Interview – Fantasy Writer Sarah Monette
Author Speaks on Agents, Getting Published, Writing Schedule
May 16, 2009
Fantasy writer Sarah Monette shared her writing schedule, getting her first novel accepted by a literary agent, and insights for aspiring writers in an interview with Suite101’s Jennifer Jensen.
About Sarah Monette
Award-winning author Sarah Monette has written four fantasy novels, co-authored another, and written numerous short stories and a short story collection. Her “Doctrine of Labyrinths” series began with Melusine and has ended with book four, Corambis, which was just released in April.
Tell Suite About Your First Novel and Your Writing Background.
[My first novel was] Melusine, Ace Books, 2005. When it was accepted (October 2003), I was still working on my Ph.D. in English Literature. I'd published two short stories and one academic article. By the time it was published (August 2005), I'd finished my Ph.D. and published several more short stories.
In more general terms, I'd wanted to be a writer since I was twelve years old and wrote throughout my teens and twenties. I didn't start writing and submitting short stories until 2000.
How Did You Get the Book Accepted for Publication?
I wrote the novel to the utmost best of my ability and submitted it to an agent. He decided to represent me, and that's essentially the end of my personal involvement with the submission process.
Is a Literary Agent Necessary?
I do think an agent is - if not necessary - highly desirable, for a couple reasons. One is that, at least in my corner of publishing, very few publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts. Another is that I don't want to negotiate my own contracts. I'm more than happy to give my agent a percentage in return for doing the scutwork.
How Can a New Writer Find the Right Literary Agent?
Do your homework. Agencies have websites. Many agents these days have blogs. Follow submission guidelines. Be professional and polite. Approach agents whom you know represent books like yours. Also, pay attention to resources like Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors. There are scam artists out there.
A good rule of thumb is that no reputable agent will ask for money up front - or, in fact, will ask you for money at all. Their percentage comes from the contracts they secure for you from publishers.
How Many Drafts Does a Finished Book Usually Require?
Hoo boy. My books seem to need a minimum of four drafts. I keep hoping I'll get better at this whole writing thing and be able to work it down to three drafts, but so far, no luck. The only change has been that I've had to move through the process at a much higher rate of speed to try (and sometimes fail) to meet my deadlines.
Favorite Part of the Writing Process?
My favorite part is the very beginning, when I haven't made any irrevocable decisions yet and I can make up all the crazy and weird stuff that I want. The most challenging part is about two-thirds of the way through the book, which is the point where I have to switch over from mysteries and complications to solutions and resolutions. I'm great at increasing the complexity of a narrative and at posing more and more questions; finding answers is hard.
What is Your Daily Schedule Like?
I don't have much of a schedule--in particular, right now, I'm kind of on vacation while I try to recover from Corambis. I also find that I'm not a writer who works very well to a schedule, either of hours or of number of words. I do better if I break things up into tasks. And each task takes as long as it takes.
What Do You Wish You’d Known When You Started Writing?
I wish I'd known how long it takes me to write a novel. Well, obviously, that's going to vary from novel to novel, but I had to learn the hard way that a year is not enough time, and that was a very painful lesson.
For more from Sarah Monette, read How to Write a Fantasy Novel.
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