tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3194086718211577770..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: My agent won't tell me where my project is/has beenJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9775435482169616542017-01-25T15:08:36.155-05:002017-01-25T15:08:36.155-05:00My agent didn't give regular updates when we w...My agent didn't give regular updates when we were on submission. When the submission process started, she sent me a list of all the editors she was sending my manuscript to. Her policy is to not send updates, unless the author really wants them. She said that as soon as there was interest, I'd hear from her but in the meantime, the rest would be rejections and did I really want those in my inbox regularly? It could be very depressing to see those nos trickling in. I did not want to see them. My first manuscript didn't sell. At the end of the process she asked if I wanted to see my rejections. I did. She compiled them all in a Word doc and sent them to me. They were hard to read, but I spent one day wallowing in my sorrow, drinking a lot of bourbon, and then thinking about my next novel. For the second novel, the process was the same: a list of where she was submitting and no regular check ins. And the moment an editor showed a hint of interest, she let me know. That book sold. My agent asked if I wanted to see what the other (non-accepting) editors had to say about it, and I did not. I mean, it sold. Didn't matter what those other editors thought! Point just being that whether you get regular check ins or not, a list of editors is absolutely reasonable to have. Jennifer S. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12763991175668718419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61873209131994096082017-01-24T21:21:49.467-05:002017-01-24T21:21:49.467-05:00Hoping for a speedy recovery, Bethany!
Great post...Hoping for a speedy recovery, Bethany!<br /><br />Great post. Filing for later. (Or perhaps I'll just check Sir Colin's updated PDF once he's been kicked out of a Manhattan agent's office and has to fax it from Carkoon).Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31061108344609223862017-01-24T21:00:25.596-05:002017-01-24T21:00:25.596-05:00Glad to have you back Bethany! Wishing you the spe...Glad to have you back Bethany! Wishing you the speediest of recoveries!Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79216142891443113832017-01-24T19:45:22.260-05:002017-01-24T19:45:22.260-05:00Julie Ah, I see. The acronym telco in my IT world...<b>Julie</b> Ah, I see. The acronym telco in my IT world stood for telecommunications, not telephone conference. That was teleconference - again - in my world. <br /><br /><b>Bethany</b> Glad you're back and doing better! My exile is b/c I mentioned someone who's an unmentionable. So unmentionable I can't even mention "the person" here - ever. Nope. Cannot do it. You don't have to tell me twice. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75303624611696768802017-01-24T18:33:37.957-05:002017-01-24T18:33:37.957-05:00Commiserations to OP. What a tough situation to fi...Commiserations to OP. What a tough situation to find yourself in. Reinforce those broad shoulders, talk to your agent and if you have to get back out there. Best of luck!<br /><br />Colin, open a nice bottle of scotch and walk down the street a la Pied Piper - the scent should ensure you have a trail of agents in your wake!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28996914812904681312017-01-24T18:29:04.156-05:002017-01-24T18:29:04.156-05:00Amen, Janet. Amen!Amen, Janet. Amen!Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77352149866420568232017-01-24T18:21:59.683-05:002017-01-24T18:21:59.683-05:00I suppose "the call" might be the time t...I suppose "the call" might be the time to ask the agent about your thoughts on not selling film rights to your book. Like what if you don't want to sell them.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2098573121998653632017-01-24T16:56:18.009-05:002017-01-24T16:56:18.009-05:00Amy: No. no no no no. Don't say things like th...<b>Amy</b>: No. no no no no. Don't say things like that. I can already smell the sulphur... :\Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32037904523086597802017-01-24T15:45:49.356-05:002017-01-24T15:45:49.356-05:00Excellent advuce as usual. Live and learn.Excellent advuce as usual. Live and learn.MNyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406097805165082275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67705197891595264152017-01-24T14:26:12.626-05:002017-01-24T14:26:12.626-05:00OP, how long is 'quite a while?' Before b...OP, how long is 'quite a while?' Before breaking a relationship over expectations step back and breath. You didn't mention the actual time space. Is it 6 months. Less? 12 months? What were you expecting? Did you discuss this beforehand ?<br /><br />What feedback did your agent give you before they pitched? What was their plan?<br /><br />How long does the agent to editor pitch time last anyway? angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69124012417117044312017-01-24T13:44:42.244-05:002017-01-24T13:44:42.244-05:00Regarding checking out agents: Preditors & Edi...Regarding checking out agents: Preditors & Editors is a good site for checking up on agents, but it's currently unavailable as they look for someone to keep it up to date. Writer Beware and Absolute Write Water Cooler are other places to look. These resources are also useful for looking at publishers.<br /><br />Kathy: Avoiding non-AAR members isn't as good a deal as it seems. An agent has to be working for a certain number of years before they're eligible to become members, so you'll miss out on all the hot new agents. A better idea is to make sure the agency is led by someone who belongs to the AAR. BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53052370806320444272017-01-24T13:41:45.728-05:002017-01-24T13:41:45.728-05:00Colin, you really miss Carkoon, don't you?Colin, you really miss Carkoon, don't you?Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25188878693253813032017-01-24T13:03:08.333-05:002017-01-24T13:03:08.333-05:00Joseph: Silly me! Of course!! I should just set up...<b>Joseph</b>: Silly me! Of course!! I should just set up a receiving table in the hotel lobby so agents can stop by, shake my hand, and pitch me as to why I should take them on. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72839427646949506502017-01-24T13:00:19.601-05:002017-01-24T13:00:19.601-05:00Colin, for goodness sakes, if agents want to drop ...Colin, for goodness sakes, if agents want to drop in to say hello to you, smile and be gracious.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36215228283032657182017-01-24T12:57:22.894-05:002017-01-24T12:57:22.894-05:00Thanks Julie W for this:
“The job of a writer is ...Thanks Julie W for this:<br /><br />“The job of a writer is not to convey emotion but to invoke it.”<br />― Eric T. Benoit<br /><br />I need to remind myself of it every day. I'll check the pages I'm working on today to see what I can change to do that.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91780950042111215632017-01-24T12:38:29.753-05:002017-01-24T12:38:29.753-05:00OP: I hope you get a satisfactory response from yo...OP: I hope you get a satisfactory response from your agent, but best of luck if you choose to move forward with a new one. I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation. <br /><br />This post raises, yet again, the importance of educating oneself about what to ask on "the call," should we be so lucky. I still have a ton to learn. So thanks, OP and Janet, for highlighting and explaining this particular aspect of the author/agent relationship. Claire Bobrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666082441972111293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65711750534473837662017-01-24T12:16:47.081-05:002017-01-24T12:16:47.081-05:00Totally Off-Topic, but I've just looked at a m...Totally Off-Topic, but I've just looked at a map of Manhattan showing the literary agencies within spitting distance of the hotel we'll be staying at Thurs-Sat. MY GOODNESS!! It's like a writer's dessert bar. So. Many. Is it really bad form to drop in and say hello? ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32060617068864467532017-01-24T11:25:22.251-05:002017-01-24T11:25:22.251-05:00Thanks everyone - it's good to be back! Althou...Thanks everyone - it's good to be back! Although I'm bummed on missing the posts behind Donna's exile. :) <br /><br />Now I just need to get back into the swing of waking up early to write. I can't get into any writerly quandaries if I don't have a finished novel! <br /><br />I hope OP can get the info they need. That's got to be a frustrating position to be in. Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36425822034869084172017-01-24T11:10:44.720-05:002017-01-24T11:10:44.720-05:00Bethany, sorry to hear the surgery had complicatio...Bethany, sorry to hear the surgery had complications, but so glad you're better and back now. <br /><br />A friend of mine went through this with an agent. She never was able to get an answer about where the books had been submitted, and of course no one else wanted to touch them. She dropped out, and didn't even consider publishing for twenty years or so. Recently, she's self-published. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63790008592868344812017-01-24T11:00:28.180-05:002017-01-24T11:00:28.180-05:00Donna
Telco Telephone conference.
Bethany Good t...<b>Donna</b><br /><br />Telco Telephone conference.<br /><br /><b>Bethany</b> Good to have you back, but ugh on the complications. I'm glad you're mobile again.<br /><br />Has anyone heard from Lynne?<br /><br /><b>Joseph</b> I agree. I despise change. When I find something or someone that works just leave it alone. <br /><br />And now I need to get some writing done and fight Portuguese some more. <br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8243235553459564542017-01-24T10:52:18.222-05:002017-01-24T10:52:18.222-05:00Yes, it may be time to split the sheets. You need ...Yes, it may be time to split the sheets. You need to know what's going on.<br /><br />Back in my former life when I had two agents, my children's agent would call periodically to let me know how it was going and relay the feedback she was getting. One of the books we had out was a middle grade called <i>There's A Moose On The Loose</i> (Someone else has used the title now.) about a boy who volunteers at a small town zoo and his quirky friend who fancies himself to be the second coming of Sherlock Holmes. One day a moose sticks its head in MC's window. He's scared he left a gate unlocked and the moose who loves him followed him home. He and his friend go through a series of disastrous misadventures to get the moose back to the zoo only to discover it isn't the zoo's moose at all.<br /><br />One editor's feedback was "The author shouldn't be encouraging children to pet a moose. This is very dangerous and irresponsible."<br /><br />I thought, it's probably dangerous for children to go through a wardrobe and fight an evil queen's army also, but that story sold. I didn't ask Jean if she had submitted <i>The Dinosaur Store</i> to the editor as that might really be dangerous.<br /><br />Anyway, Jean was remarkable about letting me know where she was submitting and what they were saying.<br /><br />Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum with the suspense? Not so much. "Oh, yeah, we're sending it out, but nothing yet."<br /><br />"My computer crashed and my back up disks were corrupted. Can you send me a copy of that manuscript?"<br /><br />"Oh, heh, uh, we lost it." <br /><br />Even if the rejections on the children's books were disappointing, it was great having that open communication and feedback so I could correct course. She was a remarkable agent. God bless her.<br /><br />Writing quote.<br /><br />“The job of a writer is not to convey emotion but to invoke it.”<br />― Eric T. Benoit<br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79736655294033572482017-01-24T10:17:50.076-05:002017-01-24T10:17:50.076-05:00Insightful entry today. My thoughts are along Col...Insightful entry today. My thoughts are along Colin's. I hate to break up on-going relationships, whether they be my doctor, my cleaning lady, my barber, my employment, my home, etc (Blue Cross took my pharmacy off its preferred provider list effective this month, and I'm feeling bad about going to a new pharmacy!!). I would hate to be in a position to have to end my relationship with an agent (or a publisher).Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91612129283598403632017-01-24T10:07:31.564-05:002017-01-24T10:07:31.564-05:00This is a time to arrange a phone call with your a...This is a time to arrange a phone call with your agent and be specific about your concerns. What are your expectations in terms of communication and information flow? How often do you want to hear from her during the submission process? And what specifically do you want to know? Some people like to hear the lurid details of every rejection; others only want a general "Editor X says no thanks."<br /><br />She may well be working hard in the background for you. She may not. But be clear that you aren't comfortable with the way things stand, and tell her exactly what you want to know. If she can't meet that, then you aren't a good fit. But give her a chance to resolve what may only be a communication issue before you cut your ties.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21261452416357731542017-01-24T10:06:06.723-05:002017-01-24T10:06:06.723-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68187970961189070982017-01-24T09:03:57.228-05:002017-01-24T09:03:57.228-05:00sales to only-lower tier publishers
Writers have ...<i>sales to only-lower tier publishers</i><br /><br />Writers have a number of sources for information on agents. But is there a source that offers information of publishers? We know the majors in any genre--look on the bookstore shelf. But what about the many smaller publishers?<br /><br />Mister Furkleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156977719916770984noreply@blogger.com