tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3272106447899310339..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Question: Cat's got your manuscript?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31409714004615014872014-01-11T11:03:10.696-05:002014-01-11T11:03:10.696-05:00Let me share my experience, as I think I have done...Let me share my experience, as I think I have done before in response to a similar question.<br /><br />Back when I was still unpublished, an editor approached me after she heard me give a talk at a conference. She said she'd love to read my manuscript. She was very enthusiastic. I sent it, of course.<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br />I nudged after a couple months. I nudged again somewhere around the one-year mark.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'd been submitting the manuscript elsewhere. It sold. <br /><br />Somewhere between my third book and fifth book, I saw that that enthusiastic editor had moved to another publisher, where I hope she is still happily enthusing. <br /><br />But I'm kind of glad I don't have to work with her. I think it would have been a little frustrating.<br /><br />So, to give the questioner a writer's rather than an agent's perspective: Sure, pursue this agent, but don't fix your heart on her. Because an agent who responds to you in a reasonable amount of time is probably what you're looking for. <br /><br />Or to paraphrase Sirius Black: If you want to know what an agent's like, take a good look at how she treats her queriers, not (just) her signed writers.<br /><br />It's also reasonable to assume that if your manuscript is good enough for one agent, it is good enough for others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10222161523324141462014-01-09T15:33:41.805-05:002014-01-09T15:33:41.805-05:00I understand your concern, however, let me share m...I understand your concern, however, let me share my experience and there are similarities.<br /><br />About twelve months ago, I was speaking to an agent (online) about a WIP I'd just started working on. This agent and I had formed a friendship via FB & Twitter, though I'd not submitted anything to her.<br /><br />She said she loved the premise and when it was ready, would I please offer it to her.<br /><br />Over the next 12 months, about every 6-8 weeks I'd let her know how I was going with the WIP. As write F/T I was able to finish it in September 2013. I sent the MS to her. Though she was closed to subs. she was very happy to receive it.<br /><br />She took only 8 weeks to get back to me. She told me I had real talent and the voice and the character build up were excellent, yet she passed, because, in her own words, there was something she could not put her finger on that told her she wasn't the right fit. <br /><br />However, she passed with AWESOME feedback, pinpointing where I did an excellent job and where, if she'd offered to rep. me, she'd have asked for some revisions. This alone is worth gold.<br /><br />I was so thankful for her (pages of) feedback I wrote back straight away to thank her.<br /><br />She replied that she wanted me to know I had talent and to please not stop writing. She also asked if I was working on anything new, which I was, and sent her a 2-page overview of a new Hist-Fict I'd started.<br /><br />The reply came within 24 hours to again please offer it to her first as in her own words, "you can write and write well but just as importantly, you take feedback so well and are lovely to work with."<br /><br />I happen to think a lot of this agent also. Aside from being really good at her job, I'd have her over for dinner any day of the week, if there wasn't an ocean or two between us.<br /><br />My point is, agents are happy to wait, and if they have offered you to submit, seem happy to get the odd update. The relationship grows and strengthens & even if its a no, the feedback is beyond anything you could hope for and the door remains open.<br /><br />Best of luckAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614043791335176864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48546987827637470992014-01-08T14:21:34.173-05:002014-01-08T14:21:34.173-05:00@Lance
It is a cat. It is aware that it is alread...@Lance<br /><br />It is a cat. It is aware that it is already purrfect. The purple velour is just a fashion statement.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44881911919284129222014-01-08T09:29:29.310-05:002014-01-08T09:29:29.310-05:00Thank you for this reinforcement. It helps. Is the...Thank you for this reinforcement. It helps. Is the cat aware that it's supposed to have fur and misses it, or does it believe that wearing a purple velour housecoat is normal?Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17335923263777449916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21521589487249467592014-01-08T08:26:47.020-05:002014-01-08T08:26:47.020-05:00And if you meet the agent at a conference, don'...And if you meet the agent at a conference, don't follow him/her around, and then if/when you make eye contact, scurry away in fear. Better to blunder your way through...I think most agents understand how hard it is to grab that moment, and make the best of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41461049747482045772014-01-08T07:39:04.980-05:002014-01-08T07:39:04.980-05:00But if you do meet the agent at a conference, don&...But if you do meet the agent at a conference, don't follow the agent to the bathroom in order to hand over your MS. Who was it that happened to?<br /><br />(of course, I'm also assuming this only happened once in the history of ever. <i>Hoping</i> this only happened once.) Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.com