tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6936782308240130217..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Justin's CaseJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40590083260841128762009-03-24T13:34:00.000-04:002009-03-24T13:34:00.000-04:00Really, Janet, do you *really* never send out manu...Really, Janet, do you *really* never send out manuscript requests unless you will have time to process them immediately when they arrive? Are you *truly* implying that you will never have a two-week delay in dealing with an incoming manuscript? <BR/><BR/>Pardon me while I guffaw. <BR/><BR/>We *know* you are a business on your end. We *know* that, even though you are extremely professional, you just deal with things as you can, and that you will occasionally go on vacation, go to trade shows or conventions, and so on.<BR/><BR/>That's BUSINESS.<BR/><BR/>It's just as businesslike for a writer to have other things in his or her life, and to politely inform you when you will receive your requested materials.<BR/><BR/>Your presumption that no one should ever contact you unless they have space in their schedule to immediately cater to any sudden requests you might have... Wow. Just, wow. And you are in *what* industry? And typical response times you and your peers and your clients deal with are *what*? <BR/><BR/>My advice is the opposite - writers, don't let anything stop you. Most agents are NOT on top of their in-basket, and you will seldom get a response instantly, with one or two exceptions, and the most common responses will be rejections anyway. Sure, it's good to be able to respond quickly, but it's more important to respond accurately when you do respond. (Don't send the wrong version, for God's sake.) <BR/><BR/>And if an agent takes himself / herself so seriously that he / she can't wait two weeks for the manuscript, well, maybe you'd best just move along. <BR/><BR/>I hope this came across as polite rather than snarky, but, *really*.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.Dal Jeanishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652296391869599080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43822681847951187002009-03-21T10:55:00.000-04:002009-03-21T10:55:00.000-04:00One semi-serious comment: I'm still waiting to hea...One semi-serious comment: I'm still waiting to hear from 15 agents I queried three years ago. <BR/><BR/>At this point, my vacation is more important than waiting on an agent who may never reply.<BR/><BR/>I was a good writer then; I'm a better writer now. But there are some things that are simply more important than waiting on an agent’s reply: Ice cream, Oreos, raisin pie, sex, goats (I did NOT say sex with goats, and I expect NO rude comments!), and cute shoes.<BR/><BR/>Agents are an undependable lot, slow to respond, sometimes never responding at all. A few are terminally rude. The will die of rudeness. And that fella who sends ads for his books never ever, ever responded. He kept my SASE and probably soaked the stamp off of it! (Yes I mean you, the guy with the two "A"s in your name.)<BR/><BR/>Experience has conditioned me to expect to be ignored for a prolonged period. <BR/><BR/>I have a short list of the very bad agents; and I don't mean the fake, rip-off agents. I mean the ones who never answer, not even a form rejection. Or those who feel they are educating others by posting lying blog posts about your query letter. Or those who think they're god. (Note the little "g". I'm sure they are offended that I didn't use the capital.)<BR/><BR/>He of the rude rejection and Pacific Ocean view who also can't put together a series of standard-English sentences without some unintended and unrecognized grammar fault is on the list too. You're passing on our writing? Thupp!<BR/><BR/>Now that I've beat up a few bloging and writing agents, I should say that I have my favorites. None of them are my agent. But they're nice people. They're what agents should be. The nicest of the lot isn’t taking queries right now. I don’t know why, but if she’s sick, my sympathies and best wishes. The good agents aren’t vain. They’re professional. They further talent, even if they can’t use the writing submitted. <BR/><BR/>Another observation: Being mile-high doesn't make you sweet, only high. <BR/><BR/>Taking the time to write pointed and helpful comments makes you nice.Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36929753718908705262009-03-20T16:50:00.000-04:002009-03-20T16:50:00.000-04:00I make sure I can check email anywhere, have acces...I make sure I can check email anywhere, have access to my ms from anywhere, and can send from anywhere. I have no excuses for not responding promptly! :) I either have a flash drive or my laptop with me at all times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11116188785532440952009-03-20T12:36:00.000-04:002009-03-20T12:36:00.000-04:00With varying response times, that would mean you s...With varying response times, that would mean you shouldn't send out anything for 6 weeks before you go somewhere (even more in some cases). My last vacation I was able to connect, but this one I'd have to be like Robin Williams in RV running from mountain top to mountain top looking for a signal. What a bummer. Looks like no vacation after all, or maybe I'll send off to agents I don't care so much about beforehand, and if I miss out on them it won’t be so bad. I’ll still have a shot at my dream agent(Janet)that way, and if one of those other agents still wants me after I hitchhike out of the boonies then it’s just an added bonus. Janet you’ll be tops on my list (no, scratch that I’ll query you after vacation so I don’t make you angry waiting on me, because you mean that much to me).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195019319975022809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15353389085343052922009-03-20T10:05:00.000-04:002009-03-20T10:05:00.000-04:00If I had a pre-planned vacation and knew I couldn'...If I had a pre-planned vacation and knew I couldn't check email for some odd reason, I'd at least wait until after said vacation was over to send the ms.<BR/><BR/>That writer just shot himself in the foot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74606924224865062262009-03-20T03:28:00.000-04:002009-03-20T03:28:00.000-04:00If I'm working, I'm working every day, even the da...If I'm working, I'm working every day, even the day before vacation. If I send queries daily or weekly, then yes, I may send queries just before I leave. <BR/><BR/>When I'm on vacation, I'm ON VACATION. I never get them, so damned if I'm giving them up. That means I might not respond immediately. <BR/><BR/>Aren't you agents and publishers always telling us that writing is a JOB, and we should treat it as such? That includes working on all work days and taking breaks, too. <BR/><BR/>That said, I usually have some form of MS copy easily accessible online, on thumb drive, or my laptop in front of me. But still, the scenario isn't unlikely. An agent can respond at any time, meaning that the query could have been sent a week, a month, or a year earlier, and the fact that I'm on vacation for this week hasn't been altered. Shall I never take vacation until the end of time?<BR/><BR/>You make a lot of writers wait. Part of the job, not your fault. Just try to remember that you must wait sometimes, too, and it's part of life, not our fault.Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15715761180494476618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32516278253929766302009-03-19T23:38:00.000-04:002009-03-19T23:38:00.000-04:00Good advice, always expect success.http://bookdeal...Good advice, always expect success.<BR/><BR/>http://bookdealornodeal.blogspot.com/deal or no deal?https://www.blogger.com/profile/14105817046750773578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66840995848291482002009-03-19T21:38:00.000-04:002009-03-19T21:38:00.000-04:00What an uplifting post. Be prepared for success. ...What an uplifting post. Be prepared for success. I love it. What a way to turn my perspective around.Tracy Holczerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626923883424982455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36176145611209271362009-03-19T21:36:00.000-04:002009-03-19T21:36:00.000-04:00Inspiring advice! I always travel with my laptop. ...Inspiring advice! <BR/>I always travel with my laptop. What's a vacation if I can't write???Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46568555857297041362009-03-19T20:25:00.000-04:002009-03-19T20:25:00.000-04:00I can send my ms from anywhere, but in hundred of ...I can send my ms from anywhere, but in hundred of queries, I've only had one agent get back to me in anything less than a month with a request.<BR/>I can completely understand sending out a query the week you go on vacation.Chris Reddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00429148293004912993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46029003648051789012009-03-19T20:07:00.000-04:002009-03-19T20:07:00.000-04:00@Anita: Gives a whole new meaning to "padding your...@Anita: Gives a whole new meaning to "padding your story!"Daisy Batemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031425541717458261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55382145029043705342009-03-19T19:52:00.000-04:002009-03-19T19:52:00.000-04:00You know what? The more people talked about taking...You know what? The more people talked about taking their books on CD (me) with them, taking their laptops on vacation, etc. the more I started thinking, "Oh, god...I so don't want to be that person. I just want to have an out of office reply and go on vacation because publishing is fantastic, but you know...a life is good too." And then someone posted that he wasn't finished with his manuscript and DUH. I'd totally missed that this wasn't about vacation at all, was it? I mean, obviously, we all know to take our books on vacation. He just isn't done. He thinks he can be done in two weeks. Ahhh...now I get it. I also take back the bit where I said you're the exception being fast because now that I think of it, I could name ten very timely and quick on the draw agents without even thinking hard about it, mine to start with!SundaySouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11585573704680898879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4153488564318601452009-03-19T19:39:00.000-04:002009-03-19T19:39:00.000-04:00Can I just add...maybe they gave another agent an ...Can I just add...maybe they gave another agent an "exclusive" and that was the best story to come up with for the delay??PurpleCloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07933014134696608557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14204330753522545952009-03-19T19:36:00.000-04:002009-03-19T19:36:00.000-04:00I'm sorry...no electricity and hot water? What, ex...I'm sorry...no electricity and hot water? What, exactly, kind of "vacation" is this? lol. <BR/><BR/><BR/>sorry...I'm sure it was adventurous! I just had to go there...PurpleCloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07933014134696608557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69327380817225482412009-03-19T18:46:00.000-04:002009-03-19T18:46:00.000-04:00Just in case someone asks for it, I keep my manusc...Just in case someone asks for it, I keep my manuscript tucked inside my bra.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333494452915600562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9282974175963109972009-03-19T18:34:00.000-04:002009-03-19T18:34:00.000-04:00I've been on vacations where I spent half the week...I've been on vacations where I spent half the week without electricity and hot water. I would never bring a laptop and probably not even a cell phone to Costa Rica, for example. We lost a brand new digital camera to the humidity in the jungle there. If I'd gotten a request while I was in Costa Rica or any of the other places I'd been on vacation, I could never have dashed off a manuscript at the press of a button, even if I had some level of Internet access. It's not unreasonable to wait on someone to return from vacation before they respond to an email.<BR/><BR/>Obviously, if the writer had waited until they returned, this wouldn't have come up, but they probably figured based on experience that if they sent out a few request before their vacation, very few if any would respond before they returned.DeadlyAccuratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08361707307035259942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55608022585942833232009-03-19T17:41:00.000-04:002009-03-19T17:41:00.000-04:00Hmm. I have to play devil's advocate. I'm the unlu...Hmm. I have to play devil's advocate. I'm the unluckiest person in the world (yes I know we are talking talent not luck but still). So had I brought my MS with me...I would never get the request...by NOT taking it...it would be just my luck that I would actually get a real agent to want to read it ASAP. <BR/><BR/>At least you know you can send it when you get back...the other way, the request would have never come.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather be dumb and barely unlucky instead of smart and completely unlucky.PurpleCloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07933014134696608557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62977300639204899552009-03-19T14:56:00.000-04:002009-03-19T14:56:00.000-04:00Laptop? Blackberry? I-phone? Wi-fi? Bueller? Buell...Laptop? Blackberry? I-phone? Wi-fi? <BR/><BR/>Bueller? Bueller? <BR/><BR/><BR/>Wow- apparently his brain is dial up...<BR/><BR/><BR/>-CCNUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465712338087624687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36090844477739855612009-03-19T14:55:00.000-04:002009-03-19T14:55:00.000-04:00I don't know about this. I mean, yes, it's great t...I don't know about this. I mean, yes, it's great that you got back to the writer right away, and it probably would have been ideal if he had been ready with a response. But most agents say "allow 3-6 (-infinity) weeks to hear back;" is it really fair to give the writer not even a fraction of that time? Especially considering how infuriating agents tend to find it when the situation is reversed.<BR/><BR/>Recently I received a snail-mail response to my query requesting a (hard copy) full, which came in the mail about three hours before I was to leave for a long weekend. And I admit, rather than racing to print and post it, I set the letter on my desk and left it until I got back. Not out of disrespect for the agent (who I would be thrilled to have represent me) or a lack of drive, but because there is more to my life than getting published and because if I didn't think it was unreasonable to wait two months for a response (and I don't), then I thought she wouldn't mind four days. Could I have been wrong, and I just totally shot myself in the foot? I guess so, but that seems a bit harsh. Right now I'm a lot more worried that I somehow got the two packages I sent at the same time mixed up, and accidentally mailed her six copies of my submission for the MWA anthology. (Oh, please no. Please, please no.)Daisy Batemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031425541717458261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22763190818876431522009-03-19T14:10:00.000-04:002009-03-19T14:10:00.000-04:00Oh my, self-sabatoge is a bugaboo. I love story ab...Oh my, self-sabatoge is a bugaboo. I love story about the woman going to the meeting with future plans, though. That's really inspiring.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78864648704864315642009-03-19T14:04:00.000-04:002009-03-19T14:04:00.000-04:00First of all, your friend was lovely! What a great...First of all, your friend was lovely! What a great attitude to have.<BR/><BR/>I think many of us could sent a MS pretty quickly- or find a way to. I don't condone being lax, but I understand not expecting a quick response. <BR/><BR/>When I've queried a MS, I've hoped so much for a quick, please-send-me-the-rest-before-I-die-of-longing response. And because that's probably off the charts fantasy, I try to temper it with remembering how busy the agent/editor may be, how large the slushpile is, etc. Part of that's a reality check and part of it is trying not to live or die by how someone responds to my query. But it's there to balance the bit of me that is certain they'll adore my MS and sell it for six figures.<BR/><BR/>I know any time I have a conference critique or a query out, I'll have that crazy optimism mixed with self-enforced trips to the real world. Maintaining your sanity means balancing the two.<BR/><BR/>Though sanity is overrated...Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63927918369342376552009-03-19T13:52:00.000-04:002009-03-19T13:52:00.000-04:00Would have been better if he'd just sent the MS wh...Would have been better if he'd just sent the MS when he got back without the explanation...<BR/><BR/>But yeah, these days I go everywhere with my laptop. If only it contained a finished MS I'd be all set. ;)Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969794644668994847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91167773841668746872009-03-19T13:49:00.000-04:002009-03-19T13:49:00.000-04:00Me: Bill, your scowling ... What's wrong?Bill E. G...Me: Bill, your scowling ... What's wrong?<BR/><BR/>Bill E. Goat: The new doe head butted me. I've got to talk to her ... put her in her place ... You know I hate doing that ...<BR/><BR/>Me: Yes, I know ... umm ... but why do you have an over-night bag and a toothbrush?<BR/><BR/>Bill: Just in case.Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32799038701657792582009-03-19T13:29:00.000-04:002009-03-19T13:29:00.000-04:00I couldn't imagine getting a full request from an ...I couldn't imagine getting a full request from an agent and responding with, "Sure, I'll send it to you when I get back Hawaii."<BR/><BR/>Especially today, how hard is it to email your manuscript to yourself and have it waiting in cyberspace?Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795262584815382814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23534888852159514662009-03-19T13:19:00.000-04:002009-03-19T13:19:00.000-04:00You have to be prepared, don't you? When querying...You have to be prepared, don't you? When querying, I always kept a digital copy of my MS saved on my email to forward when needed. Sometimes, this business is as much about opportunity as it is talent.Stephen Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892697593959673041noreply@blogger.com