In the comments section of last week’s Genre Poll, some people wanted to know more about who exactly is reading this blog anyway. What’s the ratio of published to unpublished, male to female, age, etc.?
So here’s a quick series of polls that will hopefully demystify the demographics. Please click through from e-mail or your blog reader to see the polls.
(the second option in this poll should have read: “Started, haven’t finished”):
Let’s see who’s really out there.
You really do need a "started, haven't finished" question, because even though I've finished one, I have plenty more that I scratched or reworked into shorter pieces, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Interesting to see the demographics here.
You aren't the worst looking guy in the world, which may have a minor affect with the guy/girl ratio.
This could be cleared up pretty quick with the: How many of you want to have my baby? question.
I'm a no, but probably in the minority here. That said, still think you're the bee's knees. cheers
As usual, I fall between the cracks. I clicked four books, but the complete answer is that I've finished two, and have three more in various stages – say 25% – 50% complete.
I'm a Gemini. I don't DO one thing at a time.
I assumed you meant "novels" when asking if published, or agented, or whatnot.
No novels published yet, since I'm still revising my first one (almost there!), but I do have short fiction published. And yes, recently.
loved that last question.
I think what Robert McGuire said sums me up almost perfectly as well:
"After 2 1/2 years I think I'm finally in the gray transition area between "done" and "sending it to agents who will probably tell me I'm not done."
Novice Writer Anonymous!
Though only a lowly male, I have a Masters Degree too. Except it's not worth the paper it's printed on. I know because I tried to sell it. At the pawn shop. No go. They said an MBA, maybe, or a Law Degree… but an MA? No chance. Wouldn't even give me a discount on the old Milli Vanilli record. Now that MA is like a big target around my neck. I fear next week this poll would show even less males, now that we've exposed ourselves. In the immortal words of Dame Agatha, and then there were…
Can you please distinguish the difference between unquestionably, definitely, yes, amen and affirmative?
Is one more emphatic than the other?
Awesome poll Nathan; can't wait to analyze the results.
Wait. That sounded way too dorky.
Ink – Love it! I have an MA too.
I have just about finished one novel (revising). My second novel, which is 75% completed, has a far more interesting "hook", so I plan to query for it (and then mention the other novel after I'm agented). I hope to begin querying by Christmas.
Oh, and I'm a 28-year-old female who writes kidlit.
Here's a category that wasn't included in your tally:
I had a reputable agent for my first novel. She loved the book and worked very hard to place it. In the end, she couldn't and we parted amicably. Could never get another agent to respond to me, let alone even look at it. (No blame there. I've been an editor; I know how impossible it is to deal with mountains of queries.)
In the end, I created a small publishing company of my own to produce/publish it. The book has since won several awards and I have a producer interested in my screenplay adaptation of it.
Given my challenges the first time around, I didn't even bother looking for an agent for my second (unrelated) book. Recently, it won a national award.
Another piece of the poll I had difficulty responding to: I'm working on two books right now — one is in revision, the other is approx 10% into its first draft.
LOL Ink. I know what you mean about the degree not being worth the paper it's printed on. Too funny about the pawn shop.
It's nice to see a breakdown of stats on the readers & voters of this blog. I had guessed that the age demographics were similar to what is showing at 2pm PT.
I agree with other readers that you don't really give us a choice on the last question, but I'm not fond of rhetorical questions. Too often, those type questions seem like a set-up for the reader. (i.e., look at it this way)but it's a ploy used in consumer marketing quite a lot.
Interesting post, Nathan.
I am not a writer or an author.
I am a Linguistical Narrative Semiotician. For reals.
Cool survey, btw. I'm actually surprised at the (like me) agented but unpublished percentage. I thought there would be more, given the state of the industry.
The poll looks great except for, as others have mentioned, lumping "e-published" and "self-published" together. Ouch! It burnssss us! As soon as I stop banging my head on the desk over that question, I will answer the poll. 🙂
Wow. I am so completely average in every aspect for this group. I don't know if that's good or bad.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Finished answering the Poll, although didn’t answer the last question. There was no way to answer "No" for that one. That’s funny.
I'm in the revising stage of my current WIP. Will most likely complete final revision in September or October and will then begin querying … and taking up a new hobby like biting my fingernails.
Thanks, Nathan — I think I was one of the readers who inquired about this after the last poll, so I was interested to see the results. Much appreciated!
Reesha 11:24
It may be the hair, I dont know. Maybe the smile ?
I like this post. No need to pick it apart. It is good general information.
That said, I did not see a "No" answer for that last one for me to pick. heh heh
Loved responding to this poll. And seeing how others responded was a lot of fun. But the poll doesn't account for those of us, like me, who have published in non-fiction genres and are now making a transition to fiction. But I guess that's why comment boxes exist! BTW, I'm about a quarter of the way through my first novel and it's the best adventure I've ever been on.
So many women…so little time.
I was looking for Indubitably as an answer to the last question. Since it isn't there I went win Amen.
Yes! Thank you Nathan…It was me who asked the question on whether you thought more men or women followed your blog.
So, are you surprised by the polls so far?
j.j.-
I'm a little surprised by the gender breakdown, but everything else is about what I would have guessed.
Laura Martone,
Your website captured my intense interest from the moment I first saw it, and I'm so hoping your book gets published. The story idea is fascinating, as are the visuals on your website.
Hey, wait a sec. I wrote, illustrated, and bound a children's book when I was in grade school, then went and read it to a kindergarten class. LOL I was pretty froggy back then, I guess. 🙂 I looked through my writing files and I have three WIPs.
So, I've technically written one book…but that was at age 12. And it was 177 pages mostly handwritten!
Over the second half of my life, I've started five others, two which made it past the first three chapters and one which was 75% done. All of the ideas I hope to revisit someday (including the novel written at 12). My current one I'm desperately hoping I'm able to finish.
How is it I was able to actually finish a novel at 12 and not be able do it at almost 25? 😛
Looooooved the options under rhetorical question. *snort* That was just funny.
Nathan,
I'm not surprised in the least. I'll tell you why too. It's all about you Nathan. You're honest, helpful, and pretty good looking too. Women find that appealing… If you didn't go the extra mile, were full of yourself, and looking like a Basset Hound. I'd don't think you'd be as popular. You've gotta know that. You're in sales…
Congratulations, Hannah! I’ve been waiting for your novel to be published because it sounded so fascinating. When I saw your announcement here today, I immediately ordered a copy of BREAK. I wish you all the best with it! May you sell many copies!
I love you, Marilyn! You're so supportive of everyone here… even buying Hannah's book! It makes me feel warm and fuzzy whenever you comment.
Wow Nathan, you're really pulling in the chicks!
Thank you so much, Laura! You just made my day!
Obviously Nathan, you are a chick magnet. 🙂
Yes! one of the three percent under 18! (actually, I can't believe there are that many).
Comprehensive, thank you – makes one think about one's progression. I did smirk at the nit-picking though; writers do get a grip please, it's a poll.
If in need of a breather, try Bill Hicks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRJhzcj9cpQ
around the 5:20 mark provides a polling joke.
Hey, I'd still adore Nathan if he looked like a Basset Hound – cuz hounds are adorable! With those wubbly droopy ears and cheeks and those soulful eyes …. awwwwww.
Pardon me while I try to give you belly rubs, Nathan… who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? YOU'RE a good boy!
Nathan, thanks for these polls. I always look forward to your posts.
Boy Nathan, I think you opened a can of worms on this one. You might need to hire a body guard or change your name.
Another option you might put up is, "Have any short stories published?" Someone like me might have published shorts, but no agent for our novels yet.
Then again, maybe your lack of interest disproves the common wisdom that shorts help attract agents and publishers for a novel.
Interesting stuff! I feel so normal now.
Don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad to see that handful of under-nineteen blog followers. There'd probably be a lot more so-called prodigies if more young writers got helpful guidance.
72 % unagented… If only someone reading this could do something about such a high number. What do you say, Nathan, how does never sleeping again sound?
anon 3:44
LOL… Well there are a few out there who are dog lovers!
Just now finished reading all the comments. Here’s my story, a somewhat convoluted one …
I’ve written seven novels plus lots of short stories, edited several books and had several lines published in Book: The Sequel.
I wrote four novels, including one through Writer’s Digest Advanced Writing Workshops, before finding any sort of publication. My third and fourth novels were represented for a while by an agent who was later listed as "not recommended" by Writer’s Digest. She seemed nice enough but I chose her before information about agents was so readily available on the Internet as it is today and before Writer’s Digest listed her as "not recommended". She never sold my novels because, as it turned out, she had no relationship with publishing houses. Sigh. Giving up perhaps prematurely on trying to find an agent because I had no idea how to find a good one, I later had my fourth novel and two more novels in its trilogy e-published. From there, I had short stories published in six anthologies, edited and compiled two books of articles about acting and writing, and edited several books by another author. To my complete delight, I’ve now won quite a few awards and was referred to a top Hollywood agent who’s available only through referral. I was thrilled when he read most of my work, told me he thoroughly enjoyed it but was looking for a very particular type of project and would love to hear from me about my future projects. In the meantime, I’ve completed my seventh novel, am in the final revision stage, know much more about how to find a good literary agent, and am really hoping to find a good literary agent to represent it. I’m crossing my fingers that my seventh novel will be the one that finds an agent and gets into bookstores. 🙂
Dear Chick Magnet,
Does the gender poll answer reflect your everyday life?????? lol
I'm with Michele Lee: Published, Unagented, seeking agent Again.
And if you think searching for an agent the first time feels horrible, try doing it the second time. Yikes!
Why didn't the goggle account identity work?
Hey Laura ~ I am totally with you on "this is my first book AND the first one I want to get published."
I've been working on it for two and half years now. I'm on the third draft, but have made so many major changes along the way that it's probably more like Version 12.8 or something like that.
I don't want this to be my practice novel. Practice drafts, yes, but what the heck would I do this for if I expected it to be worthless in the end?
I'm curious.
How many of us read the last questions a couple of times before "getting" it?
Me: 3
So I'm dense. sue me.
Dear Chick Magnet,
Does the gender poll answer reflect your everyday life?????? lol
I'm with Michele Lee: Published, Unagented, seeking agent Again.
And if you think searching for an agent the first time feels horrible, try doing it the second time. Yikes!
Marilyn, seven is the magic number!
Nathan, those who wrote mentioning finding their own publisher reminded me of something I wanted to ask. Say a person succeeds at selling a novel directly to a publisher but still wants an agent to handle the contract. Is it crazy to then re-submit that sold novel to an agent that earlier turned it down, if the author still feels that particular agent is Miss/Mr./Ms./Mrs./Sahib/Doctor Right?