tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post3085384463590956469..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: #agent fail at Bookends--glad I had my brolly up!Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59958342515571886622009-04-06T19:24:00.000-04:002009-04-06T19:24:00.000-04:00OH Just DANG!has not concept = has no concept!At l...OH Just DANG!<BR/><BR/>has not concept = has no concept!<BR/><BR/>At least my record of blog post typos is intact. ...Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30682259461393972082009-04-06T19:21:00.000-04:002009-04-06T19:21:00.000-04:00Dear Buffy,No, frustration is an effect, not a cau...Dear Buffy,<BR/><BR/>No, frustration is an effect, not a cause. Unrealistic expectations would be one cause, though perhaps a secondary one.<BR/><BR/>The agent who used me as the basis of a blog post frankly said her post was a rant. (It was also a lie.) She wasn't trying to educate or help anyone. The book she rejected saw publication and received flattering reviews except for one blog post made by a young man who can’t spell and has not concept of basic English grammar. (Snarky comment, huh? I learned from the best!)<BR/><BR/>So the cause of her failure wasn't in my expectation of minimal civility. It wasn't in the quality of the work I submitted to [Insert name of well known agent with blog]. The ultimate cause is in a self-view that allows her to publicly savage another in an identifiable way. Even if her post didn't leave it clear to all who had critiqued Pixie Warrior that she meant me, the basis for that kind of post is a personality defect. She's broken. The sad thing is, she doesn't know it. <BR/><BR/>Both her boss and she have posted in response to agentfail. They've both said, "We don't do those things." There is a really nasty bovine phrase one could use in response. They both do them. <BR/><BR/>That they do not see themselves in the agentfail complaints is amazing. It's more amazing because short of naming them, several of those posting made clear exactly whom they meant.<BR/><BR/>Root Causes are never found in the symptoms. One arrives at root cause by asking "and what causes that" to each possible motivating force put forward as a cause. <BR/><BR/>There are usually secondary causes, and one or two main causations. You could list them. The causes of writer frustration are: [insert list here.]<BR/><BR/>Mere analysis fails without solutions. A historian, unless she is politically inclined and agenda driven, is freed from seeking significant solutions. We're free to simply pursue the causes and motivations and presenting the effects.<BR/><BR/>In "real life" analysis must include a summary that proposes a solution. A summary outline would be: 1. Opening realistic commendation if possible; 2. Identify the problem; 3. Identify the root cause of the problem; 4. Identify the solution; 5. Explain how to apply the solution; 6. Concluding encouragement.<BR/><BR/>Organizations are effective when they apply a system of problem solving similar to this. Unfortunately, the writer-agent-publisher triad isn't part of a formal organization, and one can't be as specific in analysis as they would wish. That leaves each writer and agent to sort through their motivations and practice. Few will do that. It's painful to look into one's self.<BR/><BR/>I'm content with the conclusion "a few agents are broken, and I'll avoid them." If I were a good Christian girl, I'd forgive them and move on. Since I'm a faulty Christian, I'll just forget it until it becomes an issue again. ... And feel marginally guilty that I can still be peeved at the treatment I received.<BR/><BR/>I'm not angry at the agents who never responded, or who rejected me without reading my query (Sorry I don't do <I>romance</I>.) If I am angry at anyone it is myself for not being perceptive enough when first reading one agent’s blog to pick up on what she does. However, I'm not the one "broken." She is. What she did to me, she does to others.Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89556831964537652272009-04-04T07:22:00.000-04:002009-04-04T07:22:00.000-04:00Eh, the root cause is frustration. Unfortunately,...Eh, the root cause is frustration. Unfortunately, that's not curable, because there are far more people who've written bad books that they think are great than people who've written great books. And always will be.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89517349001027578672009-04-03T23:51:00.000-04:002009-04-03T23:51:00.000-04:00oh, i just have to share this somewhere ... and th...oh, i just have to share this somewhere ... and this is as good a spot as any ... remember all the discussion of glitter and stickers and coloured paper? as nono's for submissions?<BR/><BR/>A Canadian writer friend of mine got a rejection today ... on perfumed paper. She said it was so strongly perfumed she had to set it outside to air out! LOVE IT!<BR/><BR/>PS by W.E. Goat, III, esq. So, what's wrong with glitter?Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33260814241673737712009-04-03T23:24:00.000-04:002009-04-03T23:24:00.000-04:00I have a sneaking suspicion that if all agents set...I have a sneaking suspicion that if all agents set up an auto-response there will still be a healthy dose of complaints from writers about how awful auto-responses are and how awful agents are for using them. You can never please everyone...<BR/><BR/>And, to people who think that no one is willing to take a chance on a new author, I don't believe that's true. I am seeing books by new authors published all the time, and not just ones with vampires in them, either.Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115286785403086322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82624095908758036332009-04-03T21:29:00.000-04:002009-04-03T21:29:00.000-04:00LOL, Janet, the only brolly that'd stood up agains...LOL, Janet, the only brolly that'd stood up against Agentfail is one of asbestos... some of that was hell-fire and brimstone!<BR/><BR/>Haste yee back ;-)Haste yee back ;-)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00345715370509449971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46345044953063885592009-04-03T19:29:00.000-04:002009-04-03T19:29:00.000-04:00Oh, for God's Sake. Your desk is fine. It'...Oh, for God's Sake. Your desk is fine. It's a work of "WORK" art. <BR/><BR/>I have not finished my novel, (I'm having a blast blogging away while I work on it), but when I do and I put it out to you and others, ya know what, Like the old song says,"If you don't happen to like it, deal me out, thank you kindly -- pass me by!" <BR/><BR/>My job is to make sure that my writing is sooo good that eventually it is sure to find a place in the world. Kind of like I did when I dated 46 guys on match.com one summer before I found the one Mr. Right. If you've got good stuff my theory is you just have to keep running the numbers until you get lucky :>}Robin Wendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322432696259755593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77734123981619325312009-04-03T17:49:00.000-04:002009-04-03T17:49:00.000-04:00I'll have to go over and read that, because I have...I'll have to go over and read that, because I haven't. I only wanted to say that you have always handled yourself and your business with grace, wit and charm, and anyone who doesn't know that, doesn't know you. I think it's truly amazing that you accomplish as much as you do. I wish you could bottle some of that energy and send it to me. I'd pay a pretty penny for it.astrologymemphis.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08094432734141490681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36980827181327706722009-04-03T17:41:00.000-04:002009-04-03T17:41:00.000-04:00Janet, I'm curious. If you only had to respond to ...Janet, I'm curious. If you only had to respond to queries that weren't rejections, the requests for more pages and such, how much time would it free up for you to do other things, like catching up on partials or whatever?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1233067705036286012009-04-03T17:25:00.000-04:002009-04-03T17:25:00.000-04:00In case y'all haven't seen it, Jessica came back w...In case y'all haven't seen it, Jessica came back with an #agentwin and #authorwin post today.<BR/><BR/>http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2009/04/authorpass-and-agentpass-day.htmlSusan Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10730673696950405605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64303534803455663232009-04-03T15:46:00.000-04:002009-04-03T15:46:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.RobinRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06029912041998824676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40013821737152860552009-04-03T15:04:00.000-04:002009-04-03T15:04:00.000-04:00Jenny,When Sally Agentfail makes fun of Jane's que...Jenny,<BR/><BR/>When Sally Agentfail makes fun of Jane's query in public she doesn't have to mention Jane's name. Her friends know what her book is about. And some of Jane's friends write much better than Jane does. When it's time for them to query, they're not going to query Sally.<BR/><BR/>Did you actually follow Queryfail or are you just assuming it was a slam fest?<BR/><BR/>If Jane Badwriter's friends think it's perfectly acceptable to copy thirty other agents on a query submission, I am guessing their chances of being published are rather slim also.<BR/><BR/>If her friends were really good writers and friends, they would point out people don't "mustard" their courage, send a query to Greg Daniel addressed to Colleen Lindsay, wonder why a man is named Colleen Lindsay, threaten an agent if they don't sign them or the myriad other mistakes that were pointed out. <BR/><BR/>My writing friends, on the other hand, are pretty free with their criticism and advice and when correct advice is given by an agent or editor they don't get up in arms and vow never to submit. They agree I should change that and give me suggestions.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29865381131921792552009-04-03T14:45:00.000-04:002009-04-03T14:45:00.000-04:00Mess? What are you talking about? At least your st...Mess? What are you talking about? At least your stuff is in stacks.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920175688407593776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23511165029993613572009-04-03T13:46:00.000-04:002009-04-03T13:46:00.000-04:00Why would you be surprised at the hostility? Inste...Why would you be surprised at the hostility? Instead of surprise, or the dismay some bloggers are expressing, borrow from historians, social scientists and engineers. Seek the root cause.<BR/><BR/>If a profession is generating this kind of negativity, one must ask why.Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22012424754495155552009-04-03T13:35:00.000-04:002009-04-03T13:35:00.000-04:00You've had the best reaction to this that I've see...You've had the best reaction to this that I've seen so far. I don't understand why others were shocked at the level of anger that came out in #agentfail - this is a frustrating business that people pour their hearts and souls into and when you give the opportunity to vent a little, they're going to take advantage of that. I bet a popular session at conferences would be where everyone gets to stand in a room and scream (assuming there was a way to do it without worries of seeming unprofessional). Sure, some writers can just take the writing/querying/publishing process in stride, but for a lot of people, it's intensely difficult and they don't have a writing group or other support system that would understand.<BR/><BR/>The fact that so many other agents have reacted aversely to this just shows that they don't really understand the other side. I don't hold it against them, but it's disappointing.<BR/><BR/>S<BR/><BR/>P.S. Your desk feels like home :). Really, I don't care if an agent looks disorganized since many of the most intelligent, successful people I know have their own "unique" filing system. But I do care if an agent IS disorganized and can't keep track of their requests and replies.Stephanie Feldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12902266388849389758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45200426389444237482009-04-03T12:40:00.000-04:002009-04-03T12:40:00.000-04:00Janet, thank you. I thought your response to a di...Janet, thank you. I thought your response to a difficult situation was very open, gracious and human. <BR/><BR/>I think you deserve alot of credit. Thanks.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53562717910317450092009-04-03T12:33:00.000-04:002009-04-03T12:33:00.000-04:00In your defense, organization is not necessarily l...In your defense, organization is not necessarily linked to neatness. I am not the neatest person in the world, but I am organized. I often wish I were neater, but I'm too often faced with the issue of where to spend my time: getting the writing done or shuffling piles of paper when I already know where everything is. Even if is isn't neat.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09858789421494610124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17286924646897331942009-04-03T12:14:00.000-04:002009-04-03T12:14:00.000-04:00I've had two agents. One repped my suspense novel ...I've had two agents. One repped my suspense novel and the other my children's book.<BR/><BR/>The lady with the children's book was a dream agent. Very professional, honest, helpful and she sent me copies of rejections and comments. I dearly loved her.<BR/><BR/>The other agents were very helpful, easy to talk to, and they loved another book project I was working on. I didn't get feedback from them on who was being submitted to or any responses. I learned after my computer crashed they had actually lost the manuscript and the back up disks they had. I can only assume the game plan was for me to lose interest in the suspense and get to work on the historical that they loved.<BR/><BR/>For that reason, getting some kind of feedback about who is being contacted and their response is important. I don't need a daily report, but some kind of report is good.<BR/><BR/>The griping about twittering and blogging bugged me. I know how many hours some of these agents are putting in and it's probably far and above what their detractors put in. I like following the agent blogs and twitters, even if they aren't a prospect for me. It gives me another glimpse into the industry. Plus, it's just fun.<BR/><BR/>This isn't a sweat shop where agents are expected to work 18 hours a day before they can have their bowl of twitter. Some people need to lighten up.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53319441305847467212009-04-03T11:51:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:51:00.000-04:00Just as writers who query represent different degr...Just as writers who query represent different degrees of professionalism, agents are people too. And what one views as appropriate (for example Janet says not responding feels rude to her), another sees as perfectly okay to not respond to a query they never requested in the first place. I've accepted it as part of the process. Do I like it? Not really but it sure makes those requests for fulls and partials that much sweeter.Pamela Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18267333699680840984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18163989692000945962009-04-03T11:44:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:44:00.000-04:00That's not a messy desk. Not even close. And I'm g...That's not a messy desk. Not even close. And I'm glad you Twitter and blog. I'm also glad you respond to your queriers, even though I know if you stopped doing so it would free up some of your time for your existing clients. It shows you respect all writers. Thank you.DeadlyAccuratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08361707307035259942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66354533239561562872009-04-03T11:43:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:43:00.000-04:00Just reading the comments and responding in your p...Just reading the comments and responding in your post speaks volumes about your professionalism. <BR/><BR/>As for your desk. Hardly disorganized. I actually disagreed with the poster that made that comment anyway. Managers would always say that as messy as my desk was that it must have worked for me because I was always top in sales in my career. They said as long as you have it straight upstairs it didn't matter what the desk looked like (until corporate did a walk-thru). lol. Plus some people are more photographic memorizes and it doesnt matter where they laid it or how many papers are on top of it...they always know where "it" is. :)PurpleCloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07933014134696608557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40055539534033015692009-04-03T11:33:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:33:00.000-04:00I didn't comment. But I was surprised at all the h...I didn't comment. But I was surprised at all the hostility I read. <BR/><BR/>When I was querying agents, I only had two bad experiences, and neither one ruined my life. The rest were either normal (routine rejection or no-reply) or very helpful (agents going out of their way to offer valuable advice). Which is really surprising, because I did my fair share of hocking some of them to death with queries (poor Dan Lazar; I still feel guilty; he was always so nice and polite).<BR/><BR/>Maybe someone should do an "agentpass" now.ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30388872274478899472009-04-03T11:29:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:29:00.000-04:00Awesome post, I'm glad you could wade through the ...Awesome post, I'm glad you could wade through the mess and find the things that were valid problems. I think the idea about posting why you have a problem with lack of communication would be very enlightening for the rest of us. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for responding with maturity. Not every agent did and I respect you more for having the kahunas to handle it with grace. :)J.R. Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671109654769467131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11345926144420347412009-04-03T11:07:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:07:00.000-04:00Am I the only one thinking that when I get an agen...Am I the only one thinking that when I get an agent, I really don't care one bit about their query response time or rejection protocol? Sure, it'll give an agent bonus points in the "dating" stage, but neither of those things are going to advance my career.<BR/><BR/>Of course I'll care about client-response time, but that's a different matter. And I'll hope my agent finds all the new clients she needs to stay in the business, but...Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57896700629181221952009-04-03T11:04:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:04:00.000-04:00It was interesting to see that my specific complai...It was interesting to see that my specific complaints were shared by others. ... Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the nasty blogging agent who lied about me is still posting her rude comments about writers. She thinks she's immune because she's successful. ... Fine, I don't really read her blog anymore, 'cept once in a blue moon. And then I come away from it nauseus umm nauseous. (Ha! I caught that one!) I’d never query her again. If I become more famous the Mr. S. King, richer than Croesus, and in need of a new agent, it would still not be her.<BR/><BR/>And ... alas ... my posts over there on the agent-fail thing maintained my perfect record of typos and misspellings. Honest, I’m not dyslexic ... I think ... <BR/><BR/>Agents forget the amount of “self” writers invest in their work. The final product may be awful, but it still represents their current best, and it represents their heart. A little consideration, even while saying no, is in order.<BR/><BR/>I don't mean Agents should run a Lonely Writer's Club. Just be polite, helpful when it's really warranted, and review your idiot form rejection. <BR/><BR/>Do you know how many form rejections are rude in tone, ungrammatical, or otherwise idiotic? For most writers an agent's form rejection is the agent’s voice to the world. You may be an exceptionally nice person, but if you have a rejection letter or email that is rude in tone (you east-coasties getting this?) that is how you are perceived.<BR/><BR/>Your attitude toward writers comes through clearly in your form rejections. Don’t think so? Pick up the first page of the next query you get. You decide if it’s worth your while in the first few sentences. You analyze voice, talent, attitude and competence within two sentences. Do you honestly think we don’t do the same with your form rejections? <BR/><BR/>A no isn’t always just a no. If your form rejection is rude, you may not notice it, but we will. So that agent who trumpets her niceness to the world should have someone other than her best buddies review her form rejection. Because it is awful. From my perspective as a writer, she is haughty, nasty, aloof, rude, crude and probably in need of counseling. Would her friends tell her this? Probably not, but I just did.<BR/><BR/>Does she mean for her form emails to be like they are. How the heck would I know? I just know what their effect was on me.<BR/><BR/>Along the way to publication I got maybe two dozen rejections. They fell into three categories: 1. A simple polite “no.” 2. Rude crap. 3. Oh, dear, this is lovely but not what we publish; send us something else.<BR/><BR/>Number 2 is never acceptable in polite society. Take it where it belongs.Sha'el, Princess of Pixieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049854555801812071noreply@blogger.com