tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post1683907901551503526..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: why do you do this? Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82249546432616010482018-12-20T12:29:31.356-05:002018-12-20T12:29:31.356-05:00This post brings the power! Thank you! Spending on...This post brings the power! Thank you! Spending one's life doing what brings one joy is one of the most undervalued aspects of modern American life. How many of those career tests they give in high school ever ask what brings you joy? <br /><br />Writing is all about finding that joy and is most satisfying when you find that sweet spot.Mike Hayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485884518411706201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88875452948970590692018-12-16T14:37:55.465-05:002018-12-16T14:37:55.465-05:00Thank you for this post, Janet. From the time I wa...Thank you for this post, Janet. From the time I was about 9 years old I knew I wanted to travel and see the world, but not just see it. I wanted to live and know the places I was visiting. If I liked a place, I stayed; if I didn't, I moved on. And that 9 year old girl didn't want to get married or have children because those things would tie her down and nothing was going to stop her from seeing the world. And just like you, God did not laugh, instead He gave me the courage to do just that. <br /><br />It wasn't always easy for a girl traveling alone, hopping on and off trains, or boats, or hitchhiking, and most of the time not understanding the language. I realized years later, it wasn't easy for my parents to let me spread my wings when there was no internet to keep us connected, to get letters with news that were months old, or phone calls from the other side of the world once or twice a year. To them I am extremely grateful for letting me dream my dreams, then living them.<br /><br />The joy of packing my bags to see a new destination has never waned. I've been to over 60 countries around the world and lived in a number of places, yet Paris is home. As a matter of fact, I am off again with hubby (long story!) to Argentina and Brazil after the holidays. Sun, beaches, and tangos will replace gray skies for the month of January. Thank you again for letting us take a peek into your life.LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28870556544985165542018-12-16T11:23:13.178-05:002018-12-16T11:23:13.178-05:00I've heard snippets of Janet's story and I...I've heard snippets of Janet's story and I love that the final FULL story was shared.<br /><br />Sometimes the path to what we really want to do takes all sorts of twists, turns, backtracks, or comes to a dead end. This, I think, is why hearing about anyone's journey is so interesting.<br /><br />Good to see some of the old "faces" out here!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16207498135791830572018-12-15T07:51:47.756-05:002018-12-15T07:51:47.756-05:00Thank you for this Janet. I loved reading your sto...Thank you for this Janet. I loved reading your story of getting started (and how matter-of-fact it was!). I'm glad you decided on agent :)Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16529767708330742025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66550096126052932332018-12-15T02:13:07.512-05:002018-12-15T02:13:07.512-05:00Yes, this is definitely my favorite post you'v...Yes, this is definitely my favorite post you've ever written, and I love all of your posts. And I loved learning about the path you took to find your joy. Mine is writing. Alas, and hooray! Waverlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09457723282170501661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24617368153353115432018-12-15T01:14:26.211-05:002018-12-15T01:14:26.211-05:00Wonderfully written piece, Janet. Just lovely. As ...Wonderfully written piece, Janet. Just lovely. As much as I adore your snarly rants, I so appreciate seeing this side of you as well. Thank you for sharing it. It's interesting how many parallels there are between your path and mine, given that they're also completely different. <br /><br />I love this comment section, and that's a rare thing. Wishing all of you joy in what you're doing, or the courage to embark on a journey where you'll discover it in new things.<br /><br />KDJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534864045227102030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87724510841819652262018-12-14T22:46:29.512-05:002018-12-14T22:46:29.512-05:00Jennifer M.: I don't often post links to my ow...<b>Jennifer M.</b>: I don't often post links to my own blog here, but it's late, hardly anyone's still reading, and this is relevant to your comment:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.colindsmith.com/blog/2018/10/25/u-s-higher-education-a-humble-rant/" rel="nofollow">U.S. Higher Education: A Humble Rant</a>Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47553352557674840702018-12-14T21:50:35.346-05:002018-12-14T21:50:35.346-05:00With time being a precious commodity, this suggest...With time being a precious commodity, this suggestion may seem absurd. But your writing is beautiful. Maybe it's time for you to write a book on life, love or thoughts. I don't read too many blogs about selling a book. Selling is such a far off thing for me. But I do enjoy the heart that you share in your posts.Ann Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17759967601352382204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9334593139176518232018-12-14T21:15:17.366-05:002018-12-14T21:15:17.366-05:00Great testimony.
Karen, I feel you. That is ex...Great testimony. <br /><br />Karen, I feel you. That is exactly where I am at. <br /><br />Colin ... I too have had those doubts. There is so much great fiction out there, why should I add to the pile? My answer is that this is what I have obviously been designed to do. All that stuff about "don't write unless it comes bursting out of you and you can't hold it back" ... it's a cliche, but for some of us it's a true one.<br /><br />Janet ... I read a great book recently about how advanced mathematics have become an artificial barrier to people who would otherwise do well academically. Which you obviously did well despite the math, but imagine, some perfectly smart legal or journalistic brains can't get into college because they can't pass trigonometry! What a shame. Anyway, there was also some stuff in there about how math profs tend to want to teach the students who get it intuitively and not bother with the unwashed masses who need abstract concepts explained. There was a certain element of conspiracy theory to it, but as a very verbal, non mathematically minded person, I found it affirming. I think it was called The Math Myth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65851892446721014792018-12-14T21:04:16.332-05:002018-12-14T21:04:16.332-05:00Thanks for sharing Janet! It's the perfect sto...Thanks for sharing Janet! It's the perfect story for the upcoming holidays. :)Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56709069354135255932018-12-14T18:34:31.972-05:002018-12-14T18:34:31.972-05:00Thanks for sharing, Janet! What a beautiful story....Thanks for sharing, Janet! What a beautiful story. <br /><br />I hope you enjoy your hiatus and have a very Merry Christmas.<br /><br />Reiders, thanks for all your comments every day. Sometimes the Reef feels like such a family :)<br /><br />Enjoy the holidays, all!KariVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13824650323413004291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27684050562831257872018-12-14T17:25:50.794-05:002018-12-14T17:25:50.794-05:00Your posts always provide great information about ...Your posts always provide great information about the biz and the people trying to get into it, or those struggling within it. But this one? You made me smile while reading about your journey and I'm so very glad you found your joy. "God didn't laugh..." and we reap the benefits of that open door. Merry Christmas to you and yours, fur persons included. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05267774710160641372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43589899894126289072018-12-14T17:18:06.569-05:002018-12-14T17:18:06.569-05:00CynthiaMC
Algebra was invented by Satan.
YES!!...<b>CynthiaMC</b> <br /><br /><i>Algebra was invented by Satan.</i> <br /><br />YES!! THIS!! Right here! nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3381477409743646572018-12-14T17:15:32.768-05:002018-12-14T17:15:32.768-05:00Janet, your post made me get just the tiniest bit ...Janet, your post made me get just the tiniest bit weepy. The twists and turns in each of our journeys brings me such a sense of wonder. I loved hearing how you arrived where you did from where you started, along with the other origin stories that people have shared here.<br /><br />I pretty much knew from a young age that I wanted to make pictures. It took me a while to figure out how to do it well enough that people would pay me to keep doing it. In fact, someone came to my studio today, bought a painting, and said, "I want you to keep painting." It's true that I am not qualified to do much of anything else now. And now that I have begun to marry words to pictures, or make pictures that stand in for stories, I can look at all the twists and detours that brought me me, with awe and joy and wonder.<br /><br />Beyond what you do to bring the work of your clients into the world, you have also created a space that is warm, inclusive, safe, informative, and challenging all at the same time, for writers of all kinds. I can't even remember how I first staggered in the door, but someone must have handed me some scotch, a cookie, placed a cat on my lap, and invited me to stay for a while. Thank you Janet, and thanks to all who swim at the Reef. Reiders all, I wish you tidings of comfort and joy.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33639178378947318442018-12-14T17:14:49.193-05:002018-12-14T17:14:49.193-05:00I'm good at money math,cooking math (fractions...I'm good at money math,cooking math (fractions) and abstract math - the more abstract the better. Geometry was fun - math as art. Algebra was invented by Satan.CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10992821611087870492018-12-14T17:11:42.315-05:002018-12-14T17:11:42.315-05:00There's that whisper in my heart again, "...There's that whisper in my heart again, "You're barking on the wrong side of the query desk." Don't get me wrong - I love to write and I hope I'm writing something worthy of being published. But my heart pitter-patters when I think of acquisitions or editing. Maybe some day I'll put down my pencil and pick up a red pen.JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29711243165234445062018-12-14T15:36:48.047-05:002018-12-14T15:36:48.047-05:00Thank you, Cecilia!Thank you, <b>Cecilia</b>!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59982781107125906532018-12-14T15:35:17.367-05:002018-12-14T15:35:17.367-05:00Indeed is has, Lennon! Thank you!Indeed is has, <b>Lennon</b>! Thank you!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90892095941876777712018-12-14T14:46:42.020-05:002018-12-14T14:46:42.020-05:00My favourite blog gets better every day - an inspi...My favourite blog gets better every day - an inspirational post and any blog which mentions Three Days of the Condor deserves extra kudos.Tales from Teessidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15151967197051566601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44803476951402449882018-12-14T14:12:06.802-05:002018-12-14T14:12:06.802-05:00Karen,
Thinking and praying for you. Hope your ho...Karen,<br /><br />Thinking and praying for you. Hope your housing situation gets resolved asap.Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336485056322219624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19828815931493669962018-12-14T14:08:26.745-05:002018-12-14T14:08:26.745-05:00The only joy Maths ever brought me was when I fina...The only joy Maths ever brought me was when I finally passed my Maths O'Level (I re-took it so many times it was a GCSE by the time I passed) and I never had to take another Maths lesson in my life.<br /><br />FirstBorn experienced a similar joy when, after a lot of late nights and stress, she passed her required Math course this past semester. (I ranted about the US system and how stupid it is that Theater/English majors have to take math in college on my blog, so I won't go there here.) She can now concentrate on the courses that actually matter for her degree. :)<br /><br />BTW, tomorrow is FirstBorn's birthday. She'll be baking her own cake, of course. By choice. And by demand. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8980260771489497082018-12-14T13:59:25.534-05:002018-12-14T13:59:25.534-05:00"So I called in my coven of business advisers..."So I called in my coven of business advisers..."<br /><br />Anyone else imagining half a dozen cats with spectacles, giving sage advice? No, just me? OK. <br /><br />Anyway, I loved this post. I love parts of my career, but overall it does not bring joy. I am too empathetic and worry too much about patients. Wish I could compartmentalize. <br /><br />Writing and art definitely bring joy. (Math, too!) When I am published, I hope that never changes. <br /><br /><b>Karen</b> - the Reef should stay steady, if nothing else. Thinking of you. <br /><br /><b>John</b> - your car story in yesterday's comments totally cracked me up. Hope that doesn't say terrible things about me. <br />Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50577389795441015022018-12-14T12:42:27.560-05:002018-12-14T12:42:27.560-05:00My guess is Statistics. Even my math-whiz friend, ...My guess is Statistics. Even my math-whiz friend, who eventually became a doctor, said she was worried about failing it.<br /><br />Many years ago, I took some aptitude and interests tests to try to find some alternate career to writing. Guess who scored in the 99th per centile for artistic jobs? I did return to university to take courses to qualify for speech pathology--even that involves language usage--but statistics was my Waterloo.<br /><br />I'm not sorry I remained a writer.<br /><br />Happy holidays and hiatus to Janet and the Reiders of the Reef. Barbara Etlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190731838738606727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72927203298129625422018-12-14T11:54:58.559-05:002018-12-14T11:54:58.559-05:00That was such an interesting story, told with such...That was such an interesting story, told with such a writerly flair. You are clearly in the right field. But I do suspect you are also fit to do other things, but perhaps with less joy, so clearly you are in the right job.<br /><br /><b>Colin,</b> I so can relate to your struggle. Time is a precious and limited commodity. And I think the question we face about how to spend it is really an existential one. We want what we do to matter. <br /><br />And to bring us joy, like Janet said. <br /><br />BTW, I've read your short stories and enjoyed them...so keep at it a little longer, please!<br /><br /><br /><br />RosannaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399732751877180737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61075508043527086322018-12-14T11:39:07.929-05:002018-12-14T11:39:07.929-05:00What a great blog post for this time of year. Than...What a great blog post for this time of year. Thanks!Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02242520666304340173noreply@blogger.com