That’s it—that’s all that is read when determining whether a novel or nonfiction manuscript is worth representing or even publishing in the traditional way. Please and thank you, but only the first ten pages.
If you can keep the literary agent turning the page, they deem your writing worthy of representation; if not, next.
The idea that any book’s first ten pages quantify it is frightening. How about if it’s a slow start? How about if the characters or idea isn’t worked out? This concept is intimidating and cuts to the chase. If your story isn’t captivating enough, then you start again?
I’ve always thought that to be harsh, but imagine it’s to not waste anyone’s time. Show me what you got, kinda mentality? It’s all incredibly subjective.
But isn’t most art subjective? We don’t all like the same things, listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, have the same style, or read the same books.
I often wonder how many good books have been tossed aside because the “agent” wasn’t captivated by the first ten pages. How many talented artists have not gotten a fair chance because the “agent” didn’t deem them commercial enough, marketable, or fit into the perfect Public Relations box?
Who’s your audience? What’s your niche? How do you see yourself marketing the book? How’s your presence on social media? Are you active? How’s your engagement? The peppering of these questions so that the “agent” can do their job for you? It seems to me that the “talent” has to lay the foundation first…backwards, right?
So here’s the skinny, this is why so many “independent” artists exist. They have decided to take matters into their own hands since that’s where it all starts. The writer, singer, performer, arranger, painter, designer, actor, producer, and screenwriter have decided to create their own projects in hopes that the masses will notice.
Self-publishing, hybrid publishing, indie films, black box theaters, original artwork, and more are all creating an objective art experience—art for all, not for the one who sits behind a desk and decides what’s good enough for the masses.
Art is breath. Art is freedom. Art is poetry. Art is color.
Art is more than the first ten pages.
Art is subjective. Art is objective.
If you are an indepedent artist, you have the greatest gift of all…autonomy!
Your work belongs to you, and you choose to share it with us in its’ purest form, not some sterile, manufactured form, but the purest and rawest form…that is call…
Freedom.
4 responses to “First Ten Pages…”
That part !!!
Art is life !!!
BRAVO!!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
At last!!!! Someone writes the truth!!!
OH! Do I want to catch up with you!!☺️
Toni
Thank you for this. I hope you might consider writing a part II. Specifically, the challenges that come with all this freedom and autonomy. The artist wants to do art for art sake, not for the publishers sake. Grant it. But an artist might want to keep their day gig because when an artist now has to become the brand manager, the promotional strategist, the agent, the graphic designer, etc…they are distracted from doing the art. Most of these new responsibilities have everything to do with making the art a viable source of income to sustain one’s self or family. I love the independent/autonomous life. I feel that way because I have a day gig. In my case, a dual vocation. I can do art for art’s sake, not for food/rent sake. But for those that can’t, or won’t, they’re trying to get those first 10 pages right for the publisher. What a pickle. Say more about this from your own personal context. What things are in place for you that allow you to speak so passionately about the gift of independence and autonomy? What things are not in place…that allow you still to speak so passionately about independence and autonomy?
Thank you for this…i so appreciate the feedback…
And I will…