Hey all

So, I have been following this fine forum for a while now and decided to join up for the months trial.

So, my first question. It is not an original one so please go easy.

After much writing and revision, I recently finished my first novel. Now, I am obviously proud of myself (as anyone who finishes a novel should be IMO) but I really am at odds as to whether or not to submit it.

Is it normal to feel this way?

On one hand I want to as I think it is pretty good and I have something to say etc. etc. But on the other I think about it being my first MS and find myself thinking how good can it be? I have revised it a lot and it’s taken over a year, so I haven’t rushed it.

In all honesty I may be too close to it to know right now, but anyway, your thoughts are welcomed.

Cheers

Ringo

Hi, Ringo, and welcome to WW.
First, congratulations on finishing your first novel! That's a great achievement and definitely worthy of pride.
As to your question, I think only you can decide whether to sub your novel to agents/publishers. There are various options, though.
1. Put the novel away for, say, three months. Then read it through as a reader and see how it strikes you and make your decision then.
2. Show it to someone whose opinion you respect - or pay for an editorial report. This might throw up questions, or it might confirm that you're ready to submit.
3. Throw caution to the wind and submit now. Choose a select list of agents and look on it as an experiment. Send out to, maybe, five or fewer and just see what comes back. Maybe they'll give you some feedback. Maybe they'll sign you up!
4. (Combined with (1) - Put the novel aside and write another. This may put a new perspective on the first one.
I don't think there are any 'right' answers. Just the one that feels right for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Susiex

Thanks Susie. Someone I trust is going to read it for me so I think it will be a mixture of leaving it alone for a while and waiting on their feedback. I really want to free my mind up to start something else. I have had my focus on this so long, you know. Thanks, for your great advise.

A pleasure, Ringo - and I do know what you mean. My novel will be published this month and I started it in 2006! :0
Hope your friend loves it.
Susiex

Congrats to you Susie! Ah, to be published. Great stuff!

Susiex

Mate Ringo you're Bingo.

Don't hesitate to ask questions, whatever, it's all your right. But some people may think them clumsy, but it's not. It's the way you learn.

Happy reading, Happy writing.


Welcome,

Cheers Mox.

I don't mind asking questions, fear not. Writing can be so solitary, as we all know. Looking forward to bouncing ideas around with the posters here.

Hi, congratulations from me too. Finishing a novel is a major milestone. I think Susie's suggestions are very sensible and I would advise the same.

Thanks. I will await my critique too. I think if agencies offered feedback with every submission I would do it, as undoubtedly it would benefit me in some way. But as they don't, then I think I will only submit if I truly think it's good enough. Must say though, it feels great to have finished it. Just mulling over the ingredients for the next one.

With regards to novel writing, what did people find hardest at first? Just curious. For me it was getting the story going from the off. I think I fell into the "tentative" writer category to begin with and I can really see where my confidence picked up later. For the next one I want to be far more definite from the beginning. I will go back and revise the hell out of my first three once all feedback is received. What about you guys?

Ringo

Again, thanks for the great advice.

Hi Ringo, and welcome to WW.

Excellent advice from Susie - nothing to add. I think it's very common to suddenly feel a bit cold-footed when you get to the point of (maybe) sending it out, and giving it some time, and getting feedback, is a very good strategy.



<Added>

Sorry, clicked post before I said Good Luck with it!

Thanks Emma! Iam glad it is common.