Saleable Writing: The "Male Ennui" Novel
Okay, so I was checking out the quite-informative blog of Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent and he was talking about how many Query Letters (letters asking him to take a look at the author's novel, and represent them) he gets per week, and the basic breakdown of how good and/or bad they tend to be.
Poor guy. He does get some doozies, especially since he blogs.
I won't repeat the stats, click the link if you're interested. Anyway, apparently, he got 4 proposals for what he called "Male Ennui" novels.
I read the linked post regarding this type of novel, because my work does have a fair dose of that in the beginning. Granted, it develops rather quickly into a Hiaasen-esque nutty adventure, chock full of crazy-enough-to-be-true characters and situations no man could ever foresee getting into, but still... you must remember, that if I am to 1.) get an agent and 2.) sell my novel eventually, people are going to request the first 3 chapters as an example of my book, the plot, and my writing prowess.
Note that this makes me nervous.
I mean, the whole book isn't like that, really. I don't fall into *quite* the stereotype than Bransford describes. I mean, my female lead isn't that much younger than my male lead, if at all. (As in, I haven't given her an age number yet.) Also, while the book does include a crazy road trip, it's one based on kidnapping, bounty hunters, a crazy over-the-top race team owner, and half-a-dozen rabid UNC Tarheels fans. So, the book en toto I'm not overly concerned about people judging or trying to genre-pigeonhole.
I just have to hope, and edit that first 3 chapters such that "Male Ennui" isn't the prime message or feeling being taken away from the text. Instead, I am tasked with, apparently, making the first 3 chapters exciting, interesting, surprising, or at the least less depressing.
I guess, in retrospect, this is a good thing: It's going to make me a better writer, and my book a better read. (If anyone ever gets to, that is.)
Poor guy. He does get some doozies, especially since he blogs.
I won't repeat the stats, click the link if you're interested. Anyway, apparently, he got 4 proposals for what he called "Male Ennui" novels.
I read the linked post regarding this type of novel, because my work does have a fair dose of that in the beginning. Granted, it develops rather quickly into a Hiaasen-esque nutty adventure, chock full of crazy-enough-to-be-true characters and situations no man could ever foresee getting into, but still... you must remember, that if I am to 1.) get an agent and 2.) sell my novel eventually, people are going to request the first 3 chapters as an example of my book, the plot, and my writing prowess.
Note that this makes me nervous.
I mean, the whole book isn't like that, really. I don't fall into *quite* the stereotype than Bransford describes. I mean, my female lead isn't that much younger than my male lead, if at all. (As in, I haven't given her an age number yet.) Also, while the book does include a crazy road trip, it's one based on kidnapping, bounty hunters, a crazy over-the-top race team owner, and half-a-dozen rabid UNC Tarheels fans. So, the book en toto I'm not overly concerned about people judging or trying to genre-pigeonhole.
I just have to hope, and edit that first 3 chapters such that "Male Ennui" isn't the prime message or feeling being taken away from the text. Instead, I am tasked with, apparently, making the first 3 chapters exciting, interesting, surprising, or at the least less depressing.
I guess, in retrospect, this is a good thing: It's going to make me a better writer, and my book a better read. (If anyone ever gets to, that is.)