tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3746919689476538934..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Agents going off the railsJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44100029329881563892014-04-11T12:01:44.144-04:002014-04-11T12:01:44.144-04:001. Almost nothing is under our direct control
2. ...1. Almost nothing is under our direct control <br />2. Almost nothing is ever finished<br /><br /><br />Sounds like parenthood...<br /><br />:~)~Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952223887024831105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18903687392510037042014-04-11T11:18:57.647-04:002014-04-11T11:18:57.647-04:00Janet, thanks so much for this post. The help and ...Janet, thanks so much for this post. The help and support we get from this blog goes way, way beyond writing.<br /><br />"Burnout is not a character flaw or a lapse of moral fiber. It's the way your brain is telling you to make some changes in your life. Listen to yourself."<br /><br />Bonnie Shaljeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13067442140631504611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24435245190686580152014-04-10T01:52:06.042-04:002014-04-10T01:52:06.042-04:00I can't count the times my Dad told me "y...I can't count the times my Dad told me "you work to live - you don't live to work!" It's as true now as it was then.KayChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16267506508468548195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5154555499723389072014-04-09T20:45:14.532-04:002014-04-09T20:45:14.532-04:00Honestly, this is why I am a secretary. I'm g...Honestly, this is why I am a secretary. I'm grateful for those who risk their lives (don't think that's not part of publishing!), but am also grateful not to have to ...DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76502080546142007042014-04-09T20:12:38.689-04:002014-04-09T20:12:38.689-04:00Thank you for this post. Gives a much better look ...Thank you for this post. Gives a much better look at the behind the scenes of agenting. <br /><br />I can honestly say I understand about burnout, the kind you experienced. I did the same thing and consequently, one day I just walked away from my job. I just couldn't do it anymore. And having read you forever, scoured your archives when I'm trying to get an answer to something and going down a rabbit trail reading something I wasn't looking for but am fascinated with, I want to tell you how very glad I am that you recognize the burnout now. (I know, an abundant sentence but this is stream on conscience here...) It would be a huge loss to us all if you burned out with this the way you did the first time. nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72526296289795008792014-04-09T19:55:01.909-04:002014-04-09T19:55:01.909-04:00If there's one thing I learned from my extensi...If there's one thing I learned from my extensive querying experience, it's that agents are basically like those guys who have to keep two dozen plates spinning on sticks at the same time.<br /><br />Each of the things they do (reading hundreds of queries, submissions to editors, handling existing clients, etc.) sounds to me like a full-time job.<br /><br />Say, does this mean if we self-publish we're doing everyone a favor?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81862143361507528692014-04-09T16:50:07.743-04:002014-04-09T16:50:07.743-04:00I feel blessed to have a wonderful agent. I'm ...I feel blessed to have a wonderful agent. I'm sure he feels overwhelmed at times, but he's always in constant communication with his clients. Thanks for this great post on the inside view of agents. Susan Lowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814332480579613013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42202977059847476512014-04-09T15:17:16.949-04:002014-04-09T15:17:16.949-04:00Fantastic post, Janet, and I appreciate you remind...Fantastic post, Janet, and I appreciate you reminding all of us—from querying writers to clients to other agents—of the human nature of the business. So much has changed in the industry and with how we communicate in life (e.g., the social media train) that it is easy to start losing perspective from multiple sides. Nothing in a successful writing life happens in a silo. Success is made from working to forge relationships and those relationships are made with people versus automated creatures (well for now at least). May we all be compassionate and mindful of one another. Take care.Barbara McDowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12134385003818506704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71935016279506733142014-04-09T14:50:33.163-04:002014-04-09T14:50:33.163-04:00Superwoman.Superwoman.Bill Plantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07333910594629506602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71033004274443289602014-04-09T14:37:25.863-04:002014-04-09T14:37:25.863-04:00Wonderful post, Janet.
-Beth MWonderful post, Janet. <br /><br />-Beth Mpegasus358https://www.blogger.com/profile/13355270589780304390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5066677743330357892014-04-09T13:50:32.345-04:002014-04-09T13:50:32.345-04:00My first agent was the sort who I thought had been...My first agent was the sort who I thought had been sequestered on a jury somewhere for months at a time. <br /><br />Then I learned she was ill. <br /><br />When we're just starting out, sometimes the newness of it all narrows our vision and we forget we're not the only author an agent, or an editor works with. <br /><br />Thanks for the perspective, Janet. Patty Blounthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11928111057602279792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41915505188963144502014-04-09T13:31:15.090-04:002014-04-09T13:31:15.090-04:00Great post. Thanks.
My first agent was a real nic...Great post. Thanks.<br /><br />My first agent was a real nice, witty, intelligent guy - but got kidnapped by aliens over and over again. When he vanished right in the middle of negotiating a new contract and fighting an awful cover, I'd had it. BUT: I owe him my first contract (and more to follow) with a publisher. I still like him but would never do business with him again.<br /><br />I then went without an agent for some two years (still possible over here in Europe). When I decided to look for one, I knew what I wanted and needed and most of all who to contact. She was number one on my list and has been a great agent for more than two years now. And - like Janet writes - she does about 10 jobs (from editing over negotiating contracts and fighting for better covers to developing marketing ideas). She fights with and for me. And all her other clients. No idea, how she does it. I have always appreciated this - now after this post even more.<br /><br /><br /><br />Alice Gabathulerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884220586925738319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79711539247254197282014-04-09T11:44:00.076-04:002014-04-09T11:44:00.076-04:00As a writer just starting to submit to agents, I c...As a writer just starting to submit to agents, I can say from my short experience in the past month that three out of the four requests I've received from agents for my full manuscript have been sent to me over the weekend. Clearly agents are not "taking a break" - even on the weekends!Jill Hannah Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21520564157075443452014-04-09T11:26:53.028-04:002014-04-09T11:26:53.028-04:00Janet, dear friend, THANK YOU for writing this. Be...Janet, dear friend, THANK YOU for writing this. Between your words and those of the people in the comment section, I take a certain amount of comfort.<br /><br />Burnout is such a real and powerful thing and I think it's very hard for people on the outside looking in to understand the particulars of any given situation.<br /><br />I know in the past when I heard professional athletes talk about retiring because they no longer had "passion for the game" it didn't make sense. But the older I get...Benjamin LeRoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479539031788798102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11642964124859606462014-04-09T11:00:11.364-04:002014-04-09T11:00:11.364-04:00Janet, forget the shark, you are one super lady! ...Janet, forget the shark, you are one super lady! With all the work you have to do as an agent, you still find the time to write something everyday! This post alone is an example of the time and effort you put into this blog to help writers realize their dreams. I am not only in admiration of what you do to help us, I am in awe! I have only two words for you, but I mean it when I say - thank you!LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3921000705001019482014-04-09T10:39:36.802-04:002014-04-09T10:39:36.802-04:00David, he's doing well, and his clients are ge...David, he's doing well, and his clients are getting deals left and "write." I'm pretty proud of him, but of course, never plan to actually tell him that.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69361379259234708102014-04-09T10:32:55.164-04:002014-04-09T10:32:55.164-04:00Must be missing you some Brooks, sounds like. How...Must be missing you some Brooks, sounds like. Hows' he doing, with the shoe on the other foot?David Edgerley Gateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05302818835018859164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37762814575475867132014-04-09T10:23:27.586-04:002014-04-09T10:23:27.586-04:00I gave a talk to a book club last week in which I ...I gave a talk to a book club last week in which I told them that when I first started trying to get published, agents were gatekeepers--they read a promising manuscript and passed it on to an editor at a publishing house and the editor worked to whip the manuscript into shape.<br /><br />Now, I told them, the editor expects a polished manuscript--and that work largely falls to the agent. Furthermore, many agents then guide their authors in promoting their books. It's a big step up in time commitment for agents. (And for authors too, but that's another topic). <br /><br />No wonder there is burnout!<br />Terry Shameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202071611825887999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53784391186865921922014-04-09T10:11:03.220-04:002014-04-09T10:11:03.220-04:00I love the analysis you did on the volume of work ...I love the analysis you did on the volume of work in the past decade. I think I was born in the wrong time. I love thing more simple, when choices were more limited - like three stations on TV - yes I said that - and the writing "of old," (not "of old," like long hand old, but pounding words out on a Royal old) meant when a ms was done, it went off in snail mail and you went on with your life because you knew it would be months before you heard back. And you usually heard back, a personal reply, a letter even.<br /><br />For all of our advancement, all fo the choices (ten different types of OJ, anyone??) technology, and the widgets galore, all we are doing is driving ourselves crazy - or burning out. <br /><br />There was an article in the newspaper the other day that talked about how we are no longer bored - something they worried about in the 1950's - if you can believe it. Now we're working ourselves to death, and our brains get very little downtime. There is no boredom, b/c we're entertained 24/7 by being constantly connected to our emails, social media, news, phone calls, you name it. They call it a smart phone - but, is it?<br /><br />Well that went off in a different direction, but it's a similar sort of thing. Much too much - of everything. More work. More ways to work. Still the same amount of time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13435364374501897072014-04-09T09:24:24.285-04:002014-04-09T09:24:24.285-04:00This is a fabulous and clear post for all--agented...This is a fabulous and clear post for all--agented, not yet agented, and agents. Thank you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46921416962186872202014-04-09T09:01:42.831-04:002014-04-09T09:01:42.831-04:00I've said this too many times that it's be...I've said this too many times that it's becoming redundant, but you rule. whiporeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02201122696485257003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9984897746840444612014-04-09T08:47:43.099-04:002014-04-09T08:47:43.099-04:00If you ever get closer than you seem right now, I ...If you ever get closer than you seem right now, I hope you will consider us a support group. We owe you so much more than we can ever repay.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63442348660214733742014-04-09T08:32:56.580-04:002014-04-09T08:32:56.580-04:00Years ago I owned a small manufacturing company. B...Years ago I owned a small manufacturing company. By working 24/365 I took it from up and coming to we’re there. I got sick as a result of burnout, defined as: exhaustion, stress and I never trained anyone to do what I did. The company went under with all my dreams of success. It was devastating. <br />You know that basket everybody talks about, the one filled with all the eggs you’re not supposed to put in it, well when those chicks start hatching you gotta be one hell of a chicken farmer and delegate the shit shoveling. Being pecked to death is for the birds.<br />Bah da bee bah da boom. (How corny was that?)<br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.com