tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2403319856345573295..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Be Confident: Let your writing do the talkingJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74996580402308534802022-07-02T16:56:16.100-04:002022-07-02T16:56:16.100-04:00But, but, what about those of us who love to read...But, but, what about those of us who love to read about the publishing industry and very occasionally fantasize about writing, but haven't written a blessed thing?Micheal Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651847378981077265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89177873467474514752010-09-04T09:28:01.674-04:002010-09-04T09:28:01.674-04:00May you be blessed with some random act of chocola...May you be blessed with some random act of chocolate for this post.Whirlochrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846196906206886945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37843986789214793382010-09-03T23:34:05.581-04:002010-09-03T23:34:05.581-04:00nuff said...nuff said...laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49418143892595024862010-09-03T20:06:47.186-04:002010-09-03T20:06:47.186-04:00But, but, what about those of us who love to read ...But, but, what about those of us who love to read about the publishing industry and very occasionally fantasize about writing, but haven't written a blessed thing?<br /><br />(I do blog and Facebook and Twitter, but those aren't blessed things.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28809718066288601472010-09-03T18:31:01.192-04:002010-09-03T18:31:01.192-04:00JetReid: "I'm cantankerous, sardonic and ...JetReid: "I'm cantankerous, sardonic and perpetually annoyed enough at this stage of my career that I don't believe anything anyone tells me."<br /><br />I love your blog. I know from the above that you don't believe that, but Just Keep Writing the Damn Thing, Please.<br /><br />You don't have to believe it. Just do it.<br /><br />(Signed)<br />An Avid FanSteve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10051363877066768708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80138745809149042852010-09-03T12:53:38.086-04:002010-09-03T12:53:38.086-04:00I hate query writing advice that tells one to put ...I hate query writing advice that tells one to put in "what qualifies you to write". Either your work is good or it isn't. Your qualifications don't stand for jack squat if the novel is crap.Amy Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11189407887151089358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32055879874709345462010-09-03T11:49:45.411-04:002010-09-03T11:49:45.411-04:00Amen.
And again, I say AMEN.
At least half the t...Amen.<br /><br />And again, I say AMEN.<br /><br />At least half the time a writer introduces herself to me at an RWA function or in an online group, she'll follow up by adding, "but I don't have a book deal or anything."<br /><br />To which I want to reply, "big f**king deal." Neither did I eight months ago, and I was still the same damn writer with the same damn-skillset I had BEFORE the three book deal.<br /><br />A contract or an agent or an award DOES NOT make you a writer. Your writing makes you a writer.<br /><br />TawnaTAWNA FENSKEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27769068846737794752010-09-03T11:49:25.034-04:002010-09-03T11:49:25.034-04:00Thanks for this. Have a great weekend.Thanks for this. Have a great weekend.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849370947985905108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30212327646680067872010-09-03T09:25:38.656-04:002010-09-03T09:25:38.656-04:00Janet, thank you for this post. I suffer horribly ...Janet, thank you for this post. I suffer horribly from lack-of-confidence and every time I say "I'm a writer" I always feel compelled to tack a "but I'm not agented or published" at the end of it.<br /><br />Tell us, what should new writers put in a query when we have no writing credits? Do we even need a bio?Patty Blounthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11928111057602279792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40463217538947813832010-09-03T08:58:37.429-04:002010-09-03T08:58:37.429-04:00I've noticed that most "winners" on ...I've noticed that most "winners" on the Query shark blog do not list credits. At all.<br /><br />I watch. I learn.Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11384721075126721182010-09-02T22:28:52.710-04:002010-09-02T22:28:52.710-04:00After reading your blog, I find myself disappointe...After reading your blog, I find myself disappointed that fantasy does not fit into your desired fiction category. Alas, I search for an agent as tenacious and witty as I.<br /><br />Published, yes, if you call it that...<br />http://www.amazon.com/Pier-52-Kimberly-Biege/dp/1424182417/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283480280&sr=1-2<br /><br />New manuscript, no agent, weary writer...heavy drinker? Nah...cheers!Kim Mullicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08379949268188977298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61079795735566086902010-09-02T21:20:19.134-04:002010-09-02T21:20:19.134-04:00I heard prepublished the other day! I've been ...I heard prepublished the other day! I've been watching old mysteries through Netflix Instant and 1-800-Missing had a guy say it. That one's from 2005! I almost rewound (rewinded?) it to show Hubby but realized he wouldn't find it as amusing as I did.<br /><br />And I'm on Amazon. <br />:)<br />Two shorts with Crossed Genres and they let me have an author page. I still don't call myself an author. CG pays what is called token, not professional, rates. Maybe when I reach professional rates I'll be able to see myself as the other -- maybe not. I've read blogs by others whose books I enjoy who struggle with those words too. Still.ClothDragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07542830590515695754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54588742369939638652010-09-02T20:17:04.176-04:002010-09-02T20:17:04.176-04:00"I'm cantankerous, sardonic and perpetual..."I'm cantankerous, sardonic and perpetually annoyed enough at this stage of my career that I don't believe anything anyone tells me."<br /><br />LMAO!!ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10270370305234663282010-09-02T19:42:29.652-04:002010-09-02T19:42:29.652-04:00Hehehe. And that's why I like to read your pos...Hehehe. And that's why I like to read your posts. Good information in bullshit free packaging.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17774647553760700746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5803966268459315122010-09-02T19:05:59.677-04:002010-09-02T19:05:59.677-04:00You are exactly what a writer wants: a reader. And...You are exactly what a writer wants: a reader. And yes, a writer should get out of the way and let the story do the talking.<br /><br />One day...Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84628722854141154072010-09-02T18:08:16.610-04:002010-09-02T18:08:16.610-04:00I'm a writer. With nothing to my credit. You...I'm a writer. With nothing to my credit. You'll be hearing from me.adam.purplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13715310339491141836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86998311542127652292010-09-02T17:18:50.998-04:002010-09-02T17:18:50.998-04:00I do have a book through Amazon, and a bunch of my...I do have a book through Amazon, and a bunch of my plays are making significant progress, yet I still have trouble identifying myself as a writer...<br /><br />Why? No idea. Not false humility. Perhaps I just expect a writer to have accomplished more at my age.<br /><br />Pathetic, I know.Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6486302195595155002010-09-02T16:01:26.666-04:002010-09-02T16:01:26.666-04:00Awwwwww! I think you might be the most encouragin...Awwwwww! I think you might be the most encouraging shark that I ever met. Thnx! :0DC.R. Evershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09034891037873664976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11727106155471250122010-09-02T16:01:11.000-04:002010-09-02T16:01:11.000-04:00B-But Janet! We to show off our awards! For once i...B-But Janet! We to show off our awards! For once it's not Mommy who's telling us we're good writers--it's someone else!<br /><br /><br /><br />Also, I like this post. It's to the point but somehow motivational. It makes me want to leave the office and write. I'm stuck here, though.Jessica Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405267450788581689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30912119448475892702010-09-02T15:49:00.824-04:002010-09-02T15:49:00.824-04:00Thanks for this great post. Really. Writer's b...Thanks for this great post. Really. Writer's block and inadequacy was gaining on me today ... until I read this. <br />Perfect.Heather Spivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413133808058265715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7777451975668425652010-09-02T15:37:41.680-04:002010-09-02T15:37:41.680-04:00DAMN! I so want you as my agent! Guess I better k...DAMN! I so want you as my agent! Guess I better keep writing . . . maybe someday I'll find that perfect story for you.MAGollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740642718595310949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28293813924829637922010-09-02T12:15:40.411-04:002010-09-02T12:15:40.411-04:00>>"I was nominated for an Edgar" m...>>"I was nominated for an Edgar" means I look up the Edgar list for that year.>><br /><br />Would it be easier if we put the link in the query letter or just the year and category? Or is being nominated for an award a hundred years ago worth mentioning at all?<br /><br />P.S. I'm the one from the group below you never heard of. :-) <br /><br />1990 Edgar Award Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel Winner and Nominees<br />Winner: THE RAIN by Keith Peterson (Bantam)<br />Nominated:<br />A COLLECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHS by Deborah Valentine (Bantam)<br />HOT WIRE by Randy Russell (Bantam)<br />KING OF THE HUSTLERS by Eugene Izzi (Bantam)<br />MANHATTAN IS MY BEAT by Jeffery Wilds Deaver (Bantam)GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18398260043479521912010-09-02T11:58:56.520-04:002010-09-02T11:58:56.520-04:00We'll do our best.We'll do our best.Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58939976587493653852010-09-02T11:51:20.240-04:002010-09-02T11:51:20.240-04:00As one who pitched to the Shark who has no previou...As one who pitched to the Shark who has no previous credentials, I can attest that she's eagerly looking for interesting stories. I didn't even get nibbled on. But then I didn't do anything to invoke her wrath (tip: read the Queryshark blog. All of it).A3Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798698147826674020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13693568665944154312010-09-02T11:44:39.875-04:002010-09-02T11:44:39.875-04:00LOL. Always find your posts insightful and enterta...LOL. Always find your posts insightful and entertaining. Humor does help the message come across.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com