My question: how do you escape?

Joking. I've been loving it since I decided to stop messing around, waiting for that oh so elusive inspiration and donning my gladiator suit every morning to fight in that arena. I actually sort of feel like a writer. That is, except on days when I get rejection slips, at which point I think of myself as a hack who should get out of the game. Of course, the next batch of queries goes out the next day.

I have a nice collection of rejection slips

Anyways, I've set my goals high for my first true foray in novel writing, and decided to commit a *gasp* series of 6 books, each book with its own arc and ending, and an overall arc and ending.

Here is the long-awaited question, thank you for your patience and not falling asleep. I promise my writing is not as long-winded and does not take forever to get to the point, like this note, which feels like my writing journal (and that is illegible)

so.

I've written 3 of the books. (3rd book is only in first draft, and I wouldn't show it to a monkey, but you get the point.)

Should I tell the agent in my query that this book is the first in a series, or just try and sell it as one book and worry about the others when I have my foot in the door?

thanks for your incredible patience (those of you who aren't already asleep.)

As far as having multiple books in a series, what I've heard is that it differs for genres. Someone else will know with more certainty, but I think that if the book stands alone, that you should present it as a solo piece, and then mention, casually, that there are five other books set in the same mileau.

There was a discussion about this a month or so ago, you might try searching the archives to see what you can fine.

I have read that it's best to simply submit the one, and wait until negotiation to mention that you have a series. BUT I don't even have my first rejection slip yet, so take what I say with a fatty grain of salt.

How's that for wordy!!

My escape comment meant that there are days I wish I didn't NEED to write, because it's hard, its frustrating, yes it's fun, but wow.

That said, I wouldn't give that passion up for anything.

As for the books. Basically there is a vilain (although at times you wonder if it really IS a vilain of if the hero is just more or less stuck having to fight somone doing essentialy good things, just the wrong way.) and there is an overall vilain (same comment as above) who is pulling the strings, actually for a good cause (to save the world) but is doing it, again, the wrong way.

Was that even clear?

Anyways, it is the same hero, struggling to understand exactly who and why he is being manipulated, But each book has a self-contained plot. Each novel, I guess, is a complete subplot for the overall plot of the series.

Although each COULD be read independently (though it gets harder to understand of course) even book 1 leaves a big gaping opening and a big unsolved mystery at the end (near the final scene, one of the main "vilains" says somthing to the extent: there is more work to be done.

Does this help?

On the note of "prequel". The problem with the overall arc of the series(?) saga(?) or set of books however you want to call it, is that a major event happens in Book 1 that influences all following books. In fact, it introduces (CREATES) a new character who has a major impact, and whose presence needs to be explained.

I guess I will just mention I have more books coming with the same characters. I have heard that agents/publishers like to know the author they are investing in has more than one book in them. I just wasn't sure how to present the fact that I do not only have a couple more books in me, but a whole load of them.