tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6802687586621534465..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Conference meetings with an agent who has a ms on submissionJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57813916822683682232015-10-20T12:22:20.954-04:002015-10-20T12:22:20.954-04:00Janet is right (of course). As a Picture Book writ...Janet is right (of course). As a Picture Book writer, I feel your pain, though. I'd submitted to some of the agents before a conference and wondered "What do I do?" I didn't get a chance to pitch at the conference, but afterward I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get out of the slush-pile. Here's what I did:<br /><br />I decided if the manuscript I'd submitted was still a good fit. If it was, I simply queried with it again using the conference subject line and mentioned that this was a revised version of an earlier submission. If I thought another MS would work better, then I queried with the new one and said why I thought it would be a better fit.JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74080380131717375372015-10-20T09:39:44.238-04:002015-10-20T09:39:44.238-04:00Ha! Curtis! I agree with 2Ns. Great cover!Ha! Curtis! I agree with 2Ns. Great cover!Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24927215201219117892015-10-20T05:47:36.838-04:002015-10-20T05:47:36.838-04:00Hey Curtis, I LOVE your BAD DOG cover !Hey Curtis, I LOVE your BAD DOG cover !Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61170847857036906982015-10-20T05:44:29.148-04:002015-10-20T05:44:29.148-04:00LOVE the Poofs video.
Now THAT'S a woodland c...LOVE the Poofs video.<br /><br />Now THAT'S a woodland creature with big acorns.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30069661018449725602015-10-20T03:16:36.371-04:002015-10-20T03:16:36.371-04:00I don't comment here very often, but I had to ...I don't comment here very often, but I had to chime in and say that dog picture is hilarious. :)Curtis Moserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05021906060658789963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14621303584139947932015-10-20T01:25:24.880-04:002015-10-20T01:25:24.880-04:00If hang ten means hanging ten toes over the front ...If hang ten means hanging ten toes over the front of the board, then this guy gets a caption worth bragging about: HANG 50! He's dangling 50 flippin' shark teeth over the front of his board.<br /><br />I found the longer version of the video on YouTube. Apparently the guy's a writer. At the conclusion, he says, "Writing a novel is like surfing with a shark in your face. You can only see as far as the shark's snout, but you can make the whole trip to shore that way."<br /><br />E.L. Surforow. He's also another one a them unreliable narrators.John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31098808737209890752015-10-20T00:43:46.248-04:002015-10-20T00:43:46.248-04:00Hey, Janet!
Thank you! That's the one!Hey, Janet!<br /><br />Thank you! That's the one! Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75732244250485111882015-10-19T23:26:53.263-04:002015-10-19T23:26:53.263-04:00Poof,
Here's the great shark video at Surfers...<br><br /><br><br />Poof,<br><br />Here's the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristianosSurfersPuertoRico/videos/877715872343374" rel="nofollow">great shark video at Surfers PR on Facebook. </a> Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52460210055135344322015-10-19T22:27:11.353-04:002015-10-19T22:27:11.353-04:00There's a great shark video at Surfers PR on F...There's a great shark video at Surfers PR on Facebook. <br />https://www.facebook.com/ChristianosSurfersPuertoRico/videos/877715872343374/<br /><br />Is it Janet in a hunt for Aussie writers?<br />Is it Her Sharkiness surfing tandem with a new client? Way to show him off!<br /><br />Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56883487585885679562015-10-19T20:39:18.414-04:002015-10-19T20:39:18.414-04:00I want COWGIRLS WANTED. I want to go to the movie ...I want COWGIRLS WANTED. I want to go to the movie COWGIRLS WANTED.<br />One of my recent columns covered the whole strong women in movies thing, my daughter's and I call it required watching, BABY BOOM, LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, ALIEN, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, to name a few plus one, COWGIRLS WANTED would be a great movie and book addition. This excites me. AND I'm not the only one here who is.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28966587751453902332015-10-19T18:53:30.462-04:002015-10-19T18:53:30.462-04:00Kate, I had a similar thing happen. Many years ago...Kate, I had a similar thing happen. Many years ago I connected with an agent who wanted to add more non-fiction history authors to his/her clientele. I pitched the project I was working on at the time, and though the agent couldn't see its commercial appeal he/she liked my writing and asked if I had other projects in mind. So we talked some things over and the agent got really interested in a couple of those ideas. I wrote those up as brief proposals, as we had agreed, and I never, ever heard a thing back. I was such a flash in the pan.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2917914072770516922015-10-19T17:10:24.129-04:002015-10-19T17:10:24.129-04:00So what if an agent seeks you out and asks to see ...So what if an agent seeks you out and asks to see a pitch. When you pitch they are excited and ask to see your first few chapters (it's a non-fiction history mss), acknowledge they received the chapters and will read them "next week" and then never, ever email with you again? I followed up once but got no response. I'm not heart-broken just think it was rude of her. She contacted me. Thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04633069859469991339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36660227925956848912015-10-19T16:49:27.645-04:002015-10-19T16:49:27.645-04:00racherin, you make good say-things and what writer...racherin, you make good say-things and what writerly group doesn't like that? :D (Some people have a way with words. Some people (c'est moi) not ... do be having ... that way.)<br /><br />Julie, you write the world as it is, that's good writing - and you write stories that are rather more alive than mine. That's all it takes. I don't think there is a quota , but there is a movement, and it's a good movement; as we were observing at JRW this weekend, "The default is white." Kids grow up feeling invisible. #WeNeedDiverseBooks originated in the context of kids - and it's not just a racial/gender issue, it addresses disability and socio-economic or class status, mental illness or physical and developmental differences, age, all those who may feel marginalized. Having recently been reacquainted with the first boy I ever loved, who suffers mental illness, this struck home in a new way.<br /><br />#WNDB boils down to this - stereotyping is lazy writing. Forgetting people unlike ourselves exist is lazy writing. We know you are no lazy writer; probably nobody here is. My internalizing the diversity issue is *born* of THE AX AND THE VASE, it's likely I have felt some constraint, living in Clovis's head for a decade and more. I do hope I am not coming off as didactic. But, as for me, more readers = all to the good. And characters who take me well out of myself = joyous!DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35155586329255326352015-10-19T16:34:47.908-04:002015-10-19T16:34:47.908-04:00Racherin,
I'm glad you uncloaked and posted. ...Racherin,<br /><br />I'm glad you uncloaked and posted. <br /><br />I completely agree. I have pretty much stopped the twitter contests though some people seem to be doing well with them and getting requests. The questions are from participating writers who seem to think it's all right to go around asking how many characters of abc or xyz you have in your WIP and reminding everyone diversity matters. Yes, it does, but great writing trumps all.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89717252943519045922015-10-19T16:17:39.016-04:002015-10-19T16:17:39.016-04:00*Repeats out loud*
Six weeks is nothing.
Six weeks...*Repeats out loud*<br />Six weeks is nothing.<br />Six weeks is nothing.<br />Six weeks is nothing.Christina Seinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411040428007697691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53315227436003886672015-10-19T15:45:27.466-04:002015-10-19T15:45:27.466-04:00Thanks, Lynn. :)
Princess Sha'el! You're...Thanks, Lynn. :) <br /><br />Princess Sha'el! You're back!<br /><br />BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63627897229338607972015-10-19T15:16:02.947-04:002015-10-19T15:16:02.947-04:00@Julie,
I completely agree with you - any kind of...@Julie, <br />I completely agree with you - any kind of theme/character quota checklist is counterproductive. I hope that part will be a fast trend.<br /><br />Who are the people asking you this? Other authors, or industry professionals? It sounds so misguided. I think the vast majority of hopeful authors tweeting "I've got a POC LGBT MC, so I'll be fine," are going to be disappointed. A fantastic book does not call attention to its "diversity" credentials. Or any other kind of agenda. If the stories aren't great, there's no point. <br /><br />Thanks Peggy and DLM - I am shy of sharing here sometimes, because I'm a little starstruck by the talent, dedication, and experience of this crowd. It's nice to know I've contributed. And Peggy - I love reading about dramatically altered future-earths. RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18691232370524297352015-10-19T14:53:48.982-04:002015-10-19T14:53:48.982-04:00If you're not stressing, writing doesn't m...If you're not stressing, writing doesn't matter to you. It's okay to stress. Just channel it so stress improves your writing. Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83483241112496810042015-10-19T14:08:05.841-04:002015-10-19T14:08:05.841-04:00Racherin,
In the long haul, I do write diverse bo...Racherin,<br /><br />In the long haul, I do write diverse books because I write strong female leads and I usually have different races. My objection is when someone starts asking me how many of this, that, and the other diverse characters I have in my books. It's like you can only ride if you're this tall according to some people. <br /><br />"The most optimistic reading of this "trend" (I hope it's not a trend but part of a shift in the arts) is that there will be more readers!"<br /><br />I hope this trend of demanding people fill a certain quota stops soon and people start focusing on writing great stories so much someone sits back and says later, "Hmmm, I didn't even notice that character was this because the story was so great."<br /><br />Diana Gabaldon's Lord John books have certainly proven it can be done. <br /><br />Anyway, on to other things before I start looking like an arse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21922142561075104562015-10-19T13:55:19.469-04:002015-10-19T13:55:19.469-04:00racherin, I am with you 100%! I'll second DLM ...racherin, I am with you 100%! I'll second DLM and say you've won my brain (what's left of it--I've had a lot of cold meds today). AND your story sounds fascinating! <br /><br />I'm wondering if there's even more of your comment to come, because it looks like it got cut off...<br /><br />At any rate, I know I like to see myself in stories (as a wee thing I loved BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, since Belle was a weird, bookish brunette like myself) and can only imagine others want that, too. <br /><br />My current WIP is set in a future, and I've struggled with ways to convey by showing (not telling) the ways that "normal" may have changed by then--(what's left of) the US being a population that's mostly mixed-race, climate change leading to shifts in populations across the world, etc. It's a fun challenge AND it has the benefit of making me research all kinds of things I'd never thought I'd need to know (I've looked at a LOT of elevation maps, historical information about Russian nobility and titles, farming methods in Mongolia...). <br /><br />At any rate, we all want to see the human experience as we know it portrayed in different settings--I think the movement toward more diversity of characters, times, places, etc. is great! <br /><br />(Hope this wasn't too far off topic... racherin just struck a chord!)Peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12659879000796739371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33909489029439582532015-10-19T13:54:38.462-04:002015-10-19T13:54:38.462-04:00BJ, I think you're right. (It wouldn't be ...BJ, I think you're right. (It wouldn't be the first time. Lol.) OP may very well have thought s/he shouldn't talk about the MS unless asked, when Janet was referring to social time and not a one on one.<br /><br />Carolynn, love your last comment, you really know how to make us laugh! <br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29561878336808670432015-10-19T13:03:52.092-04:002015-10-19T13:03:52.092-04:00Well Colin, I won't be first for the rest of t...Well Colin, I won't be first for the rest of the week because I have to be at work at 7. Come on E.M., you can be first. Read fast and type faster. Oh wait, don't forget to think. I forget that part sometimes.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22364993108843539072015-10-19T12:30:12.379-04:002015-10-19T12:30:12.379-04:00racherin, because it would be perhaps unseemly to ...racherin, because it would be perhaps unseemly to say you won my heart, I will say you won my brain with that comment. It is a wee and paltry brain, but it is house-trained and will stay out of your way.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76187403214909686342015-10-19T12:23:58.645-04:002015-10-19T12:23:58.645-04:00I understand frustration with a perceived diversit...I understand frustration with a perceived diversity "quota," but I think there's a positive way to look at it also. The number and kinds of enthusiastic readers are growing, and they want stories that reflect their experiences and realities. No readers that I know want ALL their books to have a protagonist like them, or set in a familiar situation, but I think its fair that most readers want those books some of the time. The most optimistic reading of this "trend" (I hope it's not a trend but part of a shift in the arts) is that there will be more readers! And more readers means more demand for books!<br /><br />I'm a pretty hopeless optimist. If I weren't, I wouldn't be writing my novel. <br /><br />I'm also a "what-if" writer. When I first encountered the diversity discussions (for lack of a better term), I wondered why all the people in my fantasy world were white. What would happen if the main characters were a different color? The first five or six answers were - nothing - purely cosmetic, but around changes seven or eight I started to get excited. This mystery would deepen, this conflict would be more visible, these stakes would be higher. My world shifted in a way I am convinced is positive for the story. <br /><br />I actually just did it again - there's a related discussion in fantasy about how tired everyone is of medieval european (especially English) derived worlds. My world was inspired by Italy and Brazil, but mostly Italy. After reading more in my genre (thanks to this blog), I became bored with my world. Sure, it had a few cool details, but they were mostly important to me because they reminded me of my years in Italy.<br /><br />So I decided to emphasize the Brazil/pre-colombian inspiration, and once again, it's not cosmetic. Pre-colombian calendars, myths, and economic society have inspired a lot of plot fixes.<br /><br />I think the "diversity" question is another tool for being fresh and original, and if we question some of our first impulses when dreaming up stories, we can ultimately tell better stories. Brainstorm, analyze, pick what works for your story, execute well. <br /><br />My question is how to convey these dimensions in the query. A lot of agents say they are particularly interested in diverse stories, and while they are important to mine, they are not the central conflict, and RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36563198273466197472015-10-19T12:19:09.631-04:002015-10-19T12:19:09.631-04:00PM or PW... whichever... :)PM or PW... whichever... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.com