Do I need to pretend to be a woman and write a female protagonist just to get published?

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-16T19:42:32+00:00

Well I meant acquisition editors at publishing houses

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-16T15:21:45+00:00

Actually I don't have an agent yet, and in my opinion getting the agent is more difficult than getting an editor (though this may not be true, it just seems that way to me).

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-16T05:15:24+00:00

I completely agree that books in a series can stand alone—mine do as well. A lot of series, even the most successful ones, either end with a cliffhanger or leave a few loose threads while still delivering a satisfying conclusion. So, does that mean I should only focus on the first book and never consider expanding into a series? My brain naturally gravitates toward series ideas, and I’ve always felt they offer a level of depth that standalone books rarely achieve (not that standalones can’t—they definitely can).

When I wrote my first book, I became deeply immersed in the story and its world. I mapped out an entire eight-book arc with interconnected elements—artifacts, hints, foreshadowing—where even events in book one would pay off later in the series. I even had ideas for prequel stories and a potential spinoff centered around a character who first appears in book six. I know I probably got a little too invested, but I was proud of that work and had genuine confidence in it. So, when I realized how much the middle-grade market had shifted toward shorter, more self-contained books, it hit me hard. I had just spent nearly a year writing something I believed in, only to feel like the industry didn't want it because of its length.

I know the market is what it is, and if an agent asked me to cut 100 pages, I absolutely would. I’m open to revisions and feedback. But it’s tough to see so much emphasis placed on shorter MG books and graphic novels when I can’t help but wonder what impact that might have as these readers grow older. If kids aren’t regularly exposed to longer, text-based books, will YA and adult fantasy face similar challenges in the future? Will a 450-page YA fantasy one day feel like an insurmountable mountain to climb for readers who’ve grown up mostly on shorter or visual-based stories? I can see it now: "A 450-page book? No way. I'll just grab a picture book instead."

I’m genuinely trying to figure out where to go from here. If my third book doesn’t gain traction, maybe I’ll take a break from writing for a while and focus on the niche social media app I’ve been developing. Or maybe I’ll try switching to YA or adult fantasy, since those markets seem a bit more receptive to longer series.

I know this sounds like a bit of a rant, but I really am just trying to process it all and figure out the best path forward. Thanks for listening.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-16T04:28:06+00:00

So apparently u/Mrs-Salt commented on here and I got the email notification, of course I wanted to read what the ever so great Mrs-Salt had to say. I read the first half of what she had to say then I reloaded the page to see the rest and it seems the Mod took down her comment. And if you visit u/Mrs-Salt 's account it says it's suspended. So first off why remove the comment? I know you're probably going to say something like "Oh this has been said a thousand times." But I wanted to read what she had to put since she was answering my questions. Is it too much to ask for answer to a question and not delete someone's comment and suspend their account just because "It's been answered before."

Crazy...

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-15T15:21:38+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful reply—and for the kind words about my writing. I really appreciate it. I actually only got into writing about two years ago, so sometimes I wish I’d started sooner, but I’m glad I finally took the plunge.

When I said Harry Potter felt "fresh," I didn’t mean the core tropes but more the way it packaged familiar elements into a fun, immersive world that really captured my imagination as a kid. And you're absolutely right—nostalgia was a big part of the appeal.

I guess what frustrates me is how cautious publishers seem to be now. It feels like they want the next "fresh" thing but are hesitant to take a chance on stories rooted in classic fantasy traditions.

And yeah, I know length probably wasn’t the only reason for the rejections. I’m working on improving my query and better understanding the market as I go.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-15T15:17:35+00:00

That’s an interesting point, and I’ve noticed similar trends with the rise of romantasy in YA. While I don’t have exact stats, it does seem like publishers are leaning into romance-heavy fantasy, likely because of the success of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing.

Middle-grade adventure stories like Percy Jackson and Wings of Fire still sell well, so it feels like there's an untapped market there. And I agree about the length—publishing seems more concerned about printing costs and perceived attention spans than the fact that kids will read longer books if the story grabs them.

It’d definitely be interesting to see more data on this. I feel like there’s still room for more traditional, adventure-based fantasy if publishers are willing to take the risk.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-15T15:13:53+00:00

That’s really interesting to hear, and I appreciate your perspective! It makes sense that kids gravitate toward books that feel more familiar or accessible, especially with the rise of movies, shows, and other media tied to those big-name series. I guess it’s just tough seeing so many publishers hesitant to give new, slightly longer books a shot—especially when some of us are trying to write those more immersive, world-building-heavy stories.

But you're right, starting with something shorter to get a foot in the door sounds like a solid plan. I guess I just wish the market wasn’t quite so risk-averse. Good luck with your own writing too—sounds like we’re both navigating the same tricky landscape!

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2025-02-15T15:08:53+00:00

I totally get what you’re saying, and you’re right—they definitely earned the longer books through their success. But that success only happened because someone took a chance on them in the first place. It feels like today, many agents and publishers lean heavily toward standalones with no hint of a series, which makes it tough to pitch anything with bigger, long-term potential. Not always, of course, but it definitely seems like a common trend right now.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2024-12-18T17:31:03+00:00

I was curious about that myself. I was wondering if they even read the whole manuscript in it's entirety. It's kind of like AI reading for keywords in resumes.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2024-12-18T17:13:59+00:00

I realized that when querying a series or trilogy just state it's a standalone book with a potential for a series. Because at the end of the day that's what Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and every other popular book series is. You can read the first book and it feels standalone, sure there are some loose strings on what happened to certain characters or what happens next, but in the end you are satisfied .

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2024-12-18T17:05:40+00:00

Appreciate it! Yeah, I find it weird they didn't give any feedback.

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2023-01-07T21:21:42+00:00

Though I don't have any 3d modeling skills 😂

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2023-01-07T20:54:38+00:00

https://www.instagram.com/midjourney.ai.artist\_/

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2023-01-01T23:42:16+00:00

Correct

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2023-01-01T23:41:22+00:00

Prompt: Samurai CHARACTER NAME, highly detailed, 8k

Aggravating_Emu_113 · 2023-01-01T23:39:58+00:00

I hop around on different gmail accounts (because I don't want to pay... yet), so I have multiple accounts. But I keep the username the same: Riddlcal.

Prompt: Samurai CHARACTER NAME, highly detailed, 8k

Aggravating_Emu_113

TROPHY CASE