tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post404079881458434621..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: When do I want to hear from you? (this is not a trick question)Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71837265424479816732010-03-30T22:18:39.715-04:002010-03-30T22:18:39.715-04:00When I do make it out to Pluto for a vacation, and...When I do make it out to Pluto for a vacation, and if return alive, will it matter if I don't have platform when I send my non-fiction proposal? I'm assuming that the planet/Kuiper belt object controversy will generate interest in the book.mallardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027376257447878531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21708532592406489432010-03-26T08:13:52.963-04:002010-03-26T08:13:52.963-04:00Is there any point in trying to sell an idea for a...Is there any point in trying to sell an idea for a novel rather than a finished manuscript? I suppose you could see if the idea has legs, rather than write the entire story only to find out the idea is a re-hash and not a good one at that.<br /><br />And on a semi-related tangent: what are the chances of having a blog turned into a book? Mimi Smartypants had luck with that. Is she the exception to the rule?cardiogirl @ cardiogirl.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322965001273835193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56832902851008949082010-03-17T21:52:22.230-04:002010-03-17T21:52:22.230-04:00Excellent list, and I love lists. Thanks!Excellent list, and I love lists. Thanks!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10258489695323534662010-03-17T16:49:46.333-04:002010-03-17T16:49:46.333-04:00Question for you on number 2: should the sender in...Question for you on number 2: should the sender indicate that it was sent previously, or just resend as if sending for the first time? Thanks!JEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043891292719086478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49026804129121397402010-03-17T16:38:59.950-04:002010-03-17T16:38:59.950-04:00Very helpful checklist (checklists rule). Alas, I...Very helpful checklist (checklists rule). Alas, I've queried you once and received a kind 'no'. Bummed querying revised manuscript is a no-no, but I'm still learning tons from your blogs. Thanks for helping us newbie writers!<br /><br />CatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60695298468398254052010-03-17T14:38:27.937-04:002010-03-17T14:38:27.937-04:00Thanks for mentioning "The Checklist Manifest...Thanks for mentioning "The Checklist Manifesto". Looks neat, and I've added it to my "get at the library" list. (If it weren't $20 for the eBook, I'd have it right now!)<br /><br />I promise to only email as required, Snookums. (How badly do I want to get to introduce you as, "This is my agent, Snookums"? Really very badly.)Heather Wardellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266031957030063157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39584270293005965892010-03-17T12:54:26.392-04:002010-03-17T12:54:26.392-04:00You're hilarious! I always laugh when I read y...You're hilarious! I always laugh when I read your posts. <br />Thanks for the break-down. Very helpful.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50436284910656567812010-03-17T12:28:56.933-04:002010-03-17T12:28:56.933-04:00I did that last one, actually; I had a request for...I did that last one, actually; I had a request for a full when I was in Paris and I didn't have a copy of the manuscript while I was there. I wrote the agent to tell her so, but that didn't seem to bother her...is there a reason we shouldn't do that? Is it because, on average, you don't mind if a full takes a few extra days to roll in?Chris Inghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180468737828830191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66462528373806591682010-03-17T10:38:29.336-04:002010-03-17T10:38:29.336-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Michelle Kollarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16876074878628978930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65029356688817424902010-03-17T09:50:50.787-04:002010-03-17T09:50:50.787-04:00There was a debate about a specific situation on t...There was a debate about a specific situation on twitter the other day, which is a variation on your point 5. What if a writer has sent you a query, hasn’t heard anything back from you (30 days haven’t passed), but has received an offer of representation from another agent. Would you want that writer to let you know about the other offer, even if you haven’t gotten to the query yet?Lisa Katzenbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03541571187216239983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-48521354380477174952010-03-17T08:18:07.742-04:002010-03-17T08:18:07.742-04:00Janet Reid, you always make me smile. Thanks . . ....Janet Reid, you always make me smile. Thanks . . . for the list, the post, and the morning smile!Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8124206586887447192010-03-17T03:25:18.846-04:002010-03-17T03:25:18.846-04:00Hey, you forgot the "btw, I've gotta best...Hey, you forgot the "btw, I've gotta bestseller on my hands - gonna make you a lotta cash - you'd be an idiot to turn it down - I'll give ya a call tonight to tell you how much I want from the publisher." Let me guess, on or off the list? Hmmm ...Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4589081757232786522010-03-17T01:32:09.282-04:002010-03-17T01:32:09.282-04:00Do we loose points for leaving out the "Snook...Do we loose points for leaving out the "Snookums", Snookums?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47036593173472395802010-03-17T00:34:53.470-04:002010-03-17T00:34:53.470-04:00Since I'm not querying, a client, or a hot pro...Since I'm not querying, a client, or a hot prospect, I'll just give you a call when I want to talk to you.Joellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04345209675431505161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28874669291027860842010-03-17T00:17:39.411-04:002010-03-17T00:17:39.411-04:00I'm totally lizzing. And wishing you blogged m...I'm totally lizzing. And wishing you blogged more.Bethany C Morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12680443616002300791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1400786891131363262010-03-16T23:47:39.303-04:002010-03-16T23:47:39.303-04:00This is very funny Janet! I violate the "when...This is very funny Janet! I violate the "when you revise the manuscript" one several times the first go round! I learned my lesson then!Daisy Whitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06360940169057849544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78160309081767317432010-03-16T23:46:45.146-04:002010-03-16T23:46:45.146-04:00worst baby, I'm not saying I ain't got any...worst baby, I'm not saying I ain't got any of em, but my fascination with checklists is based on this<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0805091742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268797460&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Checklist Manifesto</a><br /><br />which I first read about in The New Yorker.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-89547886682588025302010-03-16T23:40:35.558-04:002010-03-16T23:40:35.558-04:00Hi Stephanie,
I generally like to get fulls the in...Hi Stephanie,<br />I generally like to get fulls the instant I request them, but since very few people (of the sane variety anyway) keep my hours I've been forced to learn patience.<br /><br />I'd say a week is about all you'd want to let a request linger. <br /><br />Of course, life does happen, and if you know you're going in for major surgery in two days, well, by all means let me know (I hope that example will be rarely if ever needed!)<br /><br />What I don't EVER want is: I'll send it when I finish it/polish it/get it back from the crit group. All that should happen BEFORE you hit SEND.<br /><br />I know a lot of agents aren't fast, but some of us ARE. Expect we'll be asking the second we read it. Be ready.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53350088206327185122010-03-16T23:39:11.151-04:002010-03-16T23:39:11.151-04:00Got it Snookums.Got it Snookums.Lisa Desrochershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15179219851085181641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18883350604778727112010-03-16T23:37:21.048-04:002010-03-16T23:37:21.048-04:00You know there are quite a few psychiatric conditi...You know there are quite a few psychiatric conditions that are characterized by an obsession with lists. <br /><br />Just sayin'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2662452997785717362010-03-16T23:33:44.181-04:002010-03-16T23:33:44.181-04:00Related question: I've heard lots of different...Related question: I've heard lots of different things about acceptable timelines for sending partials/fulls (depending on what is in the query guidelines). A week, less than a week, etc. Your checklist item of not wanting to know if someone is on vacation and will get back to you prompts me to ask what an acceptable lag time between request and receiving the requested material would be. Does that make any sense?Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62834101708919819062010-03-16T23:23:49.712-04:002010-03-16T23:23:49.712-04:00I feel so conflicted. I'm at the query stage, ...I feel so conflicted. I'm at the query stage, but already queried so you don't want to hear from me again, so am I still allowed to comment? It's contacting you, but blogging...<br /><br />Kidding. You can't escape me. Mwa ha ha hah.Christi Goddardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08590491851753709622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50227201296441948422010-03-16T23:06:09.627-04:002010-03-16T23:06:09.627-04:00Who do I have to bribe to get on the hot prospect/...Who do I have to bribe to get on the hot prospect/client list? Oh wait...I'm a writer, I'm broke. Do cookie bribes count?Annie Laurie Cechinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02048645532725116369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90148237803947737292010-03-16T23:02:26.438-04:002010-03-16T23:02:26.438-04:00Have no query questions, but can you give me the a...Have no query questions, but can you give me the address of that all-night liquor store?sherry stanfa-stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680055033925659511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-983712433980578122010-03-16T22:59:57.130-04:002010-03-16T22:59:57.130-04:00I'm ready to query, but rather than be excessi...I'm ready to query, but rather than be excessively literal, I'll wait until my manuscript is too.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00819223137850041043noreply@blogger.com