tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post1014974614868631347..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: She said no before but now said yes in a Twitter pitch festJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25172589077760277242017-05-01T14:10:00.277-04:002017-05-01T14:10:00.277-04:00As always, thank you for your help, Janet. I'v...As always, thank you for your help, Janet. I've taken your advice and will let you know how it shakes out. Lochlan Sudarshanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03697644532532339204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81972519503852758162017-04-29T00:55:20.906-04:002017-04-29T00:55:20.906-04:00Cecilia(and other Reiders)-feel free to reach out ...Cecilia(and other Reiders)-feel free to reach out if ever you need someone to chat about imposter syndrome! (click on my name here and you'll find my info quick enough) Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67896909073855312042017-04-29T00:41:43.597-04:002017-04-29T00:41:43.597-04:00Love you guys. Love you guys. Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799056302050264129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46073975393517029242017-04-28T23:34:28.151-04:002017-04-28T23:34:28.151-04:00Cecilia said:
I've had to delete countless pos...<b>Cecilia</b> said:<br /><i>I've had to delete countless posts for fear that someone will point out the grammatical errors and nonsensical comments. </i><br /><br /><br />Don't ever worry about that.<br />People are not allowed to comment on the spelling or grammar of the commenters. Mine is fair game (and thanks to all of you who help me keep this as typo free as possible) but NOT in the comments section. I've always thought those kinds of comments were snide at best, and blatantly hostile more often.<br /><br />I appreciate people taking care with what they say, but don't worry about that kind of attack here.<br /><br />Also, I'm at Malice, and guess what we were discussing? Yup. The canon.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36425315392524687962017-04-28T23:10:13.157-04:002017-04-28T23:10:13.157-04:00Mi HerminitaCecelia Ortiz Luna:
Currently I speak...<i>Mi Herminita</i><b>Cecelia Ortiz Luna:</b><br /><br />Currently I speak Floridian. It is not my first language either. One of my previous ones was Arizonian. Neither of those are really English. It is the brain behind language that creates great writing.<br /><br />That you delete comments to get your point across better means that you have care with what you wish to say. That is what makes you a better writer. The ability to consider the words you are writing. The devil is in the details and to consider even your comments means only that your writing means something to you.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64303427808270234042017-04-28T22:37:43.548-04:002017-04-28T22:37:43.548-04:00Thanks, Gypmar!
Colin, truer words were never spo...Thanks, Gypmar!<br /><br />Colin, truer words were never spoken. Er, written.<br /><br /><br />Comforting to know that when Janet yells at me for being off topic (after she JUST warned us), at least I'll be in good company . . . dragging you all down with me . . . <br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24976858837738981402017-04-28T21:12:32.075-04:002017-04-28T21:12:32.075-04:00kd james -
Your story made me smile! I had a sim...kd james - <br /><br />Your story made me smile! I had a similar experience prowling the aisles of Powell's bookstore. I stumbled across two books of historical paper dolls, the same ones I had played with when I was a kid shipped out to my Grandma Toni's house in Las Vegas for the summer by my single mom. I thought I would die.<br /><br />Colin-<br /><br />I couldn't agree more! What better than to leave a reader with a lasting memory.Gypmarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023108950501721303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2385382935545533062017-04-28T20:40:45.113-04:002017-04-28T20:40:45.113-04:00kd: I can think of only one thing better than owni...<b>kd</b>: I can think of only one thing better than owning a book like that: being the author of a book like that. How awesome to know your work is still giving that much joy. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42295475682716176422017-04-28T20:37:34.103-04:002017-04-28T20:37:34.103-04:00Lennon, my sisters and I just spent a good half ho...Lennon, my sisters and I just spent a good half hour texting our favourite lines back and forth to each other, from memory. It was awesome. :) <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75974104247349032432017-04-28T20:34:36.649-04:002017-04-28T20:34:36.649-04:00Cecilia, you know what I think when I see typos or...Cecilia, you know what I think when I see typos or even unusual sentence structure? I assume it's either auto-correct having a field day or that someone is commenting from their tiny little phone screen, something I'd never be able to do, or that someone is simply in a hurry. I have never once thought, geez, that person can't even do words right.<br /><br />Don't be so hard on yourself.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70112959922846482902017-04-28T20:22:19.824-04:002017-04-28T20:22:19.824-04:00Cecilia - I am amazed that English is not your fir...<b>Cecilia</b> - I am amazed that English is not your first language. It IS mine, and of course I have a glaring typo in my comment! <br /><br /><b>kdjames</b>, I will have to check that out. Sometimes I replace words in books (like, 'chickens' for 'puppies' in 101 Dalmations) and my kids just lose it laughing. And, isn't it the best feeling, rediscovering treasures like that from your childhood?! Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53898353239100133252017-04-28T17:57:57.310-04:002017-04-28T17:57:57.310-04:00OP, congratulations on the second chance! I love i...OP, congratulations on the second chance! I love it that Janet even gives the wording on how to phrase your response. Good luck!<br /><br />This is for anyone reading along who thinks they aren't "literary" enough or "knowledgeable" enough to be called a writer because they haven't read "canon" extensively. To which I say, PFFFFT. Of course you're a writer, and likely a damn good one if you hang out here. <br /><br />My favourite book of ALL TIME, the one I would read over and over again, the one I would have read to my kids if I still had a copy, is a silly children's book. No, I don't write in that genre. It had an enormous impact on me, on my concept of books as entertainment, on my view of language and words as something to play with. <br /><br />I'm not sure I even remember the correct title. The Crazy Mixed Up Story? The Funny Mixed Up Story? It's about a boy who sneaks out of his house to eavesdrop on the bears [OMG, BEARS] in the forest, and then they discover him and he runs back home where his mother listens skeptically to his story and gives him a bath and sends him to bed. What makes the book special is that there are blank lines where a couple dozen nouns should be. There was a separate page in the book with all the missing words and you cut them out, put them in an envelope, and picked one when you got to a blank. So every time you read it, the story was (hilariously) different. My favourite substitution was for the last line (not verbatim): "His mother didn't believe him. If you don't believe him, he says to tell you you're a [bathmat]." My sisters and I laughed ourselves silly over that book, fought over taking turns picking words, every time our mom read it to us. Which was a LOT.<br /><br />That ridiculous, non-serious, non-literary, no-one-else-even-remembers-it book is part of MY canon. Along with thousands upon thousands of genre fiction novels I couldn't even begin to list. Not to mention movies and TV shows and cartoons.<br /><br />I know, I'm horribly off-topic and should have said all this yesterday. I was busy.<br /><br /><br />EDIT TO ADD: OMG OMG OMG. I just googled it, trying to verify the title [The Funny Mixed Up Story], and it's for sale at Amazon. A used copy is now winging it's way to me! I am over the moon with joy!! OMG, I need to go text my sisters.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26286697167697796782017-04-28T17:14:58.210-04:002017-04-28T17:14:58.210-04:00Reality check.
But first Colin) as always you ar...Reality check. <br /><br />But first <b>Colin</b>) as always you are eloquent in your rationale and you should've been a lawyer.<br /><br />Now, back to the reality check.<br /><br />Why anyone here would sell themselves short in the brains department beats the hell outta me. But. I used to do this when I was in IT. I used to say all the time until I got a clue I wasn't helping myself one iota;"I'm not very technical."<br /><br />I quit saying it, and b/c we were always going through mgmt changes, eventually no one remembered it, and I began to realize I WAS technical. What a dingbat I was.<br /><br />But sort of in line with this, one of my favorite quotes of all time from my dear husband. "Just because you have a license, doesn't mean you can drive."<br /><br />My LAST little snippet here coz I hear water splashing nearby. <br /><br />Whatever helps <i>you</i> or gives confidence about writing is what's most important. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88957929290176198302017-04-28T16:57:31.118-04:002017-04-28T16:57:31.118-04:00Oh, Melanie, you're a sweetheart. Thank you.Oh, Melanie, you're a sweetheart. Thank you. Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336485056322219624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26448748134118503842017-04-28T16:49:52.812-04:002017-04-28T16:49:52.812-04:00A quick add from me... I wasn't in the least b...A quick add from me... I wasn't in the least bit upset by Janet's post yesterday. And the lists were terrific, interesting and fun to read. My self-deprecating comment earlier today aligning myself with the feelings <b>Colin</b> expressed was in regard to my dreadfully and embarrassingly poor education.<br /><br /><b>Cecilia</b>, Your writing here has always been articulate and lovely. Your name is lovely, too. Melanie Sue Bowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820711791019410116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68190590093986857882017-04-28T16:32:14.958-04:002017-04-28T16:32:14.958-04:00Cecilia: Even if there were grammatical errors to ...<b>Cecilia</b>: Even if there were grammatical errors to correct, there are rules about correcting commenter's typos. No-one would dare, lest they risk the wrath of QOTKU. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91596295602252734262017-04-28T16:23:18.403-04:002017-04-28T16:23:18.403-04:00Okay, y'all are just so nice, you bring out my...Okay, y'all are just so nice, you bring out my Southern accent... ;)<br /><br />Let me clarify something. I don't take issue with Janet posting what she posted yesterday, nor do I take issue with any of the comments yesterday. Heck, I even understand the intention behind the whole "canon" thing. I've wandered around enough agent blogs to know that agents get a lot of dross in their inboxes. Much of the dross comes from people who think, "Well, if J.K. Rowling can do it, so can I!" and spend a few weeks whipping off 100K words of derivative nonsense that sends shivers up the spine of anyone who has read even half a dozen decent novels.<br /><br />To counter this, agents (and published writers, too) encourage people who want to write not to try publishing the first draft of the first thing that comes into their heads. Multiple drafts. Beta readers. And know the category you're writing.<br /><br />"How do I know the category?" the shocked newbie asks.<br /><br />"Read books, numbskull!" the patient agent responds.<br /><br />"But I do read books! See, I just finished 50 SHADES OF GREY--and that's a big book!"<br /><br />"But you sent me a Western."<br /><br />"So? Books are books."<br /><br />And so we get canon lists, recommended books to read in a particular genre if you plan to write that genre.<br /><br />That's all good and reasonable. Except those lists become Canon Law. Standards by which one is judged. And that's where I start to have issues. Even if such judging is not intended, it's hard not to feel judged when everyone's throwing canon lists around, and you've only read maybe 10% of the books on those lists, and yet you're trying to write a novel.<br /><br />So, just to clarify. This is on me, not you. This is my struggle, and no-one here is guilty of doing wrong. Please make lists and suggest books. Just don't think badly of me if I attempt to write stuff even if I haven't got to all the books on your list yet. :)<br /><br />PS: MORT is my current favorite of the Discworld series. Just thought I'd throw that in for my fellow Pratchett fans. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66231950210698280682017-04-28T16:20:11.005-04:002017-04-28T16:20:11.005-04:00Colin mentioned Janet Reid was at Malice Domestic....Colin mentioned Janet Reid was at <b>Malice Domestic</b>. I had never heard of Malice Domestic before, and now I see it in print for the second time this week.<br /><br />The first time it was listed on the front page of the Advance Reader’s Edition of Sara Paretsky’s “Fallout.” That front page is titled “Marketing Campaign” and contains eighteen marketing bullet points. First on the list is “National Online Advertising, including Facebook.” <br /><br />Farther down the list at number 11 is “Feature at <b>Malice Domestic</b>, Thrillerfest, and Bouchercon Conferences.” I checked out the Malice Domestic website and Sara Paretsky is not listed in any presentation for this year. She has been honored and presented there in prior years. <br /><br /><b>Malice Domestic</b> is a major event. I was surprised at the number of writers who are presenting or speaking on panels. Because of so many concurrent sessions, an attendee could only hear a fraction of the speakers.<br />.<br />For what it’s worth, I received my copy of the A.R.E. as part of bullet point number 14 “Deep Distribution of Advance Reader’s Edition.” I guess they assume recipients will mention the book on places like this one. Which I guess I have. I'm so easily manipulated.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-638579836209907112017-04-28T16:05:26.877-04:002017-04-28T16:05:26.877-04:00Lennon,
I, too, suffer from imposter syndrome an...Lennon, <br /><br />I, too, suffer from imposter syndrome and I feel it most keenly when I post comments here and in the three times I joined the flash fiction contests. I was always sure that I will sound all wrong since English is not my first language. I've had to delete countless posts for fear that someone will point out the grammatical errors and nonsensical comments. So far, the Reef has been nothing but amazing. <br /><br />Colin, <br /><br />Remember when I called you one of the Rockstars of the Reef? It's your awesome writing, dude :) Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336485056322219624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56500693512911118262017-04-28T14:53:00.099-04:002017-04-28T14:53:00.099-04:00I'm hoping to participated in one of the upcom...I'm hoping to participated in one of the upcoming Twitter pitches and I was wondering the same thing. Thanks, OP and Janet!<br /><br /><b>Colin</b>, don't be fooled by the imposter syndrome (it's actually a real thing). I get it all the time, here and especially with my real job. It just means you're high-achieving :) I also did not add my list yesterday because I didn't want to put into cyberspace what I like. Let me assure you they are no classics. <br /><br /><b>EM</b> - I had forgotten it was Friday (and so possible 100th Contest Day) until you mentioned it. Then, I breathed a big ol sigh.Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52706217352763709092017-04-28T14:47:44.962-04:002017-04-28T14:47:44.962-04:00Years ago (when I had time and freedom for a writi...Years ago (when I had time and freedom for a writing group), we had a joke about "ritual apology." The teacher brought it to our attention because it also happened in her writing group. <br /><br />Before sharing his/her work, each person would say something like, This is just a draft," or "This isn't finished." (Hah! Like it's ever finished!) <br /><br />I loved what I heard, thought others' work was great. They liked mine too, but I still made my ritual apology. And so did they. <br /><br />It's really tough to keep spirits up sometimes as a writer. (I've always wondered if Hemingway, Faulkner, King, and others wrote because they were drinkers, or drank because they were writers). Anyway, I appreciate that we're good to each other here, and I honor Colin and Melanie for sharing honest feelings.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581361783795436259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16421553258608021632017-04-28T14:12:37.559-04:002017-04-28T14:12:37.559-04:00Or she had an intern sorting the queries saying, &...Or she had an intern sorting the queries saying, "Only send me YA about dragons, I'm in a mood for dragons this week."<br /><br />Or an editor was hot and bothered about chick lit prison fiction and she was searching for that. <br /><br />Or on that day, you'd sent in the umptieth urban fantasy vampire story and she said oh hell no . . . . <br /><br />Or maybe your Twit-pitch was better than your query. <br /><br />Whatever reason, this time it resonated. Go for it! <br /><br />TerriTerri Lynn Coophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07290316565247120848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85638006731690930242017-04-28T14:04:36.950-04:002017-04-28T14:04:36.950-04:00Colin, the books I listed are my personal "ca...Colin, the books I listed are my personal "canon." With the possible exception of GWTW, I don't think they'd necessarily end up on a list of the very best historical fiction. "Very best" is subjective and makes for great can(n)on fodder.<br /><br />OP, what great advice from Janet. It's wonderful that this door is still open. Good luck!Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88665128060379544242017-04-28T13:46:56.239-04:002017-04-28T13:46:56.239-04:00Just went back to yesterdays comments and saw we h...Just went back to yesterdays comments and saw we had a newbie.<br /><br />Welcome to <b>Cordia Pearson,</b> hearty wave! The water's fine here, dip your toes in and stay awhile.RosannaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399732751877180737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75181721574769935962017-04-28T13:06:48.126-04:002017-04-28T13:06:48.126-04:00Colin
I didn't go to Oxford or Cambridge eith...Colin<br /><br />I didn't go to Oxford or Cambridge either, obviously.<br /><br />But I did go to Harvard. <br /><br />I was in Boston for a conference and had an afternoon off so I walked over to Harvard as a busman's holiday. I spent over an hour walking around the place, but the buildings were so dreary I didn't go in any of them.<br /><br />It hasn't helped my writing. <br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.com