What I have read agents don't want

[Leaf Face]

Agents don't want a journey. Agents dont't want a story that is about a magical object .

What do you want to write about in fantasy that is what you want to read?

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Leaf Face

Agents don't want a journey. Agents dont't want a story that is about a magical object .

Um ... where did you hear this?

[SJAB]

Just spent Easter at a large British Sf and f Convention, and one thing I came away with is that agents and publishers want stories that are well written and add new twists to even the most traditional story. If the writing is strong, story and characters convincing and interesting you have a chance. It is up to you to keep trying.

I heard that agents were not interested in any story that has a character that can either see or predict the future in anyway. Well, I have just had an agent request a full synopsis and sample chapters from one of my efforts that contain such a character. This agent I queried back in November. You just have to have faith in yourself and what you are writing and take the rejections on the chin, they are not personal. What one agent does not like or want another might. Ok, this agent might well read the sample and reject it (actually most likely will) but there is a chance they could request the whole manuscript. (Then reject it )

[WriterDoug]

Agents don't want a journey. Agents dont't want a story that is about a magical object .

pardon me, but would this not rule out a large percentage of the typical or traditional fantasy that is already out on the market?

[Sapheron]

I think that's the point. There's loads of it already, so they're after something else. However, a well written story with a few quirks, even if a stereotypical quest to destroy the one whatever, can still work.

[Rane Longfox]

Originally Posted by WriterDoug

pardon me, but would this not rule out a large percentage of the typical or traditional fantasy that is already out on the market?

Which would be a plausible reason they don't want it anymore.

I suspect it's more to do with the quality of the writing than anything else, though
But it's true that a lot of the new successful authors at the moment are more un-conventional fantasy.

[Fahim]

I'm not sure it's so easy to classify what agents want in terms of plot. It would be much easier to say that agents want something that they think will sell

But as writers, should we really be trying to write something that will sell or something that we personally love? Of course, the best thing would be if we can write something which combines both ...

[Sapheron]

If you personally love it then, unless you are some sort of wierdo, other people probably will to, so it will sell. Of course, no writers about here are wierd in any way, so it's all ok...

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Sapheron

If you personally love it then, unless you are some sort of wierdo, other people probably will to, so it will sell. Of course, no writers about here are wierd in any way, so it's all ok...

I don't know, I've seen some stuff that folks loved that I wouldn't try and sell to professional paper shredder...

[Yunalesca]

Hi guys

Finally decided to join this forum after months of reading it!

Anyway, it seems like every agent is different - what appeals to one might not appeal to another, and everyone seems to have different theories about what the current fashion is.

I think the best thing is to write the story you want to write, and not worry too much about anything else. So long as the story isn't full of cliche, and is well written, then I'm guessing it would stand a chance.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Most writers have more than one idea they would love to write about, more than one plot and set of characters they could fall in love with. Choosing from among those the one that is the most likely to sell makes sense. Writing something you don't really want to write because you think it will sell is a very poor idea.

But I agree with Culhwch: just because you like it doesn't mean it's good or that it will sell. You have to be able to communicate what it is about the story and characters that you love to other readers.

[Michael01]

Originally Posted by Sapheron

Of course, no writers about here are wierd in any way, so it's all ok...

Hah! Speak for yourself. I'm *way* out there.

[dustinzgirl]

You know it doesn't matter what agents or publishers want if your story is poorly written and lacking.

To that point, it doesn't matter whant agents and publishers want if you have a great idea, but you never sat down to write it.

And it certainly doesn't matter what agents and publishers want if you don't want to write what they tell you too write.

Don't write for others. Write for yourself first. Get feedback on grammar (esp commas!) plot, flow, characterization.

But never write only because you want to write for agents and publishers. Always write because it is what you want to do.

[Leaf Face]

Great advice about writing what we want.

I read those things about what agents want off of several agent blogs. I guess the point of my post was to find out what all of you want to write about, what is compelling to each of you, as writers and readers. Specifically, what kinds of stories in fantasy? Good writing, sure, but what kinds of plots do you look for to read or want to write?

[Michael01]

I want to write just about anything I can think of when it comes to fantasy. I'm very interested in genre cross-overs - dark fantasy, science fantasy, superhero fantasy (you name it).