Honest question: have the rules changed regarding pitching novels that are beginnings (or potential starts) to a series? I was always told in the past to leave this unsaid, as a series is always a tricky sell and could potential torpedo the pitch before it has a chance to be read. I wrote the first novel of my UF series as a stand-alone novel that could be read as simply one book (should follow-up efforts be rebuffed), but maybe I should just go ahead and trumpet it as the first book of a six-novel series.
Am I completely off-base here, or did the rules just quietly change while I was busy submitting and being shot down? :P
From what I've seen, Jesse, it's better to say it's standalone with series potential (or something like that...or nothing at all even). Saying it's the first of a six-part series can sound like you're getting ahead of yourself.
(3-5 pages seems good, or about 1 page per 100 manuscript pages)-Thank you for that. I hear so many figures thrown around. I've tried to fit a 900 page book into a one page synopsis. Result: laughable impressionist sidewalk painting in the rain. But 9 pages seems a little much for anyone to read.
And implicit is the idea that 500 pages is more than enough story for one book! ;)
Sigh, what ever happened to the 1000-page novels of my misspent yout'? Does no one buy them anymore? No need for propping up shelves? For stunning oxen?
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Am I completely off-base here, or did the rules just quietly change while I was busy submitting and being shot down? :P
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You could say something like: This is a standalone but has the potential to become a series.
I'd probably leave out the six, though. That might sound overwhelming to some people.
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I especially liked Item 3.
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And implicit is the idea that 500 pages is more than enough story for one book! ;)
Sigh, what ever happened to the 1000-page novels of my misspent yout'? Does no one buy them anymore? No need for propping up shelves? For stunning oxen?
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