tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3022280360337905520..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Querying? Clean up your web presence!Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31565235423181647182015-11-26T09:26:08.606-05:002015-11-26T09:26:08.606-05:00James,
Laurie McLean said the same thing about no...James,<br /><br />Laurie McLean said the same thing about not writing a query like dust jacket copy in her master class on query writing and pitches. The reason is many dust jackets are fairly generic. Read the copy on GAME OF THRONES for instance. It's so bland it could apply to any of a dozen books almost and certainly isn't enticing. A lot don't even mention the main character. The jacket copy on MISTBORN is backstory until the last line and finally gets around to mentioning the two main characters and then it still isn't by name.<br /><br />The editorial copy on Amazon is often better than the dust jacket copy according to McLean and I agree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35076104421157672282015-11-26T07:12:03.141-05:002015-11-26T07:12:03.141-05:00Your handout for Effective Query Letters is outsta...Your handout for Effective Query Letters is outstanding. Thank you for making it publicly available!Carolyn Haleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12439194025687389191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13677558091078202002015-11-26T00:55:00.489-05:002015-11-26T00:55:00.489-05:00I was actually a bit surprised to hear Janet say n...I was actually a bit surprised to hear Janet say not to write a query like a dust jacket. She is actually the first person I heard say that is a bad thing. A dust jacket is meant to hook the reader. So, what makes it bad for a query? I kind of expected an elaboration in her hand-out since she was challenging a common statement, but alas, I did not see one. <br /><br />QOTKU, if you're reading this, can you explain further?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736352366533619152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4382992309698412192015-11-25T22:34:20.370-05:002015-11-25T22:34:20.370-05:00I've always been partial to Levi's, but am...I've always been partial to Levi's, but am starting to see the appeal of Wranglers. Thanks for that link, Julie. :) <br /><br />I'm planning to spend the next several days mostly offline to get some writing done (<i>someone's</i> got to do it), so Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate, and happy Thursday-it's-almost-the-weekend to those who don't! <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88497423845950586552015-11-25T21:46:56.783-05:002015-11-25T21:46:56.783-05:00I want to pet the pet!!I want to pet the pet!!nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87128173225862608692015-11-25T21:35:58.391-05:002015-11-25T21:35:58.391-05:00Thanks for all the well wishes. My kitchen floor t...<br />Thanks for all the well wishes. My kitchen floor turned out to be -- the reservoir of my water filter thingy overflowed. I realize that's a highly scientific definition. Sorry. Anyway, messy but not major, thankfully. <br /><br />I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. <br />Dena Pawlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14444683810125395220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54560519348382650682015-11-25T21:09:18.421-05:002015-11-25T21:09:18.421-05:00Dena, I would show you a photo of my cactus, it...Dena, I would show you a photo of my cactus, it's as cute as any pet...well almost, but I'm not sure it belongs here on Janet's blog.<br /><br />Jenz, I may very well put a little Santa hat on it for the holidays. Thanks for the idea.<br /><br />2Ns, my hubby suggested I put a photo of him instead of the cactus with the caption, "He may not be my pet, but sometimes he's my pest. Does that count?" LOL.<br /><br />Okay, I'm off to bed. A Happy Thanksgiving to Janet and all her fellow Reiders who will be celebrating tomorrow!<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-295159943634647932015-11-25T19:44:09.112-05:002015-11-25T19:44:09.112-05:00I don't speak web, which for some seems to be ...I don't speak web, which for some seems to be a derivative of text messaging, so, unless something slips through, I don't need to chase after my social media with a pooper scooper. And, since I'm allergic to all fur bearing creatures, I mean really allergic, I have no pets. (Just another reason not to need a pooper scooper.) However, would pictures the free range deer, including lovely photos of the cutest fawns—the ones that keep my lawn moved—be sufficient? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714778117954527535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24309004965726032772015-11-25T18:56:57.413-05:002015-11-25T18:56:57.413-05:00Thanks for some of the recs!
And a very Happy Tha...Thanks for some of the recs!<br /><br />And a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.<br /><br />(Brigid, I'll be in the office on Friday, too. At least I know I'm not alone!)Lucie Witthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08521285162656949602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12491032183898889502015-11-25T18:45:57.467-05:002015-11-25T18:45:57.467-05:00Angie! Awww... thank you!!! :)
If I don't com...Angie! Awww... thank you!!! :)<br /><br />If I don't comment again today, a HAPPY THANKSGIVING to my fellow commenters, and to the Mighty QOTKU herself. Even if you're not in the US, I know we all have lots to be thankful for, even if just for Janet and this little community. But I'm sure we're all really thankful for the gift of language to express ideas and stories, and the ability to enrich each other's lives with words. Thank you all for sharing your words! :)<br /><br />SDG. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91108191314801996032015-11-25T18:23:56.487-05:002015-11-25T18:23:56.487-05:00DeadSpiderEye - too funny! I'd ask for the ful...DeadSpiderEye - too funny! I'd ask for the full!<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving to all and especially to you, Janet Reid, for your wonderful blog the same sense of integrity that permeates the book you recommended, Susan Rabiner's Thinking Like Your Editor. The book makes me thrilled to be writing non-fiction - and happy to know that the way I want to write is what the editor wants to see, i.e. writing that makes sense and moves the reader along. Great book! (And I will add no puns about "now we're talking turkey!") Thank you for the recommendation. Have a stellar Thanksgiving!Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32959989523715046292015-11-25T17:33:30.676-05:002015-11-25T17:33:30.676-05:00Brigid,
I'm single, praise God. So, I can adm...Brigid,<br /><br />I'm single, praise God. So, I can admire all the Wrangler patches I want.<br /><br />I think my site is still up. <a href="http://julieweathers.com/wrangler-patches-and-country-humor/" rel="nofollow">Wrangler patches.</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13495887622815619092015-11-25T17:22:44.657-05:002015-11-25T17:22:44.657-05:00Janet, thank you for this GOLDEN advice on writing...Janet, thank you for this GOLDEN advice on writing query letters. I reviewed your handout (lucky Crime Bake attendees) and have saved it for when I'm ready to query. In the meantime, it's a relief to know that what folks like Donnaeve and Colin recommend about websites/social media is what I'm already doing. I avoid mentioning politics and try to openly communicate about my passions, which happen to be writing and reading. Eve Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00488394403456097686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40450721647031918632015-11-25T17:09:53.912-05:002015-11-25T17:09:53.912-05:00Julie—if you're married, your spouse may have ...Julie—if you're married, your spouse may have something to say about you petting cowboy posteriors.<br /><br />Also, I think your site's down.Brigidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768090206152536761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77472049477978660982015-11-25T17:08:49.423-05:002015-11-25T17:08:49.423-05:00Lucie—I'm at work, too, and I'll work Frid...Lucie—I'm at work, too, and I'll work Friday. It's fairly voluntary; I'm in sales, and business needs a boost. More than that, my boss was very generous with time off around my wedding, so I'm working minor federal holidays and semi-traditional-days-off until the end of the year as a thank-you.<br /><br />Happy almost-Thanksgiving, everybody. Brigidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768090206152536761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3089569418712522732015-11-25T17:04:20.799-05:002015-11-25T17:04:20.799-05:00I know I'm not on any other blog, but I would ...I know I'm not on any other blog, but I would really be tempted to wonder, could that polar bear in the Underground be a prompt for a flash fiction contest? It couldn't, could it? No, I really didn't think so.<br /><br />Are there tame polar bears?Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17335923263777449916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61110034213841218862015-11-25T16:43:08.466-05:002015-11-25T16:43:08.466-05:00I have been trying to decide what to do with my bl...I have been trying to decide what to do with my blog—if I want to continue it or not, and if not, what to replace it with.<br /><br />It is challenging coming up with content for it—I tried doing an every-day thing and I couldn't keep up with the pace. I don't know how Janet does it. I got burned out pretty quickly.<br /><br />I tried Googling myself. I don't know if it's because I was logged in to Google or not, but I got a bunch of pictures of my friends, plus some really random stuff. And my Twitter account took up a good portion of it.<br /><br />Glad there's no axe murderers with my name out there.<br /><br />Today I was asked to select pictures of palm trees.<br /><br />Given that I'm about to spend the next 36 hours outside in the rain and cold, that's just cruel.Adib Khorramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03836332867898941638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63898414466706467702015-11-25T15:34:34.059-05:002015-11-25T15:34:34.059-05:00It's obvious I've been hanging around here...It's obvious I've been hanging around here too much. I was looking at a set of alphabet refrigerator magnets. They had spelled out, "Your dinner is in the fridge." At first glance, I thought it said, "Your daughter is in the fridge." My second thought after seeing that was, "hmmm, a writer must have arranged those letters."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37456880086701413552015-11-25T15:13:14.078-05:002015-11-25T15:13:14.078-05:00
OMG, BEARS!!
<br />OMG, BEARS!!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7521980197599254432015-11-25T14:49:54.841-05:002015-11-25T14:49:54.841-05:00I'm not too concerned about my web presence. I...I'm not too concerned about my web presence. I should go back and edit through some old blog posts to make sure they are as clean as they can be.<br /><br />My son wants me to change my site to a more modern looking one. He hates the busy background and thinks I should have more interactive stuff. The main problem with it is I need to use it more and do blog posts more often. I wish I'd just stayed with blogger and blogged. The site regularly has stuff that needs to be updated and fixed.<br /><br />If an agent stalks me they will find the writer, a university professor in Stillwater, OK (the last place I lived, which made things interesting when picking up prescriptions or making dr. appts.), the vice moderator for a church in NC., and a lovely, young, nearly naked lady with long, brown hair. I think I would make a good moderator of vice.<br /><br />Pet pictures are usually horses I've owned unless you include my collection of Wrangler patches. I have a nice assortment of those. Do cowboy posteriors count as pets? They should.<br /><br />Thank you, Janet, for posting the link. If I don't see you all before Thanksgiving, a very happy one to you.<br /><br />JW<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74429827276952569412015-11-25T14:26:20.473-05:002015-11-25T14:26:20.473-05:00I have self-published two shorter books, but I am ...I have self-published two shorter books, but I am considering sending out query letters for different novel. Is it going to hurt my chances of finding an agent when they see that I am promoting my self-published books?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05928795394255396224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23187821389941975412015-11-25T13:26:18.215-05:002015-11-25T13:26:18.215-05:00Dead Spider Eye, LOL!
Colin, You have a fantasti...Dead Spider Eye, LOL!<br /><br /><br />Colin, You have a fantastic blog. Someone asked for an example.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27486629945505512952015-11-25T13:25:04.705-05:002015-11-25T13:25:04.705-05:00Question, Lynn, how do you pet a cactus?
Answer, ...Question, Lynn, how do you pet a cactus?<br /><br />Answer, verrrrry carefully. (badda bee badda boom)<br /><br />Happy turkey day fellow Pilgrims and regarding your queries, stuff 'em. (Tomorrow only). Then it's all Reiders back to Janet's Planet.<br /><br />For all of you folks around the world who do not celebrate our holiday of thanks and gastronomic overdo, have a nice day.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78250452827634236412015-11-25T13:10:57.341-05:002015-11-25T13:10:57.341-05:00Lucie, I really love Jenny Crusie's blog, Argh...<b>Lucie</b>, I really love Jenny Crusie's blog, <a href="http://arghink.com/" rel="nofollow">Argh Ink</a>. <b>DLM</b> has some great suggestions too--some I know already and some I'm going to check out now. Thanks!<br /><br />I also like to spend time on my blog, but lately it's been a struggle (who knew having a baby was so time-consuming?? Okay, everyone. Everyone knew that). <br /><br />No pets, because of my allergies, but I do have an Instagram full of baby pictures! A (childless) friend of mine did recently say that she likes my baby because "He's like cat... only he can smile!"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14482921874963872735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16286474496289687342015-11-25T12:53:48.674-05:002015-11-25T12:53:48.674-05:00While I'm sure it's great advice: spelling...While I'm sure it's great advice: spelling, comprehensible sentences, it's all just so prosaic. I'm more of a mind for looking for that edge when considering a website to promote oneself. Perhaps the sympathy vote might supply it, you know the kind of thing.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />Here's me and the kids, I'm afraid the wall of the tin shack could do with a lick of paint but it's low on our priorities at the moment. Little Jimmy's asking whether mummy sold her latest fiction novel...<br /><br /> 'Will we be able to eat food from a tin that doesn't have a picture of a dog on it soon mummy?'. <br /><br />'Sorry Johnny, how about some Kitty Chunks for a change?'.<br /><br />...well at least they're all recovered from rickets now.<br /><br />~~~<br /><br />What do ya think, got potential?DeadSpiderEyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687178085803686186noreply@blogger.com