6 months where I do not touch it. During that time I am working on another book. It could be a sequel, prequel, in the same universe or something totally unrelated. I write quick - 6 weeks for a draft of 100k, two months maximum. I know my characters. I know my world. The story flows. Six months after I have dropped that first book on the shelf to cool off before I start the various edits, I have generated 2 or 3 other drafts. I have two main genre I write Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction. I bounce between those two genres, odd even book drafting. But, here, they are saying we should not do anything. I don't think I could not be writing. So many voices and personalities in my head that want their lives on paper.

[@elissahunt]

The advice here was for AFTER your first book has sold to a publisher. I don't think Jessica and James meant for you to do nothing after you finish your book. They said don't put a lot of work into writing a book without first discussing it with your agent. In the SF/Fantasy genres, it's common for books to be in series, so that's even something you would discuss before you even sign with the agent. It's entirely possible you would have a two or three book deal in your genre, so you would naturally be working on further books in the series. But you, your agent, and your editor would have to all be in agreement about the direction the series is going. You'd be wasting time writing a prequel if the editor is expecting a sequel.

[@MrK.A]

Hey guys. Love the channel although I'm confused by this video. I've heard that literary agents want to hear that querying authors are serious about their writing and are working on new projects.... But you're suggesting we wait to get an agent before starting a second book otherwise it's a waste of time? If that's really what you mean what are we supposed to do while we wait for literary agents to get back to us on the first book? 😅 I understand writing the second book in a series is a no-no but i thought writing another stand-alone book was the way to go.

[@emberstonequest]

I think you've misunderstood. When you DON'T have an agent, they - and other agents - advise that you write the next book (though not of the same series). This video deals with when you DO have an agent. When you have an agent, that's when you double-check a book idea is worth your writing/plotting/editing time before starting by asking your agent. Your agent has knowledge of what's getting purchased (market trends etc), have a far deeper understanding of what readers in your target audience wants and how marketable a book can be to your intended audience. They may even know which editors ahead of your writing it would love a specific idea you've had (eg. an editor that loves stories of Fae). Does that make sense?

[@MrK.A]

@@emberstonequest my bad. Misunderstood. Thanks for the clarification.

[@emberstonequest]

@@MrK.A No probs. Happy to help a fellow writer.

[@adamlamare4777]

As always thank you for these really educational videos. I’m currently searching for an agent after receiving offers for my book, I’ve decided to back track and do things backwards not truly understanding publishing contracts enough. Should a UK new writer only look for UK agents ?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

no, you can query US agents too

[@mab_cat]

I have a question that's tangentially(?) related to this topic. Hypothetically, if someone were to publish a novel or series via a service such as Radish or Kindle Vella, would this count as a publishing debut, and therefore afterward be harder to publish traditionally? Would these count as publishing credits? Essentially my question is how an agent might approach a situation like this, especially if those serialized works are published under a pseudonym.

[@wishingwellgraphix4149]

I have a self-published murder mystery series and I am thinking of doing a spin-off using the same world, but focusing on one of the secondary characters. If I choose to try traditional publishing in this case, would its being a spin-off make it less attractive to agents and publishers?

[@saturnn77]

2nd + books, would you be referring to a series or just more books? I have written 4 books, but haven't done any real marketing and I can't write a query letter if my life depended on it.

[@dcruz55]

Can you PLEASE, talk about the books or subject that might be Taboo, with the new Publishing guidelines of only BLANE or autobiographies of famous people which is appearing to being set by publishers. Please be honest, Publisher's Lunch tells all. I know it's just as difficult, if not more so, for you as an agent, than us as writers, but if we don't know, how can learn. Cheers!

[@dcruz55]

@@oldroanio5631 I mean What are Publishers looking for?

[@billenglish6352]

Its happened! I've seen the light. The book business is saturated with product. Books sale are plummeting. I'm free. Free at last. No more submissions. No more seeking attention. I will now live in a blissfully realm beyond neediness. Promoting my Self is an illusion.

[@arcadelinkauthor]

2:10 This kinda makes me headscratch. Writers should just be writing what they want to write. That is the #1 rule for writing. Completing a book isn't time wasted. It's always an accomplishment and something to be proud of. The fact that the agent doesn't want to represent the book doesn't mean it was wasted time on their part. I'll make a note, for when I start querying, that this should 100% be a part of the contract discussion at the beginning. I certainly would ask, "Since I don't intend to only write middle-grade horror... what happens when I write a book that you don't want to represent?" But in asking that, what is your immediate reaction? Would that be a red flag for agents?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

We definitely agree writers should write what they want to write! I think what we're trying to say here is that if you want the book that you write to be submitted to publishers with the intentions of selling it, it's good to discuss with your agent whether the book you'd like to write is going to be salable and how it fits into your career trajectory before you begin writing. If you write the whole book without giving your agent a heads up about the basic premise with the hopes that it will then for sure be submitted to a publisher, there's a chance for disappointment if you find out the book isn't something that can go out. But if you're writing for fun or to gain the experience and have no expectations tied to it, you definitely don't have to mention it to your agent first! And that's a great question to ask during an offer call with an agent! "What would happen if our career trajectories don't align and I want to write a genre you don't represent?" They should have an answer to this and be willing to talk it through, because it's important :)