tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post5090029034929654156..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query question: should I not query during Book Fairs?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29174732458594395422015-05-19T18:55:42.769-04:002015-05-19T18:55:42.769-04:00@ Lizzy (from yesterday) - Bear spray in my backpa...@ Lizzy (from yesterday) - Bear spray in my backpack, just in case. I'd hate to use it, though.Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57981984670928655682015-05-19T11:22:51.181-04:002015-05-19T11:22:51.181-04:00When it's ready, hit send. Yes. I agree with t...When it's ready, hit send. Yes. I agree with that. And if they are closed to submissions, wait. I agree with that too. But that's not the Only exception.<br /><br />Another exception is if you find out the agent isn't right for you as an author (even if you were ready to query her/him). <br /><br />I'll never query Janet with my current manuscript (which is ready) because I found out Janet doesn't rep PBs. I still think she'd love one of my novels, but I need to find an agent that reps ALL my work.<br /><br />(Does this ban me to Carkoon?)<br /><br />So DO hit send, and DO query widely, no matter what time of year. but also DO your research and DON'T send it to every agent on the planet.JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54808215046133501002015-05-19T08:55:55.786-04:002015-05-19T08:55:55.786-04:00Wow! So many reasons to procrastinate, I mean, car...Wow! So many reasons to procrastinate, I mean, carefully determine when to submit a query. AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39178168162431970052015-05-19T00:37:13.202-04:002015-05-19T00:37:13.202-04:00All about BEA With Advice From QOTKU
I thought th...<a href="http://pubtalktv.com/" rel="nofollow">All about BEA With Advice From QOTKU</a><br /><br />I thought this conversation was interesting and it mentions Janet Reid's advice regarding BEA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74237226403295029512015-05-18T23:01:02.035-04:002015-05-18T23:01:02.035-04:00Ginger: What a wonderful backdrop for a writing an...Ginger: What a wonderful backdrop for a writing and editing session. I'd love to do more of that sort of thing. The bear would scare me though.Lizzie https://www.blogger.com/profile/15598041241979147543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10685050771840344522015-05-18T20:41:32.749-04:002015-05-18T20:41:32.749-04:00KD, scary stuff the heart and the woodland creatur...KD, scary stuff the heart and the woodland creatures in your attic. I hope you get rid of them unless it really turns out to be 2Ns knitting you a sweater for Christmas. I agree, there are a number of phrases used here that would have to be explained to outsiders. <br /><br />Ginger, dreamy doctor was definitely the silver lining to this long day. <br /><br />Rob, of course it doesn't go backwards, it's an illusion just like when you're sitting in a stationary train and the train on the next track leaves. It gives you the impression that you're train is moving backwards. It's the same with the planets orbiting around the sun. <br /><br />There were a number of famous astronomers who were also astrologers. I'm not talking about horoscope bs, I'm talking about using an ephemeris and mathematical calculations. Anyway, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, but I love astronomy, and branches of physics, especially astrophysics and quantum mechanics, so I'm with you there.<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38248342280479961632015-05-18T20:00:31.721-04:002015-05-18T20:00:31.721-04:00You all might get a kick out of this: last night I...You all might get a kick out of this: last night I was re-reading a section of my novella, looking for something for continuity reasons (I'm currently working on second in the series), and one of my characters used the term "woodland creatures." I wrote it 18 months ago and didn't remember using the term. I laughed so hard I scared the cat. Then laughed even harder when I realized no one but this group over here would even "get" why it was funny.<br /><br />This is firmly in the category of Things I Can Never Tell My Kids Or They'll Commit Me.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28225200500553378852015-05-18T19:27:16.012-04:002015-05-18T19:27:16.012-04:00Uh, Mercury does not ever go backwards. That would...Uh, Mercury does not ever go backwards. That would be astromy and physics. Much more reliable than astrology. <br /><br />And the rain in the caves? That would be the bats. You don't want to think about it too much. Let's just say, they aren't teachers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02694333358894726440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43871248277638927852015-05-18T18:57:44.565-04:002015-05-18T18:57:44.565-04:00Kd, it's just me, knitting.Kd, it's just me, knitting.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19111317287207261042015-05-18T18:51:51.255-04:002015-05-18T18:51:51.255-04:00LynnR- good grief! I'm glad it wasn't some...LynnR- good grief! I'm glad it wasn't something serious, but stop worrying us like that. (I went to the ER once for the same reason. Turned out I'd pulled a muscle raking leaves.) Congrats to your niece!<br /><br />Colin- Not sure how I'll explain if he finds a detailed written "Plan to Escape From Carkoon"<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80897457063585983492015-05-18T18:13:46.107-04:002015-05-18T18:13:46.107-04:00Great question, and greater answer.
@bjmuntain - ...Great question, and greater answer.<br /><br />@bjmuntain - yes, that's what i was thinking. Agents 'in' boxes are empty, and they're just pining for queries! They have proper time to read contently. Every word - as opposed to "skimming."<br /><br />@Jed, @Angie, @Craig - cute!<br /><br />@LynnRodz - Dreamy doctor, talk about a silver lining.Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57152003489604663152015-05-18T18:10:41.788-04:002015-05-18T18:10:41.788-04:00kd: I can just imagine the guy going up to your at...kd: I can just imagine the guy going up to your attic and finding pieces of paper with lists of dates "When Not To Query" tacked to the walls... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72245243194078326782015-05-18T17:56:21.360-04:002015-05-18T17:56:21.360-04:00*makes note re Zombie Apocalypse*
*makes note re A...*makes note re Zombie Apocalypse*<br />*makes note re ALL THE MONTHS*<br /><br />I'm going a GREAT job following all this advice, as I've never queried anyone, ever. So I just need to keep doing that and I'll be fine. Right?<br /><br />Although, I think Janet is the exception regarding zombies, as she reps Robin Becker and survived publication of BRAINS, A Zombie Memoir. At least, we *think* she survived. Perhaps this explains the lack of photos...<br /><br />I actually came over here to tell you all that I've got a guy coming over tomorrow afternoon to evict Woodland Creatures from my attic. I haven't seen them, but the heavy thumping noises make me suspect they're not squirrels. I'm guessing raccoons. Or fellow commenters. So, fair warning. Get out while you still can. And next time, ring the doorbell. I won't answer, of course, but I won't have you forcibly removed either.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />I swear, it's never nothing.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61065834005526027922015-05-18T17:51:24.123-04:002015-05-18T17:51:24.123-04:00I remember hearing once that some agents refer to ...I remember hearing once that some agents refer to December as "NaNo Rejection Month." I don't think this is a reason not to query, however. If you've got a polished manuscript and query like you know what you're doing, then it's going to be clear that you didn't dash off a novel in November and query it on December 1.Beth H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14281003524857655329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62400437040488394312015-05-18T17:40:15.317-04:002015-05-18T17:40:15.317-04:00You guys crack me up, too. (See what you started H...You guys crack me up, too. (See what you started Hank?) <br /><br />Kitty, thanks for your link, but between you and I, I use to be a professional astrologer for years. I stopped because I had a number of famous people as clients and then it got to the point I had people calling me from other parts of Europe and little by little I had no time for myself. I was paid very well, but it wasn't worth it. This was years ago. I don't even look at my own chart much anymore, but I will do a natal or progressive chart for close family members. <br /><br />We tried to tell them, Kitty. Anyway, you and I know better than to send a query during that time. LOL!<br /><br />Today was some day. I woke up and looked at Facebook and what did I see? My 14 year old niece has published her first novel. A few hours later I found myself in the ER having a heart attack which turned out to be a panic attack. Damn, she shouldn't do that to me! LOL.<br /><br />While I was having a transfusion a handsome doctor walked by. He came back a few seconds later and walked into the room.<br /><br />"I've seen you before." dreamy doctor said.<br />"Yes, I was here last year around this time. I had bronchitis.<br />"Oh yeah, I remember. What are you here for this time?"<br />"I came in because I thought I was having a heart attack."<br />"Things are progressing well, I see." he said and patted my hand.<br /><br />Omg, I thought he was trying to kill me. I started laughing which didn't help my aching heart.<br /><br />Diagnosis: It wasn't a heart attack or a panic attack, I have a heart of an athlete. Who knew.<br /><br />(Oh yeah, I was kidding about my niece being the blame, I didn't see that FB notice until I was already at the ER waiting for the results of my tests.)<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90000761899336632562015-05-18T17:37:09.680-04:002015-05-18T17:37:09.680-04:00I'm taking up knitting.
Buy my house.
Who get...I'm taking up knitting.<br />Buy my house.<br /><br />Who gets soup three times in a row anyway? Enough with the liquid meals. Jeez.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22562554593896294512015-05-18T17:15:14.227-04:002015-05-18T17:15:14.227-04:00Excellent point, BJ! No, I heard third-hand (that ...Excellent point, BJ! No, I heard third-hand (that should have been my first clue) that an aspiring writer was advised not to query in December due to the glutton of NaNos.<br /><br />But I like your advice better!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49345367087368060062015-05-18T15:43:37.005-04:002015-05-18T15:43:37.005-04:00(laugh) You guys are crazy.(laugh) You guys are crazy.Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67684863386772185372015-05-18T15:33:31.917-04:002015-05-18T15:33:31.917-04:00Ah Craig you beat me to it...
Woodland writer’s a...Ah Craig you beat me to it...<br /><br />Woodland writer’s advice for query timing :<br /><br />1. Never send a query during Mercury in retrograde except for Astrology and nonfiction.<br />2. Never send a query in the summer unless your book is set in your holiday home, and the MC is a sailor likes BBQs and new cocktail recipes and the Awesome Agent you sent it to builds sandcastles with their two year old.<br />3. Never send a query during book conventions. Take it there in person, even if you have to sell a kidney.<br />4. Never query a manuscript containing vampires and werewolves around Halloween. <br />5. Never send a query after NaNo. Especially if it has anything to do with cranberry sauce, roast Turkey and dysfunctional family gatherings.<br />6. Never query during Christmas holiday unless you are bored out of your skull.<br />7. Never query a Romance on Valentine’s day.<br />8. Never send a memoir about your mother-daughter relationship on Mother’s day.<br />9. Never send a query on Mayday if your manuscript is about revolution or Armageddon.<br />10. Never query after a natural disaster if your manuscript is about hurricane Buttonwhaler and how Felix saved Manhattan.<br /><br />@Colin, love 'dicey'. Gonna use it, but I promise I won't quote you.<br /><br />angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32814512197192685322015-05-18T15:15:16.491-04:002015-05-18T15:15:16.491-04:002N's - A what suit? A wetsuit? Didn't have...2N's - A what suit? A wetsuit? Didn't have that on my packing list. Just this line about a "birthday suit" but I think that's a given...<br /><br />And I'm not sure wearing my birthday suit would have helped the waterboarding that was happening in that cave...<br /><br /><br />:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51380871740737810312015-05-18T15:13:05.184-04:002015-05-18T15:13:05.184-04:00DO NOT QUERY IN:
January: All of those superstiti...DO NOT QUERY IN:<br /><br />January: All of those superstitious enough to believe the interweb stories of agents tossing queries in December have flooded the email servers of agents into submission.<br /><br />February: It is too cold and the nuance you built in will be missed.<br /><br />March: Agents are on the internet looking at the temperatures in Florida all of the time.<br /><br />April: The mud is too deep to get to the office and then a late ice storm knocks out the internet.<br /><br />May: Too much other shit is happening.<br /><br />June: The first half is vacation on the shore. The second half is for recovery.<br /><br />July: Vacation and family reunion in the mountains. Nearest WiFi is twenty five miles away.<br /><br />August: The agent you query will swelter because their A/C unit took a dump. Early ice storms make a mess of traffic.<br /><br />September: Boucheron.<br /><br />October: Halloween and the zombie apocalypse.<br /><br />November: The agent you queried realizes that they have 120 fulls to read.<br /><br />December: You agent doesn't even look for new queries because the last few years no one queried in December.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53677295325533149842015-05-18T14:56:25.434-04:002015-05-18T14:56:25.434-04:00Remember not to query if the date you're sendi...Remember not to query if the date you're sending adds up to an odd number. Also, if the day itself is an odd number. <br /><br />But, whatever you do, don't query if the day and date, plus your birthday, minus your shoe size, divided by the number of hairs on the agent's chin, is a number greater than the number of cats in their neighbourhood.Jed Cullanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366003552650790684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25797392855119240322015-05-18T14:50:36.876-04:002015-05-18T14:50:36.876-04:00Lynn, I agree! Here's Susan Millers guide: Me...Lynn, I agree! Here's Susan Millers guide: <a href="http://www.astrologyzone.com/forecasts/mercury.html" rel="nofollow">Mercury Retrograde and What it Means for You</a>Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11772310179223546476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37711319008082918722015-05-18T14:33:51.517-04:002015-05-18T14:33:51.517-04:00Karen: Wonderful Mr Dedd theme!
I think the big n...Karen: Wonderful Mr Dedd theme!<br /><br />I think the big no-no about querying after NaNo is for the writers who just finished their novel during NaNo. <br /><br />I'm sure that's not how you heard it, but it seems to me that's the way it should be.<br /><br />"Did you finish your novel during NaNo? DON'T QUERY IT IN DECEMBER." <br /><br />As for people who understand the publishing process and have polished their manuscripts to a gleam, I'd think December would be a great time to query. After all, the agents will be rejecting post-NaNo queries left, right, and centre, and they'll be so grateful to get a professional query that they'll instantly request a partial or a full.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56833469046836947102015-05-18T14:20:24.387-04:002015-05-18T14:20:24.387-04:00This is a relief, as I've heard people say thi...This is a relief, as I've heard people say things like, "Don't query right after NaNo, because that's when every Buttonweezer is submitting their first-draft manuscript." But like any assumption, it's probably theoretical.<br /><br />Colin: Regarding Mr. Dedd: "A corpse is a corpse, of course of course...and no one can talk to a corpse, of course, that is, of course, unless the corpse is the famous Mr. Dedd..."<br /><br />And speaking of Book Faires, I'm going to renew my shout-out to anyone who might be going to BEA--perhaps we could have a Carkoon-themed get-together? Anyone...anyone? Buehler...Buehler?Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.com