Agents and publishers like to say that no one can predict coming trends. I've always thought that wasn't quite true. I knew with no shred of doubt several years ago that epic fantasy would start to become popular again right about now. I said as much in the query letters I sent out to agents at that time, and of course they ignored me.
I told them that the Game of Thrones HBO series and the Hobbit movies would produce a new wave of interest in epic fantasy, and since most of these people would have already purchased Tolkien's books after the LOTR movies came out, they would be looking for something new. I even posted about this at Absolute Write, and several people commented there that there was no way to know whether what I said was going to be true. Hogwash! I knew it absolutely. I knew Peter Jackson wouldn't suddenly lose his deft touch at producing Tolkien properly. I knew that George R.R. Martin loved his story too much to allow it to go forward in a shoddy manner.
So it is very frustrating to see posts by respected agents now, acting surprised that this trend has suddenly arrived. Why does no one ever listen to me!
/end rant
Posts
Cover art for Glen Cook's LIES WEEPING
7 hours ago
The only people they listen to are marketing and accounts. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteBecause they listen to the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteWhere does she act surprised?
ReplyDeleteJoseph, perhaps the wording isn't precise, but to me it's the simple act of writing such a post. Maybe it's not even her so much as the industry suddenly wanting epic fantasy now, though she is one of the agents that I queried along with my predictions. She said my book was 'so close'. If that were really true, I have to wonder why an experienced agent couldn't take me on. Surely if under normal curcumstances a book that is merely close wouldn't be worth it, but when epic fantasy is going to be hitting a new wave, being 'close' should mean it's worth it to work out the few kinks in the manuscript. That's my opinion anyhow.
ReplyDeleteShe does these types of posts every year after her trip to New York. She's even posted two other genres before this one.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's frustrating to see all the agents jumping on the epic bandwagon. there are agents that only accepted urban fantasy, but all of a sudden UF is slowing down and epic is hot and surprise surprise, they're willing to consider epic. I don't query those people because I don't want people that want me only when something is hot. Of course, NLA doesn't fall on that list because they're always accepting epic submissions.
As for "so close," Kristin is an exceptionally polite person. So close = not close enough. While you may wish they had taken the extra steps to work with you (and I certainly make the same wish when they reject my work and offer me a polite reason why), the simple fact is, other people submit and hit the mark. As an agent, you wouldn't accept "so close" either because you know that somewhere in the slush pile there is someone who is closer.
I have the same problem, Ted, no one listens to me either.
ReplyDeleteI told a high profile agent at one of the conferences when he said hard science fiction doesn't sell that I thought it was about ready to make a comeback! Things do seem to go in cycles.
I think these agents just ride the waves and try not to sink. The important thing for writers is to persevere. (and never give up the starship)
Great post, Ted! I can see these trends coming on. The looooong run of vampire books/TV shows/movies, werewolves, demons vs. angels....and on and on. I'm SO SO glad that epic fantasy is back!! :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I worry that it won't stay long, though. I think the YA trend is a mini-tsunami that too many people seem to like for some reason that I can't understand. I hope that someday that recedes and young adults actually start enjoying more adult stories again.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess I missed all the hullabalough. But I believe in you Wizard Ted. Because I so miss epic fantasy :)
ReplyDelete........dhole
Yeah, but isn't it a GOOD thing that you called it first? Now everybody else is going to be scrambling to write LegendSword of the Elf-Castle Prophecy, Volume 1, and here you are with a whole awesome book already finished and ready to go!
ReplyDelete(Apologies if I got that completely wrong, but going by your Authonomy reviews, you seem to have what is called Serious Chops.)
I hoped the same thing when LOTR came out. I love reading and writing epic fantasy and agents and editors told me for years they couldn't sell it. I wish they had listened to you too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tex. I do think I'm getting better, but since I already queried that book to the agents I wanted, I don't want to query them again with it. I have some plans to rewrite some parts of it, but mainly I'm just focusing on my new book. So I missed the very epic fantasy trend that I predicted. :(
ReplyDeleteI'd hire you. *cough*notthatIwritefantasyoranything*cough*
ReplyDeleteGood luck Ted in getting that agent for your book. From what I've read, your epic fantasy is excellent. I just wish you'd catch a break. *hugs.
ReplyDeleteDirty stinking agents. They don't know your talent.
No one listens to me either :/
ReplyDelete