tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2428039862255011638..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: What does 'not right for my list' mean anyway?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82236820467224751592016-04-28T19:55:57.681-04:002016-04-28T19:55:57.681-04:00Colin: Fifty Shapes of Pasta.
Colin: Fifty Shapes of Pasta.<br />Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59522210616687272402016-04-28T04:10:15.607-04:002016-04-28T04:10:15.607-04:00I agree, Judy. Twitter is a fabulous place for bo...I agree, Judy. Twitter is a fabulous place for book readers. I've met some of my best writing friends there. Beta readers, CPs and just generally all-around awesome people to chat with about books, publishing and the world around us. I think I probably even found this blog through being on Twitter. Let us know when you're all set up so we can follow you.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85568067838922325152016-04-28T00:40:42.377-04:002016-04-28T00:40:42.377-04:00Pouring a glass of wine (okay, it's my second ...Pouring a glass of wine (okay, it's my second glass) and heading over to Twitter now. I'll be at the bar in the back, away from the band covering Prince songs.<br /><br />John Frain, thank you. I emailed my query letter to you.<br /><br />Everyone else, thank you, too. You're a good and helpful community.<br /><br />Judy Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07513719194448809927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76614014494030617812016-04-27T22:59:45.959-04:002016-04-27T22:59:45.959-04:00Judy - there are thousands, if not millions, of bo...Judy - there are thousands, if not millions, of book readers on Twitter, including book clubs, publishing professionals, and many many writers. I've met wonderful book people on Twitter, including one person currently in my online writing group (I invited her, after meeting her on Twitter) who is now a published author.<br /><br />I have nearly 3000 followers. I got them through years of sociable sharing. (Side note: If anyone here follows me on Twitter, but I didn't follow back, introduce yourself to me on Twitter. I might not have put the Twitter account to a Reider's name, but I'll follow back all Reiders.)<br /><br />That said, while a large Twitter following looks good, it isn't the end-all and be-all of a platform... but it can be the beginning of one. Do you follow a lot of people who are interested in the general topic of your memoir? Do you belong to any online groups relating to that topic? (There are even Facebook groups now that you can join.) It seems to me that's where you're going to find your readers.<br /><br />If you're going to build a platform, you need to work at it. It's not going to come plop out of the blue just because you join a social media mileu. You have to go looking for your readers, and be social. That's how you also build word-of-mouth, which is what really sells books.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48396637754487570742016-04-27T22:51:08.831-04:002016-04-27T22:51:08.831-04:00Judy, it took a lot of patience to get established...Judy, it took a lot of patience to get established on Twitter, but I'm glad I stuck with it. There are actually a lot of book people there, both readers and writers.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74782184019576483642016-04-27T22:48:27.625-04:002016-04-27T22:48:27.625-04:00Judy: I'm definitely no expert when it comes t...Judy: I'm definitely no expert when it comes to platform, but I've read stuff, including stuff Janet has said. It comes down to building credibility. You have to answer the question, "Why should I care enough to spend $25 on your book?" Yes, your experience means a lot to you, and those who know you. But those who don't have that background need to be sold on a) your authority to speak to this subject (which is easy with memoir--you are the expert on your experience), and b) why I should prefer to read you rather than someone else.<br /><br />Unless you have a high-profile job (e.g., your last name is Kardashian, which I suppose isn't really a job, but that's another discussion...), you will need to work to build that audience. Blogs, Twitter, speaking engagements, and the like.<br /><br />I'm sure Janet will have better things to say, but until Sunday... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50060786384883376312016-04-27T22:01:24.646-04:002016-04-27T22:01:24.646-04:00Judy Moore,
On behalf of my gender, please send m...Judy Moore,<br /><br />On behalf of my gender, please send me your query. Right now. JFrain@JohnDavisFrain.com.<br /><br />I can't do a thing about moving your manuscript along to a publisher, but I can sure as heck look at your query and RESPOND. <br /><br />That will put you at 1-for-7 with your male audience, a .143 average, the same thing Albert Pujols was hitting with the Anaheim Angels just a few days ago and he's one of the best hitters in baseball. <br /><br />I'm off to drum my fingers on my desk and wait for your message to ding my inbox...<br />John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2617226483276960962016-04-27T21:41:02.579-04:002016-04-27T21:41:02.579-04:00I don’t know if you would like the book, but I am ...I don’t know if you would like the book, but I am pretty sure you would like the concept. A doctor named Ebem Alexander wrote a memoir of two weeks when he was BRAIN DEAD. There tends not to be much to say about lying in a hospotal bed in a coma. So this concept would normally come under the subcategiory that is known in the trade as a PSN. PSM is a publishing acronym for “Pretty Short Memoir.” You would epect the beginning and ending o be on the same page.<br /><br />Surprise!<br /><br />The book is titled PROOF OF HEAVEN because the doc, who was an absolute total non-believer in the Afterlife before going into his coma, is now a believer. I don’t know if they still use this phrase, but I do know in publishing that used to be called the “ Came to Jeer, Stayed to Cheer Metamorphosis.” He says he spent the entire two weeks in heaven and described his experience in detail. I think the book is worth reading if you believe you are a mortalbeing.<br /><br />I strongly suspect what he is saying is true.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72753000742356812382016-04-27T21:15:07.529-04:002016-04-27T21:15:07.529-04:00"You need a third act, and you particularly n..."You need a third act, and you particularly need it if you're not famous." <br /><br />I'm writing a memoir, and I'm not famous. My query letter has resulted in four of the nine female agents I sent it to asking for pages, four form rejections, and one no-response. I received three personalized rejection letters, and they couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. They all liked the writing and the story. One even said she'd like to hear the end of the story over a glass of champagne with me. What they all told me was that it would be a hard sell, that I needed to either be famous or have a very strong "platform." These days a "platform" requires a lot of Twitter followers. I have 51. <br /><br />From the six men I queried, I didn't even get a form rejection. Just silence. I'm not quite sure what to make of that.<br /><br />My questions are....how can you BUILD a platform? And, Twitter followers, the people who like their stories delivered in 140 words or less? Do they even buy books?<br /><br />I still have pages out with one agent and am hopeful. But I'm not ruling out the possibility of changing my last name to Kardashian.<br /><br />Judy Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07513719194448809927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28033933313671784152016-04-27T21:02:47.254-04:002016-04-27T21:02:47.254-04:00First, good luck to the OP! I love the idea of ta...First, good luck to the OP! I love the idea of taking it to a conference for feedback. I invested in a short class to try and troubleshoot a rejected full last year and feedback on my pages from an agent that came along with it helped guide my next steps. While I wait for a response on a partial (squeak, squeak, squeak goes the hamster wheel), I've decided to do something similar again. <br /><br />Like many others on the reef, I'm so grateful for any personalized feedback but a form is so much better than a NORMAN. This is as good of a time as any to thank the Reiders (Colin, I think?) for introducing this absolutely perfect term to my vocabulary. :)Katie Loves Coffeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15354098379566246348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75332849093945588202016-04-27T17:59:58.331-04:002016-04-27T17:59:58.331-04:00You can always copy and paste the entire form reje...You can always copy and paste the entire form reject (if you suspect it) and google away - oftentimes you find people posting on blogs with "I got a personalized rejection today...it read..." with the same exact wording. I once got "although the writing is good it's not quite there yet" (which I agree with now, even if it was a form) and "I am not a fan of multiple perspectives". <br /><br />You know when it's specific enough to be real personalization, and yes, I agree with Robert - thanks to any agent who offers that to a query especially. Even to a full MS. Form rejects on those are harder to cope with (but still pretty common).Timothy Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07514224628760035696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28910265971803994172016-04-27T17:34:18.250-04:002016-04-27T17:34:18.250-04:00A long time ago, a friend of mine used to send a f...A long time ago, a friend of mine used to send a fill-in-the-blank rejection/acceptance letter (kind of like the one Julie mentioned above) along with her story submissions to small publications. The rejection options were all humorous, so at least she had something fun to read from her SASE (yes, a long time ago). The last fill-in-the-blank was for an acceptance, something along the lines of Yes, send this piece of brilliant work immediately so we can publish it and pay you lots of money.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73213086969366645982016-04-27T15:42:50.787-04:002016-04-27T15:42:50.787-04:00I've been reading a lot of memoirs lately. Man...I've been reading a lot of memoirs lately. Many are kind of dry, but <i>Mosby's Memoirs</i> by J.S. Mosby was a pure joy. Not only did he offer a bibliography and research notes verifying what he said happened at certain points. Lee had actually ordered Stuart off before Gettysburg in some ambiguously worded orders, which now reside in a Virginia historical society. He wasn't off on a glory ride as many portray.<br /><br />Aside from that, he relates a lot of little, personal incidents that are variously intriguing or hilarious. It gives a real look at the personalities of the men who served with him as well as the events.<br /><br />It could have been another dry as cotton text book read, but I was laughing my way through half this book. He didn't even really want to write a memoir, but felt he needed to set the record straight on some things and offered facts supporting his views.<br /><br />My point being, I'm not a fan of most memoirs. Suck me in with an intriguing story that makes me laugh and cry and I'm your minion. Don't give me another sob story. If I want to be depressed, I'll get on the scales.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79954172307931905962016-04-27T14:18:05.940-04:002016-04-27T14:18:05.940-04:00Oh, I don't know. Stories with fire-breathing ...Oh, I don't know. Stories with fire-breathing lizards do tend to drag on. :D Dad humor. I'll get my coat... :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51305043292640166242016-04-27T14:05:29.182-04:002016-04-27T14:05:29.182-04:00Donna- splendid idea. Bethany, BJ, and I could tea...Donna- splendid idea. Bethany, BJ, and I could team up for "A Dragon in a Shark's World" kind of thing. I have written at least 3 dragon inclusive stories in my A to Z challenge. I seriously can't help myself. They really do spice things up- even when metaphorical. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29970604609687532832016-04-27T13:58:17.406-04:002016-04-27T13:58:17.406-04:00There's a project...based on E.M. and Bethany ...There's a project...based on E.M. and Bethany Elizabeth's comments...is it possible to write a book that <b>reads</b> like a memoir, but has a DRAGON IN IT? 8>O<br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2761644059633386292016-04-27T13:48:31.227-04:002016-04-27T13:48:31.227-04:00It's rather odd, the criteria publishers apply...It's rather odd, the criteria publishers apply to selecting memoir and autobiographical work; it has to be said, that from my point of view, they do it so badly that it's quite hard to imagine a less satisfactory circumstance. Very occasionally a work will receive broader circulation but more often than not, readers will find themselves facing £400 a pop for the vanity press edition on e-bay, yeah thanks Mr. Penguin.<br /><br />It seems there are two avenues to success in this area, the, I was there approach, which will reflect some individual's contribution to a conspicuous historical event: Titanic, 9-11, that kind of thing. You have to get into the market early with that one, saturation and market fatigue are seen as major obstacles. Then there's the, I'm a celebrity, therefore special in ever way, even the the tone of my farts need to be recorded and transcribed for posterity. If you happen to be a celeb, page count is the major consideration, because it's never getting to a paperback edition and the hardback needs to be weighty enough to make an effective door stop.<br /><br />Yet a few authors have negotiated this indifference in the publishing trade; I would call Fever Pitch a memoir, albeit one with some licence and what a fine work it is, shame about Nick's girly fiction though.DeadSpiderEyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687178085803686186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4526925942780856322016-04-27T13:15:43.464-04:002016-04-27T13:15:43.464-04:00Oh, dragons are so 2012. In MY novel, I have flyin...Oh, dragons are so 2012. In MY novel, I have flying bears that are as big as a house, have scales instead of fur, and can breath ice-fire. I call them Ursons, and they'll be the hottest thing since vampires. Eat your heart out, Martin!<br /><br />In all seriousness, E.M., books with dragons are x10 more likely to catch my eye than any other. They just make stories better! I would definitely read a dragon-based memoir, even if it turned out the dragon was a diva. :) Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79512965964319322032016-04-27T13:10:04.660-04:002016-04-27T13:10:04.660-04:00Stephen K. - hee!
(Sherry, I know you are concern...Stephen K. - hee!<br /><br />(Sherry, I know you are concerned for Chum Bucket, but if it helps any, Gossamer himself is full of life. He and the pup are the main reason I continue to be alive, some days...)<br /><br />Some here know, I have begun to contemplate the possibility of self-pub. Days like this at the Reef, as much as I learn - honestly sort of inspire the idea just a little more. We have so little control. I'm in the process of learning ... just how much control do I *want*? Or can I take on? I feel like I am "good enough" for traditional publishing, but then I am losing the conviction that this is the route I am best suited to take after all.<br /><br />The world, it's a changing place. Either that, or I am fickle.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60779608996704806262016-04-27T12:52:55.477-04:002016-04-27T12:52:55.477-04:00Stephen's post on rejection letters is pure go...Stephen's post on rejection letters is pure gold. Have a look. Hopefully, you will laugh. I don't think you should seriously send an agent condoms. I could be wrong. <br /><br />BJ - this is the problem with dragons - media whores the lot of them. I wonder what Game of Thrones has to pay them. I have it on authority that many of the deaths on the show are actually the result of dragon tantrums that end with actors getting eaten. Oh well, so I will just keep writing fantasy. On a happier note, I feel certain I will soon have enough form rejections to wall paper my bathroom. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80145386062801397552016-04-27T12:52:43.142-04:002016-04-27T12:52:43.142-04:00Once upon a time, I took part in Chum Bucket and i...Once upon a time, I took part in Chum Bucket and it was awesome. With some kind words of encouragement, Janet told me that my book sounded like one that was already on her list--one that already wasn't selling. That taught me a lot about what I'd written, and suggested why interest in my project was low. <br /><br />Lesson learned, I'm going to try making my next project stand out. Josh Johnstunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396609127110611210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87067939996844952922016-04-27T12:31:55.343-04:002016-04-27T12:31:55.343-04:00There's a saying about getting published: &quo...There's a saying about getting published: "It's about getting the right story across the right desk at the right time."<br /><br />Regarding lists: Yes, this was a form rejection, but the 'list' is a real thing. Janet explains what it is, but there are other reasons a book may not fit an agent's list: they have another book in their stable very much like yours already; they're moving away from your genre so they're not picking up others; they have too many memoirs (as Janet said) on their list already; they already have a very full stable of authors and are being extra picky in choosing new ones - all reasons that are NOT the fault of the author, has nothing to do with the author's skill or imagination, and everything to do with the agent's own time management.<br /><br />Duchess: Form rejections don't mean your query sucks. They just mean you didn't send that query to the right agent yet. If you're unsure about your query, have you tried to submit it through Query Shark yet? Or have you gotten any feedback on it at all?<br /><br />Adding Dragons: A memoir, by EM Goldsmith<br /><br />Blurb: A lovely woman in the wilds of America-land learns to accept rejection as she works hard at getting her fiction published. When she adds a dragon to her life, though, she becomes an instant media star, immediately making her fantasy stories best-sellers. She then spends the rest of her career wondering if her success was the result of her hard work and talent or of the dragon's celebrity influence. The dragon - fuelled by its own celebrity and bored with EM's introspection - leaves to go to Hollywood, while EM retires to her quiet home to write more fantasy.BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63716865458368091712016-04-27T12:31:05.407-04:002016-04-27T12:31:05.407-04:00If you ever have any questions about what your rej...If you ever have any questions about what your rejection letter means, feel free to review <a href="http://atbwriters.blogspot.com/2015/08/interpreting-your-rejection-letters.html" rel="nofollow">this heavily researched post</a> I wrote on the subject.Stephen Kozeniewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185600045044927669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71847635917491874972016-04-27T12:12:56.411-04:002016-04-27T12:12:56.411-04:00I heard "not right for our list" a lot w...I heard "not right for our list" a lot when my agent was shopping a book I co-wrote. One editor said it was "laugh-out-loud funny, but it's not right for our list." I eventually figured out that when a publisher says it, it means, "It's not like what we're already selling, and we don't know how to sell things we don't already sell." Sound cynical? Yeah, I thought so. But that doesn't mean it's not true.John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120550659339089195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40409261395685292482016-04-27T11:47:28.060-04:002016-04-27T11:47:28.060-04:00First off, OP, congratulations on finishing your m...First off, OP, congratulations on finishing your memoir. That's a great accomplishment. I can't imagine writing one. It would be terribly hard. <br /><br /><br />I've come to the point in my life I automatically assume everything is a form rejection. Then on second or third read, I'll notice they mentioned something specifically about the story or writing. I think I have eight agents who asked me to submit future projects to them.<br /><br />Back in a previous life when we used to get all rejections hard copy, I received a choose your own adventure rejection letter. It had a list of reasons they had rejected that I could check off.<br /><br />____We're dunderheads and don't recognize great writing when we see it.<br /><br />____The dragon ate our office manager and we are in mourning.<br /><br />etc.<br /><br />I don't remember all the excuses, but they were funny and I laughed. At the end, it said, "Yes, this is the dreaded form rejection, and we apologize, but wish you great success with your work elsewhere." <br /><br />Until Super NY Agent sent back the rejection with the list of specifics on <i>Far Rider</i> I had no idea what was wrong with it. Even the rejections that asked me to submit new material were fairly generic. I loved the writing, but the story didn't quite draw me in or I didn't love it as much as I need to in order to offer representation. There might be praise for certain parts, loved the humor, battle scene, great MC, etc, but nothing specific about what was wrong.<br /><br />I'm sure this is self-preservation mode as many writers don't like people telling them their baby is ugly. <br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.com