I’ve been getting this question quite a bit lately. I guess it’s a bit boggling to the mind to think about the queries agents receive and to contemplate the authors behind them, and the sheer number of people out there working on books.
Are there really 15,000+ people a year querying agents? Are there really that many novels and memoirs and self-help books and alien encounters of the dubious kind? There are really that many people writing books? Really?
There’s only one way to answer this question: yes, there are. There really are.
But there’s a Part II to the answer, which is, as Kristin Nelson recently wrote: don’t worry about those other books out there.
It’s so tempting to feel as if your books is in competition with all of those other books on submission, not to mention the ones coming out by already-popular authors, and to be bogged down by the sheer impossible odds of it all. It’s temping to want someone else’s success story to be yours and to measure whatever success you’ve achieved against someone who has “made it.”
Don’t do it. The only person you’re in competition with is yourself. You can’t control how many people are out there, how many queries agents are getting, how many celebrities are writing books, etc. etc.
All you can control is your own work. Focus on that. The odds are just numbers. Don’t let them get you down.
Krista V. says
Of course, how do we know it's not just 5 people querying 3,000 manuscripts apiece (and all under different pseudonyms)? 🙂
Joanna St. James says
ha ha Krista, 15000 queries does not seem a lot compared to the world's literate population.
Phil says
Excellent advice, Nathan, and really, if you're writing for the sole reason of being published, then you're in for a tough time regardless. Anybody who quits writing because they think the odds of their getting published are too high probably wasn't that passionate or dedicated to begin with.
My creative writing teacher in college said on our first day, 'If you can do anything else other than write, do that.' I thought it was harsh at the time, but see now that really, the only people brave/foolish enough to commit to the long haul are the ones who love writing too damn much to quit.
Steppe says
I almost got first comment on this because my other post on the Beatles controversy got zapped by your super-user privileges as editor.
This is the crux of it all no?
It is all about the power of the story and the amount of craftsmanship applied to it's execution. I'm satisfied with my storytelling but willingly improving my craftsmanship and execution in service to the storytelling. Most books are retreads.
The stories people desperately want to read always end up encoded in subsidiary works because telling the whole story is as difficult as writing The Odyssey and Wuthering Heights simultaneously plus throwing in six million zombies. As Tony Soprano would say to his cohorts every other episode: "fuhgeddaboudit"
At least until my skills improve/
Looking for the official spelling? Forget about it.
Consensus is definitely for "fuhgeddaboudit." But at least 53 different spellings can be found on the web. As of December 2004, here are the top ten…
spelling — (google hits) — (nytimes.com hits)
fuhgeddaboudit (82200) (20)
fuggedaboudit (6760) (14)
fuggedaboutit (6040) (4)
fuhgeddaboutit (5770) (35)
fuggetaboutit (3760) (0)
fuhgetaboutit (3430) (2)
fuhgedaboudit (2530) (8)
fahgetaboutit (2470) (0)
fugedaboudit (2240) (0)
fugetaboutit (2010) (0)
Geoff says
Great reminder, Nathan. Thank you for sharing.
Remilda Graystone says
Loved this post. So true. I also read somewhere that there really is no competition between books because, as a reader, you don't have to choose between two books. You can get both–or all twenty. It's not an either/or thing.
Remilda Graystone says
Er, my first comment was a bit confusing, but I still hope people get the gist of it.
Rachael Harrie says
Great advice Nathan. And once you stop worrying about what all the other writers out there are doing, you free up heaps of extra energy to focus on your own writing and on making it better. I've always approached my own writing with the philosophy that I'm in competition with myself rather than anyone else – in other words, every time I write, I need to improve on my previous writing pieces…
Mira says
I so agree with this post! You really are only in competition with yourself, because if you write a killer book, people will want to read it. No matter how many other books they also want to read.
It's not like people say to themselves "Oh, no. I won't read Harry Potter, because I'm busy reading the Da Vinci Code." No, they say, "I need something new to read once I'm done with the Da Vinci Code. Heard that Potter book is good."
Like most everyone, I have my days of failing courage and jealousy of other writers. But I try to keep two things in mind. The first is the more good books people read, the more good books they want to read. A good book will leave the reader wanting more, more, more. So, that's good for everyone.
Also, I love to read good books. Love it. I'm not just a writer, I'm a reader. In fact, I'm a reader first. So, bring on the great books. The more the merrier. I'll read them, love them, learn from them. They'll enhance my writing, and my life.
So, the more the merrier! I can't always remember that, but when I can, I feel much better.
And the last point – every piece of writing, even when it's derivitive, is unique. No one can write the books you write. No one. Not a single person on earth. So, no one can really compete with you, because you're product is one of a kind.
Phew. I went on a typing flurry here. :p
Thanks for the post and the encouragement, Nathan! 🙂
Brown Bear says
Oh thank you for the post!!!
This did always cross my mind. You're words of encouragement put me at ease.
LTM says
wow–thx, Nathan! I was actually struggling w/this very problem and telling myself your very words. Natch it works better when hearing it from a "pro"~ ;p
M.A.Leslie says
I don't disagree with you in any way Nathan, but like you have said in the recent past. We are dreamers. It is really, really, really hard to keep those thoughts out of my head. I try but by nature I am an extremely competitive person. I'll just have to do like you said and face off with that guy in the mirror. As usual, you chimed in with a post when it was needed.
Josin L. McQuein says
15,000? Pfft. That's nothin' Try writing screenplays. The estimate there is 50,000 per year.
See? I just made your job seem easier. 😀
*ducks flying tomatoes, and possibly copies of Jacob Wonderbar*
Anonymous says
Its really difficult to be supportive to other aspiring authors and still not view them as competition. I struggle with that because I know how much I enjoy writing and I appreciate others who share that joy. And when people post cheerful announcements of manuscript requests I grit my teeth and type congratulations. Jealousy is an ugly thing.
Nathan Bransford says
josin-
Ha! True, though I actually get at least 1,000 of those screenplay submissions a year myself even though I don't rep them.
Catherine A. Winn says
I needed to read that. Sometimes thinking about the competition out there is very discouraging. It's nice to be reminded to focus on my own work 😉
Stephanie says
On a day when one could be discouraged…say, because your youngest is home sick with diarrhea and your water company tells you AFTER they've turned the water off, "No water all day for maintenance,"…your post gives me a warm fuzzy inside. Or possibly, I'm getting the crud too.
Either way, you are so supportive. Thanks!
Down the well says
I was in the workshop that Kristin wrote about. It really is daunting to hear that her agency gets over one hundred queries a day — 36,000 a year — and of those they only request about 600 partials. I think the request for fulls is in the double digits.
It's tough.
But instead of thinking about the odds of failing, you put your head down and keep writing. Hard work and perseverance sometimes have a way of making all those scary numbers go away.
Travis Erwin says
I needed to hear that. Thanks.
Sam Hranac says
That was a kind and generous thing to say. Thank you.
Nicole MacDonald says
Focus internally for your own writing and always wish others the best. It's NOT a competition 🙂
http://www.damselinadirtydress.com
patlaff says
Thanks for the salve.
Allison M. Dickson says
I think I might have to somewhat disagree with Mr. Bransford on this. Excellent writers are getting turned away at the gates every day, either by paranoid publishers who won't buy anything that isn't a guaranteed commercial blockbuster, and they'll even buy sub-par writing with commercial concepts, hoping or even counting on the fact that audiences these days are less and less discerning about the quality of writing out there. They tell otherwise great authors, authors who have agents even, that while their work is enjoyable and well-written, it isn't "suited to the market" right now. This translates to: "Your name isn't Stephenie Meyer or Snookie, so we're gonna have to pass."
It isn't enough to be an excellent writer. You have to have your excellent book be deemed suitable for "the market," which as we know is changing daily and is being controlled by an industry that is by and large terrified of those changes and loathe to depart from its wasteful excesses of yesterday.
Not to say that I don't believe in the publishing industry's ability to right itself. But let's not kid ourselves here. If all it took to get published was to write an awesome book and be an amazing writer, well … Twilight. Need I say more?
Allison M. Dickson says
Though I will add that I will not let anything stop me from getting my work published. I believe in it, and I believe it will find an audience and I believe I will only become better the more I continue to write. But I make no illusions about who all the key players are in this fight to the top. And it isn't just me.
Nathan Bransford says
allison-
What I'm saying is that Snooki's book deal does not mean that someone else then doesn't get a book deal. That's not the way it works. The number of books publishers publish, and the number of books readers read is elastic, not static.
It's obviously not endlessly elastic, and there are books that get crowded out and overlooked, but it's completely outside of an author's control.
Rick Daley says
If the odds get you down, don't get mad, get even.
WORD VERIFICATION: lochsi. A Spanish affirmation of a Scottish lake.
Steppe says
@Allison M. Dickson…
That's true but somebody sold The Event to NBC and LOST to ABC so the pendulum is swinging back towards innovation.
Anita Saxena says
This post confirms I'm not crazy, because I stopped worrying about the competition a long time ago. When I was a competitive ice skater, my primary goal was to put out the best program possible. Land my jumps and put my heart and soul into skating the program. The judges will do what they do. There will always be subjectivity. I guess I've taken that mind set with writing. My goal is to write the best book that I can, what happens after that is not in my hands.
swampfox says
I can't imagine a better scenario than to be in competition with yourself. How can you lose?
Phil says
Oh! Reminds me of a favorite saying of mine:
"Strike not when the iron is hot, but make the iron hot by striking."
Perseverance and diligence win out!
Marsha Sigman says
There is room for all of us and everyone has a different voice so how can we be in competition?
If you work hard, and are persistent, then your work will stand out.
And telling myself this over and over is what makes me feel better!
Ian says
@Allison: Well said.
I too must respectfully disagree with Mr. Bransford. I'm agented, and we've been told numerous times by numerous editors that they love the writing, but can't buy it because of some thinly-veiled excuse which really means "We're afraid to take a chance on it." And when I see writers who aren't very good getting deals because they wrote something deemed commercially-viable, how can I help but see them as direct competition?
Clearly, excellent writing isn't good enough in the current publishing climate. You must be commercially-viable first and foremost, and that means a competitive industry where the best commercial manuscript gets the nod, whereas a possibly better-but-risky one gets passed over.
Tina Lynn says
I heart you. In a very, "professional" way. 🙂
The Red Angel says
Wow, this post had a really significant impact on me. I recently just changed my major from Psychology to Journalism after realizing that writing was truly what I wanted to do…not just as a side job, but as a career.
Writing has always been an iffy thing with my family since they think it's an extremely competitive avenue of expression. But I've decided I'd rather be working hard and happy than getting bucks for a job that I dread going to each day. 🙂 Thanks for reassuring me, Nathan.
Honors Code says
Two quotes that I find helpful when the odds start getting to me are:
1."Never tell me the odds!", Ham Solo, The Empire Strikes Back
2."All things being equal, attitude wins. All things NOT being equal, attitude sometimes STILL wins." – Dave Ramsey
J. Stryker says
I agree…time spent worrying is time wasted in all areas of life. I liked Phil's comment from the writing professor. I've tried doing other things and have been miserable. Being miserable is also a waste of time when it's limited by the fact that, last time I checked, I'm moral and the clock is ticking.
P.S. I'm not a fatalist…just a realist.
Joann Swanson says
Between this post and Betsy Lerner's recently updated Forest for the Trees, I feel positively validated!
Marilyn Peake says
Wow, I'm surprised to hear it's only 15,000. Lots of companies and certainly the film business (including the indie film business) which actually has to audition people receive A LOT more applications than that.
J. Stryker says
Haha…had to laugh at myself. I'm mortal. With the t. Should have editted more closely…
Malia Sutton says
What I'd like to know is how many people realize that writing might not be for them after they've pursued it for a length of time?
In other words, I believe everyone has a gift of one kind of another. Everyone! But that doesn't necessarily mean it's writing.
I tried painting; it didn't work. I tried sculpting; it didn't work. I tried a few other things and they didn't work. I moved on and found that I loved working in publishing, and I've been happy.
You have to *love* what you do.
Marilyn Peake says
I agree with Allison and Ian. I know quite a few authors who have received personal emails and phone calls from agents, telling them how wonderful their books are, but how they can't take them on as clients because they're not sure their books would sell enough copies. One of the emails was so full of praise for the book, the author at first thought it was an acceptance letter.
Modern Military Mother says
120,000 books per year published in the UK alone. Brand is everything.
Just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing, the only way is up…..
Mira says
Although I understand that folks may be receiving rejection letters based on the current market, I don't think that contradicts this post at all!
Just because your work isn't being publishing NOW doesn't mean it won't be published at some point. And when it is published, if you have a good product, it will be successful.
Please understand – I'm not defending publishing for tightening up – in fact, with respect, I think they are nuts to push away good authors with self-publishing waiting to welcome those authors with open arms. I'm just saying – look at the big picture.
Options are only going to expand, timing is only going to get better, and if your work is good, it will find a home – maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon.
So, here's looking at us, sweethearts! Ha! Couln't resist. 🙂
Nathan Bransford says
Ian and Marilyn-
Like I said, lists and readership are elastic. Not endlessly so, but the main variable is a publishers' enthusiasm. I don't see how deciding about a project because of lack of commercial viability relates to this post, except in the abstract.
And really, I'm not saying that there's no competition between books period at all period, but rather that you don't have control over it so there's not much sense in worrying about it.
Scott says
It's kind of like playing a good round of golf, Nathan; it's you against the course, everyone else is superfluous.
Liberty Speidel says
I love the quotes that Phil and Honors posted:
Strike not when the iron is hot, but make the iron hot by striking.
and
Never tell me the odds!
Nathan, I think you wrote this at just the right time. Very encouraging. Thank you. I think the intimidation factor (that and trying to have my book just right) has kept me from querying right now. One out of 15,000 seems daunting, and makes me that much more crazy to want to make sure my work is as up to snuff as it can be. I want to impress an agent (maybe you!) with my writing; I don't want to be one more of the idiots pitching their stories who don't know how to craft an artful, intriguing yarn.
Chris says
I needed this today. Badly. Thank you. 🙂
David Klein says
Writers will write whether or not they can get published. But if they want to get published, they are in competition with those 15K and more.
T. Anne says
Thank you for being so encouraging! Each time I sit down to write I put forth my best effort. My dream is very much alive and l look forward to publication. If we don't believe in ourselves the battle is already lost.
Ian says
@David Klein: I agree.
@Nathan: I believe it is a valid consideration. Where's my incentive as a writer to write something off the beaten path when that's not what the publishers are buying? If I want to have a chance at consideration, I have to write what's selling-urban fantasy, for example. Then I'm competing with everyone else submitting urban fantasy. If mine is better, maybe it gets picked up over someone else's. That's what I mean by the industry makes writers compete against one another.