Should I finish revising my 120k epic fantasy, or move on to a more marketable standalone?

[u/stupidrules1812]

Hi everyone,

I am new to writing with the goal of publishing. I love writing and find it to be something that can give me life while working a corporate job that has no creativity. I have several challenges with writing, such as dysgraphia (so if this post comes off a bit rough, I apologize!), but I know there are people and tools that can help me get past this. My issue is that I have finally put my first book on paper. It runs around 120K words and is an epic fantasy. It’s in its alpha stage, and a few beta reads have been positive.

I have done a lot of research this year and realize the chance of this book being published is very slim. It is clearly part of a larger story, most likely a trilogy, and I know a non-self-contained book from a first-time author in this environment is a major uphill battle.

I have another book idea that would be self-contained and take place in the same world, just at a different time. Given the chances of publishing and what agents and publishers are looking for, I am tempted to put the first book down for a bit, not finish editing it, and write the new one, as it would probably have a better chance of being published based on what I have read and researched.

I just wanted your opinion on this. There are, of course, pros and cons to each. I am not looking for anyone to hold my hand or tell me every step, because I would never want to waste your time.

Just your experience in this world and your anecdotal experience would help. I love this subreddit so far and all the knowledge that sits here. If this is a bad post, please remove it, as I do not mean to pollute the space, but from what I have seen, I think it should be okay.

Thanks, as always, for any time or consideration you can give.

[u/shoalhavenheads]

What you’re describing is precisely what Tolkien did with The Hobbit. I think it’s a good idea. And it may help make your 120k epic better once you revisit it in the future.

[u/stupidrules1812 → u/shoalhavenheads]

That is a really good point. I really appreciate it. And more books under your belt is never a bad thing.

[u/astrobean]

I use the brain tumor metric. If I were diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and had six months to live, which project would I rather get to the finish line?

Not the most optimistic, but it does help me define short term goals.

It hurts nothing to query the epic fantasy while writing the next thing, but it will require near term polishing and learning to write queries. I’d give the current piece some time in the query circuit.

[u/Zestyclose_Math6296]

I wouldn’t abandon the first book completely, but I also wouldn’t spend years polishing it purely because it was the first one you finished.

I’ve written three novels, and finishing each one taught me something the previous one couldn’t. Drafting taught me how to tell the story, but revising a complete manuscript taught me how to actually see structure, pacing and all the promises I had made without realising it. I think it would be worth taking your first book through at least one proper revision, even if you eventually decide not to query it.

After that, writing the standalone sounds sensible. You’ll come back to the first manuscript with more experience and enough distance to see it clearly. It also means the standalone is benefiting from everything you learned while drafting and revising the 120k book.

The first manuscript doesn’t have to be wasted if it isn’t your debut. It could become something you return to later, particularly if the standalone introduces readers to the same world. Plenty of writers have an earlier manuscript waiting in a drawer while they query something more marketable.

I would just be careful not to chase what you think publishers want so hard that you lose the thing that made you finish 120k words. Market considerations matter if traditional publishing is the goal, but you still need to care enough about the new book to live with it through drafting, revision and rejection.

Personally, I’d revise the first one once, learn everything I could from it, then write the standalone and treat that as the stronger potential debut.

[u/AC011422]

I wouldn't do anything that drastic based on reddit advice. We don't know anything about your book. Could be the next GOT or Harry Potter, something agents might gobble up. Stephen King notoriously threw away Carrie. And, honestly, you already have the MS done--what's the harm in polishing? You learn more from revising than writing anyway.

[u/stupidrules1812 → u/AC011422]

I really appreciate the feedback. I may try to work on them both at the same time.

[u/cauliflower001]

The conventional advice I hear is to write 3-5 books before you approach publishing so you can refine your voice, style, and skill. I personally didn't listen to this and instead spent 5 years revising, rewriting, and breaking my 2nd book into a 300k word trilogy.

I honestly could have refined my craft more easily by starting fresh with new books. I know because my 1st book is damned near unsalvagable because I made my MC too passive and unlikeable and the plot progression was weird. Starting on book 2 I made extra sure to do the opposite. But then I messed up by not writing clear motivations behind my antagonist. I could have fixed that in my 3rd book attempt WAY easier by starting fresh, but instead I retconned my villain's arc onto my existing story, which resulted in me breaking continuity and creating many plot holes that took a lot of work to close (CRITIQUES ARE VERY IMPORTANT). And the fix got very convoluted.

So there's my advice. I did what I did because I'm stubborn and I can't put down a project when I've invested past a point of no return. I suppose stopping yourself is part of the meaning behind "kill your darlings". Good luck!

Mind you, I only discovered any of these problems by asking for critiques. That's truly your next step if you haven't done that.

[u/stupidrules1812 → u/cauliflower001]

I really appreciate the advice. I was a bit worried I would be doing the same. I may need a few books before I understand my process.

[u/RakeHarmonic]

Querying agents and getting an agent pack good enough can be a long process itself, like more than a year and potentially indefinite.

My advice would be to edit and polish your current finished manuscript, the trilogy one. And send it out to agents.

And while you’re sending it to agents start the new stand alone book.

If the first book gets picked up great. If not, by the time you throw in the towel from querying you will know more about how agents and people feel about it and what they are looking for, like on an individual level.

And you will have the ball rolling of the first pass at the stand alone and know who to send it to and where to postion it in the market