tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7609701953191902064..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Question: I'm trying to help a friendJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20037848519134020422019-01-07T18:25:10.490-05:002019-01-07T18:25:10.490-05:00@Shaunna and Colin ...
Thanks for this discussion...@Shaunna and Colin ...<br /><br />Thanks for this discussion about "if it's good enough ...". <br /><br />I have this novel. It's really good. Or, it was good a year ago, when it had been through beta readers and revisions and I was ready to start querying. <br /><br />I've been querying for a year. The novel is now trash. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32580772769472447552015-05-20T07:36:30.568-04:002015-05-20T07:36:30.568-04:00AJ Blythe - I'm starting to get the idea that ...AJ Blythe - I'm starting to get the idea that what matters is the writing. :D Thanks for your comment. I've had an email exchange with the author with my findings and the advice that I've gathered myself. Now the only thing that is really making her feel that perhaps she should not query is that at the moment this first book is at about 160k words, and if I remember correctly from what I've looked up, I thought it was preferred by most publishers that manuscripts stick to 90k to 100k words - is that right? I think that after hearing different opinions, if this were my own book I would go ahead and try submitting the manuscript anyway (after editing), but it's not my call.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960928682869399863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20483024909623523672015-05-20T07:13:47.446-04:002015-05-20T07:13:47.446-04:00paz y puente, one thing I've learnt here is th...paz y puente, one thing I've learnt here is that age doesn't matter. The author doesn't need to reveal their age (unless they get to contract signing time and are under legal age). <br /><br />Nor does lack of prior proven success, for that matter. It's why we (blog community) discuss everything even closely related to 'getting published' with such passion. <br /><br />If you read back over Janet's blog posts you'll see it so clearly (I'm surprised it's not a watermark on the page):<br />The only thing that matters is the writing!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42661290510553096302015-05-19T00:39:21.830-04:002015-05-19T00:39:21.830-04:00(...continued)
This young author is very unassumi...(...continued)<br /><br />This young author is very unassuming and humble about her book or her commercial chances. She wants people to enjoy the book. She loves writing, she wants to share it. Is she "good enough?" Is her work "good enough?" I can't answer that. I enjoyed it. I met her while working on another unrelated project. I appreciated her dedication to her passion and her humility - that's the reason I volunteered to help with publicity. I'm not charging her. If I can help, I'm glad to. I've been offered lucrative contracts in the past with some very...let's say, less than pleasant...actors that I have refused. Life's too short.<br /><br />This author has created a world different from anything I've read, along with dozens of professional quality illustrations - at least I'm qualified to judge that if not the writing!<br /><br />As far as the editor is concerned, thank you for the advice to have this person be a native-English speaker. I'll pass that along. As far as what SHE wants - I agree entirely, it comes down to that. If she's not comfortable with her Polish origin being known I wouldn't force the issue. But if it doesn't harm her and she feels comfortable with it, I'll reveal it. That's the reason I posted my question - she was "ok" with my suggestion that we reveal it, but then I thought, "What if I'm wrong and harm her in the future."<br /><br />Finally, as for approaching U.S. publishers, again, she felt that her genre made it a difficult path. She thought she wouldn't be considered due to her age and lack of prior proven successes. Again, I know nothing about - I don't know about publishing. What she wants is to have her book "out there," being read.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960928682869399863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55340812416089954822015-05-19T00:36:21.914-04:002015-05-19T00:36:21.914-04:00Hello everyone. I'm the "author" of ...Hello everyone. I'm the "author" of this question (does that mean I'M "published?"). I feel like I'm a week late to a party!<br /><br />This is a great, active blog. I wish I'd find such participation in my own areas of interest. I was away and came back to this amazing thread - so many ideas and opinions - they're all valuable, thank you all. Thank you also, Janet Reid, for posting this and for replying.<br /><br />To answer or clarify, although late, I'll say this. The reason this author is writing in English is because she's interested in the American market. Additionally, an overwhelming number of Poles and Europeans in general study English in school and are fluent. Yes, she plans to self publish using, among others, Amazon. It's available in Poland. The genre is best described as "epic fantasy." Not strictly fantasy, it borders on science fiction but isn't science fiction.<br /><br />There are several reasons the author is self publishing. From her research on Polish publishers, she concluded that at her young age and with a first book, she has little to no chance of being published there through manuscript submission. I only say what she told me - I don't know first hand. She's been writing from the age of 8 and amassed quite a lot of material, none of which she feels is viable for publishing. It's a passion. She doesn't enjoy writing short stories, so she embarked on this major project. It's a novel in 5 books. The first is complete. The second, in the first draft stage. The third through fifth have been laid out. She writes because she loves it and has no great expectation of it being picked up commercially due to its format, genre, length and her lack of prior successes. This can be alien to some who would only embark on a task, particularly a major endeavor, if money were the goal.<br /><br />I completely relate because I do it myself. I've been oil painting, 6 x 4 foot historical images - for almost 30 years. I do it out of the love of it. I've had a couple shows and an article written up about me, but I don't care if I sell and I didn't like the "celebrity" that the shows brought me - people recognizing me in stores, for example - not my cup of tea. So I paint one, put it away in the barn and start the next one. Because I love painting. It's not about money or recognition.<br /><br />(continued in next post....)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960928682869399863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50165821807060850292015-05-18T02:08:55.358-04:002015-05-18T02:08:55.358-04:00@ LynnRodz - I love that!!
"Have you been pu...@ LynnRodz - I love that!! <br />"Have you been published?"<br />"Yes." (I have authored a book, and my comments have been publicly 'published.') = I am a published author.<br /><br />@ DonnaEve - So sorry you had such negative experiences while only trying to help people in their country.Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88416321682857230822015-05-17T08:28:18.428-04:002015-05-17T08:28:18.428-04:00Ha, Kitty, way to lighten things up!
FYI all... t...Ha, Kitty, way to lighten things up!<br /><br />FYI all... this is worth reading. It's the latest Author Earnings Report regarding e-book sales, and speaks about e-book pricing and self publishing.<br /><br />Check it out:<br /><br />http://ryanlanz.com/2015/05/16/author-earnings-report-may-2015/<br /><br />On to the second cup of coffee and to feed the birds.<br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29858931705380608672015-05-17T07:57:23.434-04:002015-05-17T07:57:23.434-04:00I'm glad I wasn't sipping my tea, cos Kitt...I'm glad I wasn't sipping my tea, cos Kitty's remark would have sent tea snorting out my nose.<br /><br />Thanks for that, Kitty :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71632797214776120822015-05-17T07:08:22.830-04:002015-05-17T07:08:22.830-04:00Big question to close on, do they eat lima beans a...Big question to close on, do they eat lima beans and kale in Poland?Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38860581946713296402015-05-17T07:03:28.605-04:002015-05-17T07:03:28.605-04:00Underpants :)Underpants :)Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11772310179223546476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53839366299518830292015-05-17T03:46:02.904-04:002015-05-17T03:46:02.904-04:00Sam- I very much appreciated and very much agree w...Sam- I very much appreciated and very much agree with both your comments :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07885763976837081950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30177895965187088182015-05-17T02:15:07.732-04:002015-05-17T02:15:07.732-04:00People above have said this but just in case my ea...People above have said this but just in case my earlier comment was misunderstood - I was not saying that not finding an agent means you're not good enough to be published. I was just agreeing with Janet that if you WANT to go traditional, and you think your book is good enough that you'd be happy to self publish it, then query it!<br /><br />Nothing wrong with making the business decision to self publish if that's what you want. Nor is the fact that you queried and didn't find an agent proof that your book isn't good enough to publish. I think our Sharkiness was just saying if the book is at the standard that you'd be willing to self publish, that should be the same standard that you'd query at if you want to go traditional.Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48552026096980247072015-05-16T23:00:49.177-04:002015-05-16T23:00:49.177-04:00While it may sometimes (even often) be the case, i...While it may sometimes (even often) be the case, it is not <i>always</i> the case that self-published means 'rejected by every agent/publisher around so now I'm going it alone'<br /><br />I self-publish by choice: I get <i>far</i> better royalties, I choose all my own covers, and I get to learn in a fast-paced, terrifying, and insanely interesting industry. It's certainly not easy, but I wouldn't give it up for worlds. I had a reasonable amount of interest from publishers before I decided to go indie, and my reviews have been almost completely positive. We don't all self-publish because we aren't 'good enough'. Sometimes a niche is just too much of a risk for a publisher but viable for a self-publisher.<br /><br />So I very much appreciate Janet's remarks. It would take a heck of a good deal to make me go with a traditional publisher.<br /><br />QOTKU- In such a case I would definitely query for an agent, just in case you think I'm against the establishment :D I very much appreciate the usefulness of agents. Please don't send me to Carkoon :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22299911791572667082015-05-16T20:28:49.405-04:002015-05-16T20:28:49.405-04:00Donnaeve - wow.Donnaeve - wow.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90223938557681849072015-05-16T19:34:43.818-04:002015-05-16T19:34:43.818-04:00I love reading all of the perspectives about self ...I love reading all of the perspectives about self publishing and the persona attributed to that. <br /><br />Atoll Amy more or less expressed my thought after catching up on comments, which, in my own words, is this; Write a stupendous, superb story. Write a story that makes someone's heart race, and their mouth go dry. Write a story that makes them cry. Write a story they see themselves in.<br /><br />Anything other than that, to query or not, is on the writer. It's their decision.<br /><br />On the American thing..., I too have experienced Eastern European arrogance - and I don't mean to drag us into a rat hole, but these experiences always bothered me. <br /><br />Bear with me while I share, 'cause I'm having me a Julie moment, and I only wish I could be as damn funny. <br /><br />I traveled overseas, on a couple of mission trips to the Ukraine - before it got crazy over there. I've experienced full blown anti-American sentiments as I traveled through different airports. We were "schooled" not to laugh too loud, to talk about our "wealth," or to state we were American. As if we were ignorant, and that's how we would behave. As if we thought we were better than everyone else, and had no common sense. <br /><br />I honestly wanted to flip everyone off at that point and say, well hell, FRIDAY you! Except, well, I was on a <b>mission</b> trip. That wouldn't set such a great example, would it?<br /><br />Anyway, at one point in an airport on Planet Earth, I saw a man wearing a t-shirt that said, "I HATE AMERICA." <br /><br />I saw a United Airlines plane land at another Planet Earth location with the American flag on a tail wing and a child asked his mother something in their native tongue while pointing at the plane. I understood, "Americans," from her, and then there was a bit more, and the boy JEERED, "something, something, something, bah! Americans!" <br /><br />In another country I'd been told I needed to stand my ground in order to board public transportation, and so, I did, and was promptly chewed out by a local, whose spittle landed all over my face, their diatribe ending with AMERICAN something or other! I was almost in tears when it was all over.<br /><br />I had money stolen from me from "employees" hired to cook/clean for the mission group while we were at the children's home we were rebuilding. My husband had his watch stolen.<br /><br />I kept quiet, kept my head down, and did my work on both trips. I came home. I had no desire to travel to certain places again. <br /><br />So. I'm not thinking anything in particular here other than I sort of know what Craig means. I felt like a doormat in some places over there. I don't know how to interpret the young Polish writer's intentions with self-publishing, other than what I said above, which is, it's simply their choice.<br /><br />Oh, and that I wish them well on their writing journey.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38852854737274244602015-05-16T18:42:43.561-04:002015-05-16T18:42:43.561-04:00"Ugly American" is a term for a reason. ..."Ugly American" is a term for a reason. I don't think my previous comment defines the term though.<br /><br />The intention of that comment was to warn the questioner. It seems to me that the 'talented young writer' is arrogant in her beliefs. We do not know the whole story but deciding to self publish without trying any other way is a form of arrogance.<br /><br />I know that there are as many reasons to write as there are writers. The choice of self publishing is the same. There are some spectacular self published books. Those usually ended up self published because they did not fit the genre of the day when they were queried.<br /><br />My fear is that the writer might not do as well as expected. Then the blame might fall on the publicist.<br /><br />That would be a shame because I feel that is the biggest fail of self publishing. How hard it is to get publicity. Without good publicity it is almost impossible to get the attention of a publisher.<br /><br />That might be a worse downer than counting rejection slips or devising a plan to make your bathroom floor from them.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72187390011741478422015-05-16T17:40:56.779-04:002015-05-16T17:40:56.779-04:00Thanks to everyone who answered my diaper pin ques...Thanks to everyone who answered my diaper pin question. Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11772310179223546476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51416005221835946862015-05-16T17:25:36.860-04:002015-05-16T17:25:36.860-04:00I have seen a lot of agents asking for stories set...I have seen a lot of agents asking for stories set outside the US. I don't think any of us need to Americanize our work to get it read. Put another way, having a non-American story isn't the issue. Write a <i>good</i> story. Full stop.<br /><br />Kitty, most cloth diapers are held together with Velcro now. As someone mentioned, keep the pin if it indicates the place/era of your story. If not, change it.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47043066948983435642015-05-16T16:54:04.919-04:002015-05-16T16:54:04.919-04:00I said: "I don't see this writer being an...I said: "I don't see this writer being any more arrogant than American writers."<br /><br />I'm sorry. I meant *some* American writers. There are some similarly arrogant Canadian writers, too. As, I'm sure, there are anywhere. <br /><br />I'm sorry if it looked like I was painting everyone with the same brush. That was the exact opposite of my meaning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39671982457067447532015-05-16T16:53:02.015-04:002015-05-16T16:53:02.015-04:00Angie makes a good point about different English d...Angie makes a good point about different English dialects in readership from an online pub perspective; even FB breaks readership English down into American, UK, and now - believe it or not - even Pirate English (I have 9 of these readers. Who the heck they are is beyond me, but that isn't the point). Awareness of the difference and your primary readers should be info that is accessible and then maybe go into the translation, but I would think those nuances would be easier accomplished by a professional translator after written into native language - but that's just me.<br /><br />I am an American writing for readers on both sides (until this month) of the Atlantic with a primarily UK setting, so I spend a lot of time min/maxing those ads and watching the numbers - and this is for a series that hasn't yet seen the light of day, except in minimalist snippets and teasers here and there. But I take it seriously. Again, my opinion. Nevertheless, for what it's worth, my top reader languages are Amer English, UK English, Thai, and Armenian. Spanish isn't even in the top ten. Make of that what you will, but it matters to me, anyway.<br /><br />At hotel! :)<br /><br />Cheers!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3313509313122370322015-05-16T16:23:37.255-04:002015-05-16T16:23:37.255-04:00Angie:
Many Polish speakers can speak and write f...Angie:<br /><br />Many Polish speakers can speak and write flawless English. As well, the novel is being professionally edited, so any problems with her English will probably be found and corrected.<br /><br />Craig:<br /><br />I don't see this writer being any more arrogant than American writers. Less so, even. She "hopes that in the future she will be picked up by a publisher", which is nothing more than most of us are hoping. I suppose we could be seen as being arrogant for deigning to think we might be in that small percentage of writers who will ever be traditionally published.<br /><br />Many non-Eastern Europeans self-publish in an attempt to kickstart their careers. Many will get their novels professionally edited. Many will hire publicists. And that is what most self-publishers need to do in order to catch the attention of a traditional publisher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8228741517588839992015-05-16T16:02:32.327-04:002015-05-16T16:02:32.327-04:00To the author, I wish you all the best whichever p...To the author, I wish you all the best whichever path you choose. Whether this book or the next, don't give up writing. Let us know how it goes.<br /><br />Marsha Skrypunch is a Ukrainian Canadian who has written more books about Armenian immigrants than any English-speaking author. She in her own words, writes about people who give up everything that is dear to travel to a new world.<br /><br />She was rejected 100 times before SILVER THREADS was published. Don't give up. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45646616309109246012015-05-16T15:39:21.959-04:002015-05-16T15:39:21.959-04:00Hi, Angie! I know several authors for whom English...Hi, Angie! I know several authors for whom English is a second language, but their command of it is exquisite. Many ESL authors choose English for market reasons, and if the author above is hoping to break into U.S. publishing, I would assume this is at play.<br /><br />Or maybe it's just the challenge, and/or love of something they have worked so hard to master. If we choose to learn a new tongue in order to communicate beyond our starting points, why *not* write in it!? :)<br /><br />Most ESL speakers I know have great facility with what is after all an extremely unusual and difficult language; it is instructive to listen to and to read their work. It's more than I've ever done (I've all but lost German, and really never mastered Spanish).DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58036272186932952732015-05-16T15:29:37.790-04:002015-05-16T15:29:37.790-04:00It is a wonderful thing for a writer to be audacio...It is a wonderful thing for a writer to be audacious. I get the feel that there is something deeper than that here. A kind of arrogance. I have never checked on the writing situation in Eastern Europe but I have met Eastern European arrogance.<br /><br />This reeks of it. I am going to go and conquer America. You will help me.<br /><br />Notice that the use of an agent is not mentioned. It is a statement of intention. The writer truly believes that they will be the next big thing. From a self published book straight to a publishing contract.<br /><br />It has happened once or twice so it is possible. I really do wish you the best. I hope no one is let down too much.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44832010054260914442015-05-16T15:13:17.895-04:002015-05-16T15:13:17.895-04:00I wonder why the Polish author is writing in Engli...I wonder why the Polish author is writing in English. It is hard to command a second language, to write as one would in one's mother tongue. English is not just English as BJ remarks it is also Canadian, British, American, etc. I wonder why the writer doesn't want to write in Polish and pay for a good translation. Maybe they have.<br /><br />This question comes at a good time for me because I am translating for a Czech friend who wrote a memoir in Italian. I plan to help her query it, thus market it. <br /><br />As of self publishing from Poland I am curious to know how things work there. It's a country which has a past quite different from "Western" countires that have profited from a different kind of politics for the last 70 years.<br /><br />Here in France it is still quite rare to see a kindle or tablet on the metro. Most people have not heard of self-puplishing on Amazon. No idea about Poland. <br /><br />Considering how different publishing is in Europe, I tend to think that this writer may lead their market in their country by self-publishing. Maybe not, I've never been to Poland. But consider that self publishing via Amazon in France and Italy and MFAs in creative writing are almost non existent.<br /><br />I think it would also depend much on what the writer is producing. If it is memoir or non-fiction, being from Poland might be very important. if it is fiction I don't see any difference.<br /><br />I think of Susanna Tamaro. "Follow Your Heart" one of her 20 books was published in 33 countries. She writes in Italian.<br /><br />I had to choose beer among cappucino and espresso. Must be a sign.angie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.com