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Has anyone any experience of being advised by an agent or publisher to 'change his or her style?'
Hi Len,
The short answer is 'yes'. When I first spoke to my former agent about the work I'd initially shown him - which, incidentally, he didn't think was publishable - he pointed out that if I could focus more on particular aspects of that work and write a new book, on the same subject, in a particular genre, then we would both make lots of money.
Needless to say, the genre he suggested wasn't right for me. But I didn't know that until I had spent an awful lot of time trying to write in that vein.
However, having been through that experience, I now have a very strong idea of the kind of book I want to write, and I am indeed writing it now. The style may not be as commercial as the one I was encouraged to work in before, but it's what I'm comfortable with. Moreover, I'm now writing the kind of book that I would like to read myself.
We'll see if I'm right...
Al.
<Added>
Sorry, I meant only to put Len's question in a box, not my entire answer. I'm clearly not enough of a techie for this.
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Hi Len,
The short answer is 'yes'. When I first spoke to my former agent about the work I'd initially shown him - which, incidentally, he didn't think was publishable - he pointed out that if I could focus more on particular aspects of that work and write a new book, on the same subject, in a particular genre, then we would both make lots of money.
Needless to say, the genre he suggested wasn't right for me. But I didn't know that until I had spent an awful lot of time trying to write in that vein.
However, having been through that experience, I now have a very strong idea of the kind of book I want to write, and I am indeed writing it now. The style may not be as commercial as the one I was encouraged to work in before, but it's what I'm comfortable with. Moreover, I'm now writing the kind of book that I would like to read myself.
We'll see if I'm right...
Al.
<Added>
Sorry, I meant only to put Len's question in a box, not my entire answer. I'm clearly not enough of a techie for this.
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Dee at 14:30 on 28 February 2004
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Al, I think you should have changed your agent rather than your style – but that’s easy for me to say, not having been in that situation. The problem is, once you’ve got an agent, you cling to them like a liferaft.
But it sounds as if it wasn’t a totally wasted exercise - so good for you.
I still support the points about the basics of punctuation, grammar and spelling. Publishers just don’t have the resources these days to groom a manuscript or, for that matter, a new writer. We have to be professional and take the responsibility to present our work in a form they can use.
Cheers
Dee.
But it sounds as if it wasn’t a totally wasted exercise - so good for you.
I still support the points about the basics of punctuation, grammar and spelling. Publishers just don’t have the resources these days to groom a manuscript or, for that matter, a new writer. We have to be professional and take the responsibility to present our work in a form they can use.
Cheers
Dee.
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Al T at 14:47 on 28 February 2004
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Hi Dee, thanks for your comment. To be fair, though, to my former agent, I should add that I also think that a book on the subject I was writing about, in the genre he suggested, would be a very commercial propositon. I'm just not the right author to produce it. Horses for course, etc.
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by old friend at 16:46 on 28 February 2004
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Thank you Al,
I really don't know what may be involved when one tries to change one's style of writing. I would have thought that the more distinctive one's style becomes then the more difficult it is to change. Of course I understand about changing the genre and of changing the format... but the style?
A very difficult quality to define in the first place unless it is so distinctive - like that of IB. Now don't get your hackles up IB there's a compliment hidden somewhere in there!
I wonder if the challenge of writing in a completely new genre might see a noticeable change of style?
Len
I really don't know what may be involved when one tries to change one's style of writing. I would have thought that the more distinctive one's style becomes then the more difficult it is to change. Of course I understand about changing the genre and of changing the format... but the style?
A very difficult quality to define in the first place unless it is so distinctive - like that of IB. Now don't get your hackles up IB there's a compliment hidden somewhere in there!
I wonder if the challenge of writing in a completely new genre might see a noticeable change of style?
Len
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Dee at 17:03 on 28 February 2004
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Hmmm… this is interesting.
I’ve already said somewhere – might even be on this thread – that I’ve got four romance novels in various stages. A while ago I decided that no-one was interested in romance and decided to switch to crime.
I realised that crime writing required a different ‘style’ so, after reading as many books as I could get my hands on, I made a start. I’m now about 60,000 words into it but it’s had to go on the back burner while I concentrate on something else now.
The point I discovered is, that – while it was clearly a different genre and the writing had more poke than my other novels – it was still my own style. The style remains the same but I’m approaching from different angles.
Does that make sense? I’m not explaining it very well because I’m not sure I understand it myself…
Dee
(wish there was a smiley for bemusedly scratching head…)
I’ve already said somewhere – might even be on this thread – that I’ve got four romance novels in various stages. A while ago I decided that no-one was interested in romance and decided to switch to crime.
I realised that crime writing required a different ‘style’ so, after reading as many books as I could get my hands on, I made a start. I’m now about 60,000 words into it but it’s had to go on the back burner while I concentrate on something else now.
The point I discovered is, that – while it was clearly a different genre and the writing had more poke than my other novels – it was still my own style. The style remains the same but I’m approaching from different angles.
Does that make sense? I’m not explaining it very well because I’m not sure I understand it myself…
Dee
(wish there was a smiley for bemusedly scratching head…)
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Friday at 17:12 on 28 February 2004
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I feel that ‘Style’ is you. In your bones. Not something you create but something that appears on the page.
Dawn,
Dawn,
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Becca at 17:51 on 28 February 2004
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I'm with Dawn on this, except to say that your own style developes/matures over time.
Becca.
Becca.
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Jumbo at 10:45 on 29 February 2004
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Perhaps we shouldn't confuse 'style' with 'genre'.
We may have a preferred genre that we like to read - and maybe even write - as in Dee's Romance as opposed to Crime - but I think the way in which we write - our own personal style - will cut across those genres.
John
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Al T at 13:58 on 29 February 2004
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Hi John, on the question of genre influencing style (or not) take a look at Scarlett Thomas's piece on how chicklit authors are treated:
http://www.bookgirl.org/chick.htm
Al
http://www.bookgirl.org/chick.htm
Al
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Becca at 14:23 on 29 February 2004
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Interesting article, Al.
Becca.
Becca.
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Re: unconventional writing formats
by Jumbo at 17:39 on 29 February 2004
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Yes, Al ....
Perhaps the article should be compulsory reading for all aspiring authors. It certainly provides an interesting discussion and description on how one section of the publishing industry operates!
John
Perhaps the article should be compulsory reading for all aspiring authors. It certainly provides an interesting discussion and description on how one section of the publishing industry operates!
John
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