What happens after you get your first novel published? (2.0)

[Joe Washington]

To those of you who have their own novels published:

What happens after you get your first novel published? Do you wait around for the reviews to hear what people think of it? Do you get through a series of interviews about the book? What stuff do you go through?

 

[Greg Cox]

Depends on the book, I suppose. When my first novel (a young-adult time travel book) came out, I searched high and low, but never actually saw a copy on a shelf in a bookstore. My first TREK novel, on the other hand, was much easier to find!

These days it's easier to find reviews on-line than it used to be. Publishers used to mail you your reviews (if you got any), but that tended to be a bit erratic. It all depended on whether some poor overworked assistant or intern managed to get around to xeroxing them.

As an editor, I find that first novelists sometimes have unrealistic expectations about how their lives are going to change. I've actually had to explain that, no, Oprah is unlikely to interview about you about your new sword-and-sorcery novel, and, no, there's really no way I can arrange for Russell Crowe to play the hero in a movie . . . .

In other words, don't quit your day job!

 

[Starbreaker]

Parades. Lots of booze and strippers. Billboards.

 

[Christopher]

What happens after you get your first novel published?

You write the next one.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Same answer as I gave in the first thread - you should be too busy writing the second one to notice what happens.

 

[The Dominion]

Your novel goes out into the wide world and gets read by people, including the cynical asshats we call "critics."

 

[xortex]

I was just hearing about some unknown composer's scathing critisicm of Beethoven's fourth symphony.

 

[Relayer1]

Hopefully, some people will buy copies...

 

[BrotherBenny]

I was just hearing about some unknown composer's scathing critisicm of Beethoven's fourth symphony.

When said composer releases a piece of music everyone raves about, then he can talk BS all he likes.

As for what happens, I'm sure that depends on how popular the book is, but Christopher's answer is essentially the right one. I'm still working on a novel.

But remember that the first published novel is likely to be the tenth one you've written (in general publishing terms, might be different for tie-in writers).

 

[comicbookwriter]

To those of you who have their own novels published:

What happens after you get your first novel published? Do you wait around for the reviews to hear what people think of it? Do you get through a series of interviews about the book? What stuff do you go through?

I've been published a few times in comics, not finished my first novel yet, and I have a new graphic novel coming at the end of this month.

Generally, I would say that you need to hype up your own work via twittter, facebook and other social media sites. Publishing companies have never been very good about letting people know about new releases unless it's a huge "celebrity" level writer or a big time media tie-in.

I would also suggest getting as many interviews in the genre press (whatever that might be for your book) as possible. Then hit up the appropriate podcasts to see if they will give you coverage.

I've done that for myself and its been somewhat successful.

You can use positive reviews for appearances at conventions and to get even more coverage. There's always going to be a negative review here and there because nothing will appeal to everyone.

I'll be happy to let you know more about me and my career if you ask, I don't want to violate the mod's rules about spamming and/or self-promotion.

I don't know how the rules work for this nowadays.

CBW

 

[xortex]

Are there alot of multi-media agents in NYC who handle not only novels but scripts and screenplays and comics etc.? and what's the best way going about getting one?

 

[comicbookwriter]

Are there alot of multi-media agents in NYC who handle not only novels but scripts and screenplays and comics etc.? and what's the best way going about getting one?

http://niki-smith.com/about/graphic-novel-agents/

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/04/how-to-find-literary-agent.html - EXCELLENT advice here.

Google is your friend.

CBW