The career novelist

THE CAREER NOVELIST

When asked for comparisons, some authors substitute a list of

their influences. That can be interesting, but is less helpful in get-

ting a handle on marketing hooks. If, for instance, an author tells me

that he emulates Dickens, Tolkien, and Proust... well, what am I to

think? Perhaps he has written a Victorian fairy saga that will find its

biggest audience in France?

I think you understand me. Identifying your audience will give

you an edge both as you pitch your project inside the publishing

community and as you search for your readers outside of it.

WHOM TO APPROACH FIRST:
AGENTS OR PUBLISHERS?
If you already have an agent, skip this section. If not, you face a
conundrum. Since many major publishers will not accept unagent-
ed submissions (or rarely buy from their slush pile), it seems nec-
essary for you to have an agent. However, agents—the good ones,
anyway—can be hard to get. In fact, it is frequently said that the
surest method to get an agent is to first find a publisher.
Does this sound like Catch 22? It does to me. Sad to say, I do not
have a perfect answer to this conundrum. My feeling is that authors
are best off working with agents from the beginning of the novel-
marketing process. I have to admit, though, that because of the vol-
ume of writers who petition me it is difficult for unpublished
authors to get my attention.
What is one to do? Ultimately, it is up to you. I would try agents
first, and if that does not work try publishers. I would especially tar-
get publishers if I were a genre author. Genre editors are some-
times more open to unrepresented submissions than their main-
stream—that word again—counterparts. If a publisher has
expressed interest in a novel, that is a strong incentive for me to
take a look.
An offer from a publisher is even more persuasive. But the sce-
nario I am suggesting is tricky. While most publishers will not mind
if an agent steps in to handle a deal, some will not like it. All you
can do is be firm and businesslike.
You have a right to representation. If you do use an offer from a
publisher to open doors with agents, just be sure not to say yes to