tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post8262517327513014613..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: I swear every word of this is trueJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22790189832680912472015-09-25T06:08:10.908-04:002015-09-25T06:08:10.908-04:00Yes, this really happens.
I'm not the autho...Yes, this really happens. <br /><br />I'm not the author in Janet's original post, but let me assure you that I have email from a small band of readers who are quite insistent about what I'm supposed to be writing.<br /><br />One enthusiastic gentleman wanted me to include his favourite historical personage in my novels. When I replied that said personage lived 150 years after the time of my series, I received a four page analysis to prove I was wrong. I didn't reply to that one.<br /><br />It's fantastic that people can get so excited about the books, but this amounts to fan-fiction-by-proxy. <br /><br />Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24915212592346063522015-09-18T18:27:20.098-04:002015-09-18T18:27:20.098-04:00Kasi, that's an awesome response! I'll hav...Kasi, that's an awesome response! I'll have to remember that one. :)A.J. Cattapanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14568787801458618845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22732649507240774252015-09-18T17:41:03.662-04:002015-09-18T17:41:03.662-04:00A woman I worked with told me she had a great book...A woman I worked with told me she had a great book idea that I needed to write. First, I told her that she should write it if it's so great. She protested, "But I can't write. You need to do it." I thought about it for a minute and then told her, "I'm sorry. I'd love to be able to do it, but I'm only allowed to write what the voices tell me to." Kasi Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06755781661560644117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74640875197148584842015-09-18T16:58:28.147-04:002015-09-18T16:58:28.147-04:00BJ, no - not having readers look at a book that...BJ, no - not having readers look at a book that's having naptime. :) But thank you!!DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83238801976072836962015-09-18T11:36:14.894-04:002015-09-18T11:36:14.894-04:00Bahaha, this is awesome! Your handling of the situ...Bahaha, this is awesome! Your handling of the situation was pure gold. Thanks for the laugh :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88581099670344980362015-09-18T11:36:03.431-04:002015-09-18T11:36:03.431-04:00Bahaha, this is awesome! Your handling of the situ...Bahaha, this is awesome! Your handling of the situation was pure gold. Thanks for the laugh :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75259543452924540182015-09-18T11:01:12.375-04:002015-09-18T11:01:12.375-04:00Diane: If you want a critique, let's discuss. ...Diane: If you want a critique, let's discuss. (bjmuntain at sasktel dot net)If not, I'll wait until it comes out in book form. But it won't be an easy wait!<br /><br />BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76872756769795279752015-09-18T10:16:48.867-04:002015-09-18T10:16:48.867-04:00A beautiful scene.A beautiful scene.Maple and Baobabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212894303561726097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35557882765306024352015-09-18T08:30:31.570-04:002015-09-18T08:30:31.570-04:00ha ... ha ... hahahahahahaha!ha ... ha ... hahahahahahaha!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01947188617746257738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84859504218133044542015-09-18T05:04:30.683-04:002015-09-18T05:04:30.683-04:00My favorite post by you. I'd love to hear more...My favorite post by you. I'd love to hear more stories like these. Bravo!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736352366533619152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47748823558597860682015-09-18T02:04:30.813-04:002015-09-18T02:04:30.813-04:00This makes me so happy. Thank you. This makes me so happy. Thank you. Tony Clavellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16567479168804189982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21591437386838234992015-09-17T22:11:59.755-04:002015-09-17T22:11:59.755-04:00Love it!
For my next book signing (see what I did...Love it!<br /><br />For my next book signing (see what I did there with <i>next</i>) I'm bringing cocktail napkins cuz all great ideas start on cocktail napkins. I'll keep a basket of 'em out like a tip jar.<br /><br />That Guy shows up. "Great! Put it in the Idea Jar and when I get to it -- no, no, bottom of the stack please -- I'll give you a ring."John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31943654269847933822015-09-17T21:47:33.315-04:002015-09-17T21:47:33.315-04:00Just wanted to tell you I loved your story, Janet!...Just wanted to tell you I loved your story, Janet! Sorry, no time to read the comments (too busy drinking and admiring all the billionaires' yachts in the harbor here in Saint-Tropez) but it's nice to see a bunch of new names as I scanned down.LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66288450273216239412015-09-17T20:15:26.837-04:002015-09-17T20:15:26.837-04:00Susan: "I just want to stomp my feet about it...Susan: "I just want to stomp my feet about it because it makes me feel better." <--This. Just this.<br /><br />I wonder how agent's handle the foot-stomping. Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62623872624830902092015-09-17T19:05:26.306-04:002015-09-17T19:05:26.306-04:00Marc (Mark?) I've been wondering what your res...Marc (Mark?) I've been wondering what your response, if any, would be.Stephen G Parkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627973901802634152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89031176384478930152015-09-17T17:37:29.570-04:002015-09-17T17:37:29.570-04:00Wow! Great discussions!
Thanks, Janet! Thanks, Co...Wow! Great discussions!<br /><br />Thanks, Janet! Thanks, Commenters!<br /><br />I love writing and I love writers!Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21539975175646107892015-09-17T17:19:55.476-04:002015-09-17T17:19:55.476-04:00BJ, anybody who says they want to read my story ru...BJ, anybody who says they want to read my story runs the risk of my sharing it with them. Ask Angie B-A, she's been putting up with it for months. :)<br /><br />Okay, That Guy. That Guy is a fan.<br /><br />Does being a fan provide a free pass from the social contract? I would not think so.<br /><br />This was not a gaffe or a poorly chosen greeting. This was a planned approach, a (mis?)calculated offer to enter into business. Though it clearly wasn't malicious, it was thoughtless and crass (I do not discuss entering moneymaking ventures with people who do not know me, and being a fan does not provide the sort of professional credentials a stranger has a right to expect in receiving a business proposal). This is why Janet's whipping out a contract was exactly the right response: "You want business? We got business."<br /><br />It's not unlike the advice Janet has given so recently regarding what to say to an agent at a conference. Talking about your book is business.<br /><br />Talking to an author about their writing: business.<br /><br />I don't enter into extracurricular business arrangements with strangers easily, eagerly, nor when I am doing my job.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9484016223819621592015-09-17T16:56:10.020-04:002015-09-17T16:56:10.020-04:00@SHeila Yeah that James Patterson eh, lol. Mind y...@SHeila Yeah that James Patterson eh, lol. Mind you if he asked I probably would!<br />Marc Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14655107171881634183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69941853805236540512015-09-17T16:55:43.758-04:002015-09-17T16:55:43.758-04:00Regarding whether the guy deserves all this: He st...Regarding whether the guy deserves all this: He stood in a long line. He knew what he was going to say long before he got up there. It wasn't excitement that made him offer this great idea. It was the thought that he could make a lot of money without actually working for it. I'm sure working with his hero author would be a bonus.<br /><br />I remember a guy on eBay one time. He was selling these 'really great ideas'. He had 3 of them, and he was sure that they would all make Hollywood billions of dollars. He would sell them for a million apiece. He suffered a lot on the internet because of it.<br /><br />It's similar to the question many readers ask authors: "Where do you get your ideas?" Some authors will give a pat answer, saying things like 'newspaper articles' or whatever... Neil Gaiman said it best:<br /><br />"I make them up. Out of my head."<br /><br />He also says, "the ideas aren't that important. Really they aren't. Everyone's got an idea for a book, a movie, a story, a TV series"<br /><br />He talks about this here: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_By_Neil/Where_do_you_get_your_ideas%3F" rel="nofollow">Where do you get your ideas? on Neil Gaiman's site.</a><br /><br />He also talks about being in the same situation that Janet's author was in. <br /><br />Regarding Diane's comment about storytelling: I had a bit of a writing get-together with some writing friends this morning. One had reached an 'aha' moment in her novel, and excitedly told us about it. It was great, it was compelling, and I look forward to critiquing the novel and reading the book when it comes out. Talking about it helped to solidify the story for her. The other friend said that she couldn't talk about her work, or it would lose the magic for her. Both are valid positions. <br /><br />But while I do want to read my second friend's novel, I *really* want to read the first friend's novel. Because she made me feel the story as she talked about it.<br /><br />Diane: I want to read your story. <br /><br />I've been forcing myself to tell people I write, at least in a friendly setting. Because once you're 'out' as a writer, you HAVE to write.<br /><br />My family knows I write. My Dad grilled me about it a couple weeks ago, and was satisfied that I was still trying to get an agent. Beyond that, they don't really care, because they don't read science fiction anyway.<br /><br />I've had a couple people who hear I'm a writer come up to me and tell me about *their* works, about what they're working on, and that's great. They have such an energy about it, and the enthusiasm can be catching. These people want to write their own story, and I give them all the encouragement I can. <br /><br />I'm much less enthusiastic about the "you should self-publish" folks, or the "I've got this really great idea" folks.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50110970677933460472015-09-17T16:43:28.016-04:002015-09-17T16:43:28.016-04:00When Will came back from Iraq he told me about a g...When Will came back from Iraq he told me about a great idea he had for a suspense novel. I agreed it was great. We needed to write it. I'd write it, but I needed him to coach me because I wanted to get the military details right. He had a pretty detailed story lined out. He'd put some thought into this.<br /><br />Some serious crap happened and we got wrapped up in that. I forgot to write down the idea. I asked him later what it was. Neither of us can remember to save our lives what it was.<br /><br />So, no matter how great your ideas are, don't trust them to your memory. Write them down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16038465485294343402015-09-17T15:32:54.390-04:002015-09-17T15:32:54.390-04:00My God. This is another reason to have an agent at...My God. This is another reason to have an agent at the ready. You certainly earned every cent that day. :)Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87935209833758017562015-09-17T15:26:44.151-04:002015-09-17T15:26:44.151-04:00E.M, - I'm good with that.
Let's just ho...E.M, - I'm good with that. <br /><br />Let's just hope That Guy doesn't run for President - all those great ideas. :-) <br /><br />And as u said, good thing the writer has Janet, gunpowdered smile and all!Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54761707446242294202015-09-17T15:14:08.013-04:002015-09-17T15:14:08.013-04:00I, too, loved that "polished my smile with gu...I, too, loved that "polished my smile with gunpowder" line. You should write a book, Janet. In fact, I'll help you... ;)<br /><br />If writing was easy, everyone would do it. That why we should respect the talent of those that do. One way is NOT to assume anyone can do it. Another is to be prepared to pay for the services of those that can do it.<br /><br />And I agree with Julie and others who have said as much. This is one reason I want an agent--to protect me from this kind of thing, so I can just say, "Please talk to my agent" and not have to deal with "business." In fact, I really want to be able to use that on my kids:<br /><br />"Dad--can I play on the Wii U?"<br /><br />"Sorry, all such requests need to go through my agent. Speak to her."<br /><br />:)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13826443725904728962015-09-17T14:46:23.394-04:002015-09-17T14:46:23.394-04:00I make an ass out of myself daily but have to agre...I make an ass out of myself daily but have to agree with Donnaeve here. If I did what that guy did, I would expect I would end up on the business end of a shark. That guy earned it. Geez. Glad author had Janet. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44811650222411729312015-09-17T14:40:26.738-04:002015-09-17T14:40:26.738-04:00What I posted was supposed to be a rebuttal to all...What I posted was supposed to be a rebuttal to all of the sexism in the THAT GUY responses. It is nice that you can recognize another as sexist but not yourself.<br /><br />When I decided I didn't need the $50 that was offered for a short story I sent it out to a few friends. By now it has been read by probably somewhere between 30 and 50 thousand people. For it I got over a thousand e-mails with ideas. 99 of 100 of those were from women and some of them were very creative about approaching me.<br /><br />As to the full work/half pay crap, don't blame me. I am self employed. It is me against the world. If you understand what I do you would understand that while I have made many friends I also have those that hate me. There IS a whole Eastern European nation that I can not even change planes in. There are at least six companies who wish me badly.<br /><br />I am sorry that you missed how I wished my first post to work. I will not apologize for it though.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.com