tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4797397958422416489..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: The Engagement PeriodJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18233284164929204072015-10-06T14:14:13.723-04:002015-10-06T14:14:13.723-04:00Thanks for this post Janet. I have always had a fe...Thanks for this post Janet. I have always had a few questions ready for that call. I never expected an agent to have this much time to invest in an opening conversation.<br /><br />Will an agent always have the time to answer all these questions?<br /><br />Thanks and have a great day.<br /><br />thelonelyauthorblog <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34394522138402325602015-10-04T17:07:19.654-04:002015-10-04T17:07:19.654-04:00I've had a Word doc entitled "Questions t...I've had a Word doc entitled "Questions to Ask an Agent" sitting on my desktop just waiting for the day I need it. :) I don't want to panic when the call comes. I know exactly where my list of questions is! Now I just have to make sure my list isn't missing any of the questions suggested by the QOTKU.A.J. Cattapanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14568787801458618845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64631350125795200922015-10-03T22:27:38.669-04:002015-10-03T22:27:38.669-04:00Bookmarking, a day late. Thanks (as always) for su...Bookmarking, a day late. Thanks (as always) for such useful advice! <br /><br />Came up bupkis for stupid questions, but perhaps "What's a bupkis?" might be one of them.Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23547961350030093752015-10-03T12:45:47.376-04:002015-10-03T12:45:47.376-04:00Great post. I will bookmark it for future referenc...Great post. I will bookmark it for future reference. Thanks! Kathleeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06087009456072956020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43768339986046353262015-10-02T22:15:00.299-04:002015-10-02T22:15:00.299-04:00Susan: Yes, that's always fun. Yes, we can wor...Susan: Yes, that's always fun. Yes, we can work at it and work at it... I tend to work on it for awhile, then leave it for some time. Then I'll look at it, realize I can make something better, and give it a quick one-over.<br /><br />I let it go when it's the best I can make it. If I can make it better (as my skills grow), I'll fix it then. I just have to hope that my best is good enough to catch an agent's eye. BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65316804474107937682015-10-02T21:39:13.230-04:002015-10-02T21:39:13.230-04:00Awesome news, congrats, Wendy! :)
E.M.: Consideri...Awesome news, congrats, Wendy! :)<br /><br />E.M.: Considering I just sent out my final batch of queries today, YES PLEASE, ALL THE DRINKS. =P<br /><br />BJ: I think it's just that nagging question of when is it good enough (in a writer's mind, that's so often never). Especially when we're frequently met with silence now for rejections, it's difficult to determine where the problem is, especially if you thought your manuscript was ready. This is a difficult road...Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75099688961462240252015-10-02T21:23:50.360-04:002015-10-02T21:23:50.360-04:00Julie, I agree completely. I've had people say...Julie, I agree completely. I've had people say 'you should do a search for 'ly' and get rid of all those adverbs'. I've had people say 'agents will automatically reject you if you use a semi-colon.' <br /><br />You're right. You don't want too many. But cutting off an entire punctuation mark or part of speech - basically, dumping tools out of your writers workbox - that's just not very smart. Like any craftsperson, you learn to use your tools, you don't just throw the ones you think people don't like away.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53960730494136686432015-10-02T20:56:04.801-04:002015-10-02T20:56:04.801-04:00RobCeres,
It drives me nuts when I don't know...RobCeres,<br /><br />It drives me nuts when I don't know who's talking. Yes, you should be able to do away with most dialogue tags, but I see authors twist themselves into convoluted masses of messes trying to avoid the dreaded dialogue tag.<br /><br />The occasional attribute or simple he said is so much simpler. If I have to read back up to try and figure out who's speaking, it just irritates me. If an author irritates me enough, I stop reading. If they do that repeatedly, I refuse to ever buy another book. So, playing hide and seek with dialogue might seem clever, but when your reader spends more time trying to figure out who's speaking than enjoying the book, you haven't done your job.<br /><br />As with everything else, moderation in all things, including banning dialogue tags. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66493931949256701392015-10-02T20:34:18.324-04:002015-10-02T20:34:18.324-04:00Wendy, that's great news! Fingers crossed that...Wendy, that's great news! Fingers crossed that all goes well.<br /><br />E.M., I suspect that if agents who haven't read your book are saying it's too long for a debut novel, they're probably thinking that new-ish writers tend to overwrite and the word count is an indication you've done just that. However, if you started at 225K and have cut it down to 150K, you might have already solved the "problem" they think they're seeing. Honestly, I'd hesitate to cut too much more before someone who is interested reads it and gives feedback. You risk losing key parts of the story or messing with the voice. That said, I know nothing about word count expectations for fantasy, so . . . grain of salt. Good luck!<br /><br />Great set of questions, Janet. I hope someday I'll get an opportunity to ask a few of them while hyperventilating. In a fit of optimism, I have bookmarked it. Hell, maybe I'll even print it on paper like a responsible adult.<br /><br />I've heard a bunch of stupid questions in my life. I've asked more than a few, usually when I'm being too lazy to look it up somewhere. But from an agent's perspective, I imagine the only stupid question is, "Can I send you a query?"<br /><br />My pressing stupid question right now is, "Is it <i>ever</i> going to stop raining?" I'm afraid the answer is, "No. Never." <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6273764558810896622015-10-02T20:16:20.527-04:002015-10-02T20:16:20.527-04:00Oh my gosh Wendy! Congratulations! Hope it goes we...Oh my gosh Wendy! Congratulations! Hope it goes well!!<br /><br />This post is reason #234,966,748 why Janet Reid is the QOTKU. Thank you!Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87579735157337755302015-10-02T19:52:55.646-04:002015-10-02T19:52:55.646-04:00Go Wendy! Please do share your experience. A real ...Go Wendy! Please do share your experience. A real agent call! So exciting. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52163591593699229982015-10-02T19:46:15.163-04:002015-10-02T19:46:15.163-04:00Woooo!! That's awesome, Wendy! :D I hope it go...Woooo!! That's awesome, Wendy! :D I hope it goes really well for you--that you and Agent Fantastic hit it off, and that everything she suggests for your novel resonates with you. Be sure to let us know when you post your "I've got an agent" news. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19365113230543624502015-10-02T18:53:13.965-04:002015-10-02T18:53:13.965-04:00Eeep is right! *Shivers for Wendy...*
Congratula...Eeep is right! *Shivers for Wendy...*<br /><br />Congratulations Wendy - in advance!!! Good luck on the call and let us know what happens...Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35747817149577803392015-10-02T18:23:13.391-04:002015-10-02T18:23:13.391-04:00Thanks so much for this timely post - I have a &qu...Thanks so much for this timely post - I have a "the call" scheduled for tomorrow afternoon (eep!) and I'm going to get myself all in a tizzy between now and then. It's a fantastic agent who really knows her stuff and I'm assuming "discuss your manuscript and possible representation" means she likes it but I've still got the potential to shoot myself in the foot if I sound like too much of an idiot :-\Wendy Quallshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738672242498685175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12432869720862451062015-10-02T18:17:31.665-04:002015-10-02T18:17:31.665-04:00The only stupid question is the one you didn't...The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask. Of course, it comes second to, "So . . . when are we going on a date? I'm into leather and farm animals. You are too, right? The slithery Barbara Poelle told me so. The safe word is Baaaaah!"Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20580370752354184852015-10-02T17:47:20.071-04:002015-10-02T17:47:20.071-04:00Great post. Every writer searching for publication...Great post. Every writer searching for publication should read this. thelonelyauthorblogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91543370804951512262015-10-02T17:47:13.696-04:002015-10-02T17:47:13.696-04:00Thank you for this list. No idea what the stupid q...Thank you for this list. No idea what the stupid question is but I can't wait to know. But Colin has misplaced priorities. It's not a root canal, it's an abscessed tooth, and at least Trump's book has several uses other than wasted reading time.<br /><br />E.M. I look forward to hearing how your querying goes. <br />angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50676049310261244132015-10-02T14:58:53.139-04:002015-10-02T14:58:53.139-04:00Dialog tags are always fair game forhacking. I oft...Dialog tags are always fair game forhacking. I often think that if I've got the voice of my characters perfectly right no dialog tags would be needed. Readers could just tell who is talking by how they say things, or in the context. Think Jane Austen, who often fails to use dialog tags because she feels like her readers should just know. That said, sometimes she uses no tags when it IS impossible to tell who said what. BUT, she only does this when it doesn't matter who said the line. I've often admired this approach, which leaves the decision up to the reader's imagination. In her case, I think it greatly enriches her works.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02694333358894726440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25654228279235917742015-10-02T13:55:48.717-04:002015-10-02T13:55:48.717-04:00What a great list of questions to ask! I wish I&#...What a great list of questions to ask! I wish I'd had that handy when I had the call with my agents because I forgot pretty much everything I had planned to ask in the shock and excitement of being told they were going to sign me... Luckily they understood and I had a chance to email them later with all the questions I had failed to ask.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47862322927578858832015-10-02T13:24:24.614-04:002015-10-02T13:24:24.614-04:00I've been shopping my novel around for awhile....I've been shopping my novel around for awhile. Every once in awhile, I see something I think I can make better. Recently, I wanted to make sure that a statement I wanted in there was clear. So I did a quick full editing run-through.<br /><br />I realized that I used a lot of dialogue tags (he said, etc.) when they weren't needed or could be said better with an action. For instance, in a paragraph where I have a character do something then say something, I don't have to say 'he said' because it can be assumed the character that is speaking is the character that was acting in the same paragraph.<br /><br />I cut about a thousand words that way. And my novel is already a good length for a debut science fiction novel. It's still a good length, but I think it's stronger now.<br /><br />Susan: It really depends on the agent. Some agents are hands-on editors, some are not. The ideal is to put the best book you can in front of agents. If they see something they want to work with, great. But they have to see that. So we work and polish as much as possible, hoping to find that agent that will see something they love in that manuscript and will be willing to help you make it even better.<br /><br />And have fun at your conference, Chief Panda!<br /><br />EM: Janet's special way of dealing with the mental disorder that is being a writer is: this blog. :)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54161926932029113112015-10-02T13:23:20.036-04:002015-10-02T13:23:20.036-04:00Dino porn will be the indispensable literary genre...Dino porn will be the indispensable literary genre of the next decade. The franchise rights alone will make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518234031222836203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33267094002644190322015-10-02T12:49:55.415-04:002015-10-02T12:49:55.415-04:00Susan, If you need a drink, I'm buying. Do age...Susan, If you need a drink, I'm buying. Do agents have special ways of dealing with the mental disorder that is being a writer? I wonder. I do. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76733807201762069162015-10-02T12:38:50.745-04:002015-10-02T12:38:50.745-04:00Oh, Colin, nice! Reminds me of the comma jokes... ...Oh, Colin, nice! Reminds me of the comma jokes... Let's eat granny smith.John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45503763869735819302015-10-02T12:36:16.716-04:002015-10-02T12:36:16.716-04:00Panda, good luck and have fun. I wish I was going ...Panda, good luck and have fun. I wish I was going to another conference. Instead I am opening the bar, lighting some candles, and fretting over word countE.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36596997852232341372015-10-02T12:33:30.585-04:002015-10-02T12:33:30.585-04:00The only stupid question is:
Can I kiss you?
;)The only stupid question is:<br /><br />Can I kiss you?<br /><br />;)Marc Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107171881634183noreply@blogger.com