tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3098126329355837868..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: So, I've been thinking ***Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31612881165655885392017-11-25T17:21:12.838-05:002017-11-25T17:21:12.838-05:00So Sam and Dave dig a hole. I'd tell you the r...So Sam and Dave dig a hole. I'd tell you the rest of the story, but that would spoil it. Besides, I didn't write it - Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen did.<br />If that book doesn't teach us something about persistence, nothing will. JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4618398381146381492016-12-15T08:56:35.767-05:002016-12-15T08:56:35.767-05:00Panda: That's so exciting! Thank you!
Rachel:...<b>Panda:</b> That's so exciting! Thank you!<br /><br /><b>Rachel:</b> I somehow missed it's your birthday. Happy (belated?) birthday!<br /><br />Congratulations to everyone else with exciting happenings!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71670759860169412022016-12-15T03:33:50.584-05:002016-12-15T03:33:50.584-05:00I agree with RosannaM - it's all about expecta...I agree with RosannaM - it's all about expectations. If I know something is going to take a long time then I can 'strategize'. The problem is, if you're a newbie you've got no idea how publishing works. If it wasn't for this blog I'd be out there making all the pesky mistakes that Janet so kindly, and PATIENTLY, warns us against.<br /><br />Melanie - exciting news on the full. Got my fingers crossed for you.<br /><br />Collin - big congrats on a quarter century of marriage. A think a house is a lovely present. Hope you wrapped it up in silver paper!<br /><br />RachelErin - Happy Birthday. Hope it doesn't get swamped by Christmas prep.<br /><br />MA Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055543285024785889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7994944361912941852016-12-15T00:07:46.298-05:002016-12-15T00:07:46.298-05:00I'm as guilty as the next writer of getting a ...I'm as guilty as the next writer of getting a little impatient waiting for answers sometimes. (In my defense, though, I'm still waiting to hear back from agents who asked for a full and two partials four years ago!) But I'd feel so differently if all the agents out there disclosed their submission time frames like Janet has done! Which makes me ask, yet again, why can't all agents communicate like Janet? It would still be mighty hard for debut authors to get published, but at least we'd have some idea how long we'd have to wait for answers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00057611467208638753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7602732521744249532016-12-14T22:05:10.793-05:002016-12-14T22:05:10.793-05:00Colin, I bet knowing you have done your best to be...Colin, I bet knowing you have done your best to be a good husband and father for twenty -five years is enough to bring joy to your wife’s heart. Of course, a nice dinner at a nice restaurant helps, too.<br /><br />Kari Lynn Dell, you just sold me a book. Not sure which one yet, but I’ll choose one.<br /><br />Melanie, Thanks for letting us in on your good news. I love positive stories.<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55079413648819272782016-12-14T21:54:45.832-05:002016-12-14T21:54:45.832-05:00When I read the thread the other day I worried abo...When I read the thread the other day I worried about the delay from an agent’s perspective. <br /><br /> As a writer, once I send the query, it’s out of my hands. I don’t fret over it. Until I get an offer of representation, all I can do is continue my life and wait. Once I have an agent, as long as they periodical update me, I’ll let him or her worry about finding a publisher.<br /><br />If I have a publisher, I’ll bust my tail not to be the cause of any delays.<br />But if I was an agent, I think I’d read requested manuscripts as soon as possible. Several reasons. One is my make-up. If I take on an obligation to write, edit or read something, I feel guilty until I do it and do it right. It often takes my Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, and often the person I did it for does nothing with it, but my conscience is clear.<br /><br /> Second, and the big worry if I was an agent, the longer it takes to read a full manuscript, the greater the likelihood another agent will grab it. Using the list from yesterday and making wild assumptions, eight or more of the authors sending full submissions went with other agents. Assuming an agent could have signed just one of those if he or she read and liked the manuscript before the winning agent did, he or she would have been better off reading sooner.<br /><br />Fifty manuscripts – That’s like fifty books. Yikes. My guess though is that many of those would be rejected long before they were fully read. That may leave 15 to 20 a year to be read to the grand finale. Still a lot. And that doesn’t count the agent’s reading and working to get his or her current clients’ manuscripts ready for submission. Takes time, but delaying doesn’t make the stack any shorter (unless the author withdraws it, of course).<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75006295675933783772016-12-14T20:15:55.731-05:002016-12-14T20:15:55.731-05:00It takes me so long to write anything that I can&#...It takes me so long to write anything that I can't imagine being impatient about someone reading it. I'll just keep writing, revising, and querying until someone recognizes my brilliance and offers representation. Of course I'll contact agents with outstanding partials and fulls, but that's the only circumstance where I would put anyone on deadline.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66118709516624037382016-12-14T19:08:20.613-05:002016-12-14T19:08:20.613-05:00Theresa: Great minds think alike!
John Davis Frai...<b>Theresa</b>: Great minds think alike!<br /><br /><b>John Davis Frain</b> in October, I got a rejection from a magazine...from my October '15 submission! I also have two submissions from July still pending. Other than that, my submissions are mostly from October ,and the 4 I've sent out in December (I have a problem, clearly).<br /><br /><br />Happy Anniversary <b>Colin</b>!Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66613080296475481412016-12-14T18:53:24.887-05:002016-12-14T18:53:24.887-05:00I imagine writerly impatience is a much bigger, or...I imagine writerly impatience is a much bigger, or more prevalent, problem for agents and publishers than it used to be. As someone who has self-published and who also would like to go the trad route, I can see this being an issue for me. Which is different from it being a problem.<br /><br />As with any choice, there are pros and cons. Trade-offs. The important thing is to understand and accept what you're getting into. It doesn't matter how you think someone else should/could do their job differently. It is what it is. If the perceived benefits don't outweigh the purported deficits, that choice isn't a good fit for you.<br /><br />And how nice that we have a choice these days and are able to indulge in moaning and groaning about the differences between options.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42843612311195793392016-12-14T17:37:27.485-05:002016-12-14T17:37:27.485-05:00Publishing is really a group effort.There are a lo...Publishing is really a group effort.There are a lot of moving pieces, and it takes time to coordinate them. JD Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05538238148744690853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13947392868980532752016-12-14T17:32:01.998-05:002016-12-14T17:32:01.998-05:00Sigh...I really hate waiting, but I should be used...Sigh...I really hate waiting, but I should be used to it by now. Back in the day when more public and corporate institutions were buying fine art (oh, how I miss those days), you send in your slides (!) and then you would wait for months and months to find out if something had sold. For public commissions the waits for each of the phases could be longer, adding up to years.<br /><br />This does give me a little more insight into the wait times involved. Now that my graphic novel is out on submission, I was hoping things would move a little faster, but, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Jokes on me. I finally quit obsessively checking my email and voicemail and started working on the next book in the series. It feels much better to be working. It also feels better to know that just because it hasn't sold yet, it doesn't mean it won't. I also submitted some things to some anthologies. Fingers crossed.<br /><br />Susan, if I were in your shoes, I would do the same thing. (PS, just ordered your book a couple days ago and waiting to read it!)<br /><br />Colin, you bought a house! Huzzah and happy anniversary. There will always be an England. Maybe next anniversary.<br /><br />Cheers everyone.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8448297859580628002016-12-14T15:50:26.522-05:002016-12-14T15:50:26.522-05:00I am astonished that your clients do these kinds o...I am astonished that your clients do these kinds of things on a regular basis and that you keep them as clients. You are one forbearing soul. If I were a client I would not want to annoy you at all. Maybe I am a wimp. But if I did get a nasty-gram I would want it to read something like this:<br /><br />“Dear Ex-Client,<br /><br />I am pissed to say that your MS,, UNREADABLE TIDBITS FROM AN INCREDIBLY BORING LIFE, has gone to auction and made me so damn much money that I abandoned my apartment in Brooklyn and moved to the Riviera, where I am currently entertaining the Duke of Paris at my personal chateau. Had I been warned that publishing was this lucrative, I would have operated a pushcart for a living instead. Now it is too late. If that is not infuriating enough, the owners of several local wineries have sent complimentary bottles of their best vintages and I am sitting here with a big smile on my face. To make matters worse, Brad Pitt stopped by just to give me a foot rub. He said any time I want another one, just whistle. I wish I had never heard of you and your damn manuscript. Why am I pissed off?<br /><br />Because I am hard to please. That’s why.<br /><br />I have high standards. I expect a lot from clients.<br /><br />Sarah Palin may be able to see Vladimir Putin’;s dacha from her house but I can’t see Manhattan from anywhere around here.<br /><br />I am miserable.<br /><br />The essence of class is to display discernment.<br /><br />And so ha!<br /><br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55989708520372896672016-12-14T15:20:51.465-05:002016-12-14T15:20:51.465-05:00Congrats to Melanie!
Happy Anniversary to Colin a...Congrats to <b>Melanie</b>!<br /><br />Happy Anniversary to <b>Colin and wifey!</b>Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19705996561375044702016-12-14T15:18:57.656-05:002016-12-14T15:18:57.656-05:00RachelErin, ah yes, Goodreads. They're a diff...<b>RachelErin</b>, ah yes, Goodreads. They're a different sort of crowd out there, quite harsh at times. I've been a member for years - but I've never been rude.<br /><br />So, good point. If you really want your patience tested, let others attack your work, and realize there's not a darn thing you can do about it except - move on.<br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72730255058759459882016-12-14T14:42:24.629-05:002016-12-14T14:42:24.629-05:00John Davis Frain, I’ve submitted to an anthology. ...<b>John Davis Frain</b>, I’ve submitted to an anthology. Submissions closed Aug. 31 and they were supposed to make their picks by Sept 30. Still waiting. They do occasionally post an update saying they received more submissions than expected so it’s taking longer, and since it’s taking longer, they’re still accepting submissions. Seems counterproductive to me, but whatever. <br /><br />I agree with <b>Rachel</b> about the subheading nomination.<br /><br /><b>RosannaM</b>, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s all about expectations of how long the wait will be. I’d been keeping busy and waiting more-or-less patiently for more than six months. One Friday I got a hint the editor had read two stories she loved and there might be a sale on Monday. I knew she had two of mine. That was a looooong weekend, but it had a happy ending. <br /><br /><b>Melanie</b>, I thank God for people like you, and congrats on the full. Fingers crossed.<br /><br /><b>Colin</b>, congratulations. Yes, a house counts. Double. Enjoy your celebration.<br /><br /><b>Craig</b>, I do see your point. Once again, expectations and lack of communication. I’ve sometimes wondered with things like permits. If it always takes six months, then at that point, they’re staying even. So, if they ever got caught up, they’d be able to stay even at one month instead. Likewise, if agents would just give up frivolous activities like sleeping and eating for a couple of months, they’d be all caught up and get back to writers quickly. At least until something else got in the way. <br />Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47026463440177604972016-12-14T14:39:30.006-05:002016-12-14T14:39:30.006-05:00Congratulations, Colin. I know a nice dinner isn&#...Congratulations, <b>Colin</b>. I know a nice dinner isn't England, but what a great gift to have your own home. <br /><br />Cody, middle son just told me he and #59 Dirty Vegas will be in New York City January 6-8 for the bullriding. Hope his bull does well and I honestly can't imagine my cowboy child in NYC though dozens of them will be at Madison Square Garden. It's kind of ironic. My dad and uncle rode there many years ago. My uncle won the bronc riding and some people from Hollywood saw him. They wanted him to go west and make movies. He made a couple, but hated the lifestyle and went back to being a Montana cowboy.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61983974022696922372016-12-14T14:26:51.440-05:002016-12-14T14:26:51.440-05:00Happy Anniversary, Colin! So true. "...make a...Happy Anniversary, <b>Colin</b>! So true. "...make a decision, you weight the cost and live with the consequences." Learning this, every day, with the decision I made to move to California to take a job that I eventually lost...and getting to know life in uncertainty. I suppose this is good practice for when I'll be querying next year.<br /><br />Now to stop worrying about money and where it comes from...Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20321902289730674182016-12-14T14:21:39.435-05:002016-12-14T14:21:39.435-05:00Colin, Julie, and BJ: Thanks to all of you for the...<b>Colin,</b> <b>Julie,</b> and <b>BJ</b>: Thanks to all of you for the input! I wish I could remember which way it went--if the blogger or the publisher nulled the contract--but it was a number of years ago. It certainly adds an interesting perspective to publishing as a business and the amount of risk publishers take on (or are willing to take on) for their authors.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87453450415241718622016-12-14T13:58:08.411-05:002016-12-14T13:58:08.411-05:00Congrats, Colin!
Anyone with kids or pets will t...Congrats, <b>Colin</b>! <br /><br />Anyone with kids or pets will tell you the necessity of patience.<br /><br />The more queries you have out there, the easier it is to forget about them. Then, when someone responds, it's a pleasant surprise.Barbara Etlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190731838738606727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40622570217550932242016-12-14T13:56:42.712-05:002016-12-14T13:56:42.712-05:00The way I am planning on navigating the slow pace ...The way I am planning on navigating the slow pace of publishing: Making sure there are several more books in the queue so that further deals take less time.<br /><br />Susan, from what I've learned of publishing contracts, if a book doesn't go through, what happens with the advance depends on whose fault that is. <br /><br />If the author is overly late, or otherwise causes the book to not be published, then the author pays back the advance.<br /><br />If the author fulfilled all demands placed on him or her in good faith but the publisher pulls the book anyway, then the author keeps the advance. The publisher forfeits that money by breaking the contract.<br /><br /><br />And happy anniversaries and birthdays to all to whom is applies!BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52700272181990244522016-12-14T13:20:07.607-05:002016-12-14T13:20:07.607-05:00Bethany Elizabeth
"If you twiddle your thumbs...<b>Bethany Elizabeth</b><br />"If you twiddle your thumbs waiting for a response, you're the one who's wasting time. Not the agent." - I love this.<br /><br /><b>Melanie</b> - that is such a sweet story. And, congrats on your full :) <br /><br /><b>Colin</b> - congrats to you and your wife!!Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4617807433811273702016-12-14T13:11:33.704-05:002016-12-14T13:11:33.704-05:00Donnaeve Sure, reviews, especially on places like ...<b>Donnaeve</b> Sure, reviews, especially on places like Goodreads, but also twitter and blog posts. If an author says something stupid on the public internet, other people talk about it. And take screenshots. Of course, sometimes the author says something intelligent and well-reasoned, but people bomb them with hate speech anyway.<br /><br />I have ways to handle the waiting, I just don't want to wait until after I'm dead. (I'm looking at you, Dostoevsky).<br /><br />Happy anniversary Colin! 12/14 is a fantastic day for many reasons - today I can no longer say I am in my 'early' thirties. Mid-30s all the way.RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89620030152620524782016-12-14T13:10:19.950-05:002016-12-14T13:10:19.950-05:00A lot of my day job as a graphic designer involves...A lot of my day job as a graphic designer involves waiting for clients to get me specs, graphic elements, logos, all sorts of things. Granted, we're talking waiting on a scale of days and weeks, but still, I've had to learn there's nothing (beyond a polite nudge) that I can do. I focus on controlling what I can and letting go of what I can't.<br /><br />Patience is a skill that, like any other, can be learned. Or at least faked.<br /><br />Not to say I don't sometimes stare at my inbox, hoping for emails. I'm still human.Adib Khorramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03836332867898941638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83171616236205338922016-12-14T13:06:32.599-05:002016-12-14T13:06:32.599-05:00**waves** Hi, Donnaeve!**waves** Hi, Donnaeve!Lucie Witthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08521285162656949602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2774010716661967592016-12-14T13:06:22.872-05:002016-12-14T13:06:22.872-05:00I think it was brought up in another long ago blog...I think it was brought up in another long ago blog post of yours, JR, that as long as everyone is communicating, then everyone should understand and agree to how the process works. <br /><br />Janice Grinyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363741660626407979noreply@blogger.com