tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4565986241980108921..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Business cards for writersJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20688112270020786122017-09-09T06:30:30.613-04:002017-09-09T06:30:30.613-04:00I think we were going from Philadelphia (Mississip...I think we were going from Philadelphia (Mississippi, not the other one) to Lake Cavalier just outside Jackson. Probably from a funeral, given Mother's stress level and our dress code.CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49552976959669926232017-09-09T06:27:43.139-04:002017-09-09T06:27:43.139-04:00Thanks, Donna! Yes, that was my only cotton pickin...Thanks, Donna! Yes, that was my only cotton picking experience. Cotton is tougher than it looks. I had sore fingers for days. I kept that stalk for a long time - stuck it in a vase and used it for decoration. CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41408882736334279632017-09-08T06:09:01.117-04:002017-09-08T06:09:01.117-04:00CynthiaMc I loved that story! I loved "Where...<b>CynthiaMc</b> I loved that story! I loved "Where The Hell Are We" Mississippi - hey, I get it. Been to MS many times. Those long rolling highways with very little to see for miles and miles except (at least the part we go to) kudzu, deep ditches, fields of soybean, cotton, tobacco and corn. And trees. And more kudzu. Cows. I love that state though.<br /><br />My next book is set on a cotton farm in eastern NC. I would say you'd have been a great resource - except - sounds like that one time is all the cotton picking you ever did. Great story!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13689371464000524882017-09-08T05:27:50.409-04:002017-09-08T05:27:50.409-04:00I know I'm late to the party but I have a cot...I know I'm late to the party but I have a cotton story. Nobody in Florida is sleeping right now so I'm telling a bedtime story (probably to myself).<br /><br />My mother grew up on a farm in Mississippi. One of their crops was cotton. Occasionally Mother would het annoyed by her citified children who had never been out to the country except to go to the lake house. (None of us ever dared point out that was because all of the farm kids including her became citified adults). <br /><br />I was about ten. We were on the way to the lake house. Mother was stressy and I was whining. Mother snapped and lit into me about how I had no idea about what hard work was (in fairness to her, I didn't. In fairness to me, that's the world she put me in). <br /><br />On either side of the highway were endless cotton fields. Mother said in a withering tone "You never even picked cotton." That made me laugh. Y'all, never laugh at your mother when she's lecturing you. If she had said that to me when I was twelve, I would've lowered my eyes and said "No,ma'am." But I was ten and I laughed. <br /><br />Mother pulled off to the side of the road in Where the Hell Are We Mississippi and said "Get out of the car." I really thought she was going to leave me there. She got out too, grabbed me by the hand, and said "We are going to pick cotton." I don't remember where we were prior to that, but I do remember we were not dressed for picking cotton. Mother was in heels and pearls and a dress more suited to Garden Club. I was worried about my patent leather shoes and cute little dress as we scrambled through barbed wire. I scrambled. Mother leapt it like a gazelle. "This is a cotton boll," she said. "This is how you pick it." She made me pick a few. "Got it?"<br /><br />This time I was smart enough to say "Yes, ma'am." <br /><br />Mother ripped off a stalk with a few bursting bolls on it, handed it to me, and said "Never forget."<br /><br />If I manage to make it to heaven, I fully expect Mother to say "Remember the time I taught you how to pick cotton?"<br /><br />And I will say "Yes,ma'am."<br /><br />To my fellow sleepless Floridians, Godspeed. Get ready. Stay safe.<br /><br />CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47522660963000173572017-09-07T22:13:43.914-04:002017-09-07T22:13:43.914-04:00Thanks SteveThanks <b>Steve</b>Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88806180911815660992017-09-07T18:50:09.263-04:002017-09-07T18:50:09.263-04:00For once I've done something right!
I've ...For once I've done something right!<br /><br />I've done this for a few years now, and since doing it agents I've talked to have asked for the card for that reason - so they can remember the conversation =)AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53884567311168611442017-09-07T18:01:24.435-04:002017-09-07T18:01:24.435-04:00Joseph Snoe said...
Days after E.J. arrives o...Joseph Snoe said...<br /><br /> Days after E.J. arrives on<br /> an island in Brazil . . .<br /><br /> Terrorists want to kill him<br /> and the police want<br /> him for murder.<br /><br />Great story idea. Here is a suggestion for making it more compelling:<br /><br />E.J. just wants to vacation in Brazil. But terrorists are spoilling his fun. The police, too. They want him for murder. Next year E.J. will stay home.<br /><br />If he can get home alive, that is.<br /><br />That might be too much for a card. Your story would make a good query letter, though. Let us know when it comes out.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81103255960008471062017-09-07T17:13:09.329-04:002017-09-07T17:13:09.329-04:00While they are moderately more annoying to keep up...While they are moderately more annoying to keep up with on my end, I hand out bookmarks instead of business cards. They're based on each book's cover, with various contact info, a tag line, etc. And they get spread around to a lot more people, hopefully encouraging new readers.roadkills-r-ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029861300358380117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83058370012201078332017-09-07T16:12:32.749-04:002017-09-07T16:12:32.749-04:00Great idea, Janet! I'll have to look into that...Great idea, Janet! I'll have to look into that. Thank you!BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10610800005603501782017-09-07T15:12:40.371-04:002017-09-07T15:12:40.371-04:00Possible responses to Janet:
1) Sorry, I can'...Possible responses to <b>Janet</b>:<br /><br />1) Sorry, I can't critique a commenter's spelling.<br />2) Yes, Label is Spanish, not French.<br />3) Yes, i is.<br />4) You're absolutely correct, O Most Glorious of All Sharks!<br /><br />Let's go with 4, eh? ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75541298616960262212017-09-07T13:35:26.026-04:002017-09-07T13:35:26.026-04:00Label is el not le isn't i?
Yea, I need to hav...Label is el not le isn't i?<br />Yea, I need to have spell check installed in my brain.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59745437786204325412017-09-07T13:28:18.638-04:002017-09-07T13:28:18.638-04:00BJ I know you have neat handwriting but you can sa...<b>BJ</b> I know you have neat handwriting but you can save time by using lables. Find a lable size closest to the card and print them up on the computer.<br /><br />I did that for years as I switched email addresses often. (Yea, back in the dial up AOL days!)Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-68229775955431399052017-09-07T13:09:44.816-04:002017-09-07T13:09:44.816-04:00Yes, now we're OT, but I found this interestin...Yes, now we're OT, but I found this interesting. So <b>Colin</b> pointed out the origin of "cotton to," meaning to take a liking to...<br /><br />And here's the first thing I landed on to back that up: <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cotton-on.html" rel="nofollow">Cotton to</a><br /><br />But the reason for thinking it's "southern" is b/c I think just about every other phrase with something to do with cotton appears based on having originated in the south. Such as "cotton picking," used in a negative manner. Anywho, for your reading pleasure and maybe more than you wanted to know. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cotton-picking.html" rel="nofollow">cotton picking</a><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6894904771458865772017-09-07T12:59:41.821-04:002017-09-07T12:59:41.821-04:00Ah, I did miss that Colin - not sure how since I u...Ah, I did miss that <b>Colin</b> - not sure how since I usually make sure I read your comments! Thump to the noggin' for moi.<br /><br />:)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89424429148947209482017-09-07T11:53:25.080-04:002017-09-07T11:53:25.080-04:00Wow - I actually did something right.
Before I w...Wow - I actually did something right.<br /><br />Before I went to the Writers League of Texas conference in 2014 I had cards printed. Name, book title, address, telephone numbers and email address on the front.<br /><br />On the back:<br /><br />Days after E.J. arrives on <br />an island in Brazil . . .<br /><br />Terrorists want to kill him <br />and the police want <br />him for murder. <br /><br />A benefit to me was taking the card to the pitch sessions to hand to the agent. In my first pitch session. I saw the back of the card right before i started my pitch and found myself using the little blurb to start the pitch. It got my voice working and the narrative flowing. Nice confidence builder.<br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9244773527729605892017-09-07T11:17:55.795-04:002017-09-07T11:17:55.795-04:00About five years ago, I got a deal on business car...About five years ago, I got a deal on business cards - 500 for $10. I still have about half of them. I like them. They look professional, they have all my important contact information, and they're pretty good quality. They don't have anything about my novel on them, though. The deal was for only one-sided cards.<br /><br />So, I have a whole back space to handwrite the information about whatever work I'm pitching. I'd never thought to do that before. I may have to do that from now on. (Luckily, I have neat printing.) I'll remember this for future cards.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29237457074153987502017-09-07T10:25:08.918-04:002017-09-07T10:25:08.918-04:00And thanks Colin, Donna, and Lennon. :)And thanks Colin, Donna, and Lennon. :)Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18566943941313998222017-09-07T10:22:00.972-04:002017-09-07T10:22:00.972-04:00I promptly visited Merriam Webster after reading t...I promptly visited Merriam Webster after reading today's post to learn more about "cotton" as a verb. Then I told the kids about it after having one of my "I can't send the kids out into the world without them knowing (blank)" moments. Now they know too. Whew! Thanks, Janet.Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76500183520427521872017-09-07T10:18:10.175-04:002017-09-07T10:18:10.175-04:00England? I was thinking Cotton Mather, author and ...England? I was thinking Cotton Mather, author and Salem witch trials enthusiast. Once he "cottoned onto" something, he didn't let go. I do wonder where his name originated though...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581361783795436259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86917982905708900842017-09-07T10:07:25.626-04:002017-09-07T10:07:25.626-04:00Donna: See my comment above. You'd think "...<b>Donna</b>: See my comment above. You'd think "to cotton" was a Southernism given the association of cotton fields and the South. But it originated in England. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55413241241140652522017-09-07T10:03:45.137-04:002017-09-07T10:03:45.137-04:00And other examples exist I'm sure.And other examples exist I'm sure. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33788104304787709202017-09-07T10:02:43.495-04:002017-09-07T10:02:43.495-04:002Ns - that was a hoot.
"I have never been ke...2Ns - that was a hoot.<br /><br />"I have never been keen on taking cards from writers at conferences."<br /><br />And I was going to say, "Nope, as a writer, I would hope it would be the OTHER way around."<br /><br />And then you said, "But I've <b>cottoned</b> on to your woodland creature ways (failing to query when asked, doubting my sincerity in asking). So now, sometimes, a FEW times, when I think a project has promise I ask the writer for a card.<br /><br /><b>Amy</b> Why yes! Cotton can be a verb. I took a cotton to it. (meaning I liked it) Or, used a bit differently, "they're in high cotton now." (meaning they've done well, or are doing well.)<br /><br />Southernisms!Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23734915187740163492017-09-07T09:59:41.055-04:002017-09-07T09:59:41.055-04:00The good news is business cards are a fabulous ide...The good news is business cards are a fabulous idea. The bad news is now I'm drooling over letterpress and card stock options instead of, you know, writing. (One small press has a card called 'American Psycho'-- made my morning.)MelSavranskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03917897217765196343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46842264516573020202017-09-07T09:43:41.311-04:002017-09-07T09:43:41.311-04:00My brain just processed Felix's interesting ca...My brain just processed Felix's interesting card. My now caffeinated brain!Sherry Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04326605891373049617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38879988129095654122017-09-07T09:41:15.035-04:002017-09-07T09:41:15.035-04:00I was very glad to have had business cards at my l...I was very glad to have had business cards at my last conference. I was asked for them a lot. I wish they had been more up to date. Going to order some more.<br /><br />Felix sure does have the Carkoon vegan Dino porn and romance market locked down. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.com