I've been pondering this dilemma or similar.

I have a completed novel that got nowhere in the first round of submissions and is now fighting a rearguard action in the last ditch of submissions but it is getting to the point where even I have to give up.

I don't have the cash to pay a fee - am torn between 3 options. Put it away in a drawer as a curiosity and get on with second novel - which I already suspect is 'unpublishable' - or go by a recent rejection - good premise, writing ok, story does not appeal and use everything I've (hopefully) learned to write it again from scratch as a different book or alternatively, now I've put some distance between myself and it, look at it long and hard, give it the best drastic edit and rewrite I can and maybe self publish on the cheap.

I am encouraged by Colin's story.

As for re submitting - I haven't tried but I think I'd have a better idea of where to send it second time around - my first round was fairly scattershot - and if you have reason to suspect version 1 never made it past the agent's assistant's assistant - then would they even know?

Of course, looking on the bright side, could be that the first three agents on your list will all request full MS and you won't have to worry?

Sarah


<Added>

I was also reading an article today about a band that has never signed to a label - have been musing on whether I could get by without an agent or a publisher...

OK - this is diasppointment talking :)

Well, Emma, my first 3 chaps cost 60p to send out - so thats £18 for 30 submissions (i don't put in return postage) and maybe £20 to renew printing - so it is a lot cheaper than the editorial services for me.
And i'm not sure, for me, it would be worth getting feedback on just a few chapters, i feel i really need to know if i'm performing inadequately with regards to character and plot development.

Sarah, i now know why you are called Optimist

Casey

Casey, yes, I realised that my brain knocked off early because it's Friday, and on its way out of the door based the calculation on sending out full MSs, which certainly would give the editorial prices a run for their money if you did 30!.

And i'm not sure, for me, it would be worth getting feedback on just a few chapters, i feel i really need to know if i'm performing inadequately with regards to character and plot development.

I think in your situation I'd feel the same, (and interestingly, the agency I work for doesn't offer the mini-version, for exactly the same reason) but I know of people who've gone for it and found it hugely helpful. But I suspect that's at an earlier stage of development than you've reached, when they've really no idea of what kind of things they should be. At your stage, yes, anything that's going to be helpful is going to have to consider the whole thing.

The Arts Councils do give grants for MS assessments, though I imagine the competition is fierce.

Sarah, I'm always having another go at ideas and characters I've used before - usually after I've written something different in between. I never recycle actual words, but some of the best bits of recent novels are actually in their second or third incarnation. But as you say, you may not know what you want to do till you've got some distance from it.

Emma

If it was my third novel that was still being rejected,(or possibly my second), then I would seriously consider paying for an editorial report.

I'm making a sweeping generalization here, but first novels are notorious for... well you know - It's why self-publishing has such a bad name. The writer is still learning their craft and if they have caught the writing bug and promptly got stuck into the next novel, then the money would probably be better spent on a creative writing course - where the author can wave their mss under their tutor's nose in the hope of getting it critiqued for free
IHMO

Personally I would do an edit and resubmit on the assumption that most of them had not even read the original version because the synopsis was crap - I know my first one was.

Emma, thank you for the helpful advice as ever.

NMott - yes, I know. Can't help feeling that there is probably a very good reason it is not out there and I'd regret it if it was.

It's the optimism though - gets me every time

Sarah

I'd agree with Nessiec that first novels are - well - first novels. What do you think is 'unpublishable' about the one it sounds as if you're wanting to write? My instinct would always be sod'em, and write it anyway.

Emma