tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4062601197963271750..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: what were you thinking?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29383945801035718572011-02-22T18:32:45.867-05:002011-02-22T18:32:45.867-05:00I blogged about this a couple weeks ago (http://a-...I blogged about this a couple weeks ago (http://a-musedwriter.blogspot.com/2011/02/mm-your-blog-is-marketing-tool-whether.html) and a couple people were surprised that agents and editors actually know how to use Google to research a writer. Um...yes. They also know how to spell M-O-R-O-N and hit the rejection button.<br /><br />Seriously, blogs are marketing tools, whether we like it or not. It doesn't matter if you're published, either. Agents and editors take a look at your blog if they're interested to get a feel for who you are. Once your book is bought, the media review your blog for background and material.<br /><br />If you put it out there, expect it to be read!Kristie Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01649966564896771373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-90169985057559356052011-02-21T13:11:24.442-05:002011-02-21T13:11:24.442-05:00A few years ago, when I was practicing law, I rece...A few years ago, when I was practicing law, I received a resume from a law student who sought to be accepted into our firm: a high-class, prestigious establishment in our city, where we represented some of the top companies in the world. At the bottom of his resume, he had included a link to his blog, and the top post on that blog (which I, of course, clicked on) involved urinating into a gallon jar because he was too drunk to search for the bathroom in his friend's apartment. I wanted to shake that poor fool by his shoulders and teach him some discretion.<br /><br />My rule of thumb: I never write anything on the Internet (FB, Twitter, or my blog) that could (1) kill my chances at a job interview and/or (2) embarrass me if my 80-year old conservative Indian grandmother read it. And the same should absolutely go in the publishing world. I hope fervently that this happened to you only once.Akila @ The Road Forkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675847759199760102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-225588080675102542011-02-21T11:55:23.791-05:002011-02-21T11:55:23.791-05:00LOL Bitch-slapping pussy. ^_^
I agree with the se...LOL Bitch-slapping pussy. ^_^<br /><br />I agree with the sentiment, but you can't throw that shit at the 1-star reviews, either. That just gets you a rep for egotism. Clever writers counter by posting 5-star reviews under multiple false identities. ~_^LupLunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01569316994425614394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51726219306287663072011-02-21T08:45:16.068-05:002011-02-21T08:45:16.068-05:00Discretion is the hallmark of a professional regar...Discretion is the hallmark of a professional regardless of the area of endeavor. This personality probably doesn't bode well for the art of story telling either as they would most like give the plot away on the third page of a three hundred page manuscript.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83081009502210774842011-02-21T08:04:58.058-05:002011-02-21T08:04:58.058-05:00Good, useful post, great parting shot, and how I l...Good, useful post, great parting shot, and how I love that dog and cat slugging it out! <br /><br />Being polite costs you nothing. And whining is part of what writing groups are for.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9537881239922574952011-02-21T03:25:49.061-05:002011-02-21T03:25:49.061-05:00Holy cow. I am bookmarking this so I can DM a link...Holy cow. I am bookmarking this so I can DM a link to it every time I see somebody tripping perilously close to the edge of this cliff. And I see it way too often. Thank you, thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-75176199395832863242011-02-20T21:44:29.962-05:002011-02-20T21:44:29.962-05:00I like the first cat.I like the first cat.Doppelgängerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05531122435686713109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44564277477644664552011-02-20T20:36:30.562-05:002011-02-20T20:36:30.562-05:00To M who did not understand my post...it's an ...To M who did not understand my post...it's an 'L' formed by your fingers, placed in the middle of your forehead. <br />It denotes 'loser'.<br />I guess you never saw the movie Shrek. I've walked many a brisk mile on a treadmill to the theme music of that movie.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59827813153047222682011-02-20T19:09:26.504-05:002011-02-20T19:09:26.504-05:00LOVE--and well said. Marsha--a tweet to Damon is ...LOVE--and well said. Marsha--a tweet to Damon is NEVER wasted!Natalie Zamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415954118566571271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29097838384622008842011-02-20T18:03:48.874-05:002011-02-20T18:03:48.874-05:00Great post. Good advice (and reminder) and love th...Great post. Good advice (and reminder) and love the cat and dog pics! I just blogged about my latest adventure in publishing; my publisher going out of business. But I kept it inspirational for the reader.Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21477891078006832392011-02-20T16:39:18.963-05:002011-02-20T16:39:18.963-05:00I came here via Verla Kay's message board and ...I came here via Verla Kay's message board and because how writers present themselves on their blogs is a particular pet peeve for me. A lot of time bloggers howl about being "honest" and "transparent" when really it means that the content should've been shared over a latte with a girlfriend and not in a place that google will cache for the rest of your life. If you wouldn't share the story with an agent or editor over said latte, don't post it. And if it's about failure, OMG make it funny.<br /><br />This of course, is from someone who posted their early foul query letters -- after I'd hit the NYT list a few times. Irony beats informative every time.Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73143160859499839422011-02-20T07:12:38.191-05:002011-02-20T07:12:38.191-05:00Just re-read my comment and thought it sounded a l...Just re-read my comment and thought it sounded a little snarky at the end-- which was totally unintentional.(That's what happens when you comment at midnight.)<br /><br />Blogs are awesome, and serve a purpose. I read them, follow them and am slightly in awe of them-- especially those by authors (including aspiring ones). I'm in awe of the time it takes to blog on a regularly basis AND have something worthwhile to say. I'm not there yet, and may never be. For now, I'm content to listen and read. (Which is what I should have done last night). <br />That's all I meant. No disrespect to any bloggers, esp writer/bloggers. Mainly I wanted to be an example of exactly how easy it is to stick your foot in your mouth in a public forum. <br /><br />See? If your mouth stays closed, you can't possibly put your foot in it.Lynne Matsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18415839149588934992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85629999044138728872011-02-20T00:03:50.074-05:002011-02-20T00:03:50.074-05:00Wow. This post was mind-boggling. Not the post its...Wow. This post was mind-boggling. Not the post itself (that was well-said and full of explanatory pictures) but the fact that you had to write it at all. <br /><br />Complaining tends to repel people, not attract them. For all writers trying to get published, why in the world would you want to set yourself up as an unhappy camper -- or worse, a difficult one-- from the get-go? Eek.<br />Lynne <br />(With an e, no parens. No blog either. Maybe I'll have one once I'm published, then again, maybe I'll just write books. Either way, until then, I'm staying mum.)Lynne Matsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18415839149588934992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24297086873383580122011-02-19T22:11:57.733-05:002011-02-19T22:11:57.733-05:00I love when you blog about puppies and kitties. (I...I love when you blog about puppies and kitties. (I mean, a real person couldn't possibly have done these things, right?)Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17846248877378165142011-02-19T21:27:42.584-05:002011-02-19T21:27:42.584-05:00To the twit...
Pinch index finger and thumb toget...To the twit...<br /><br />Pinch index finger and thumb together...spread wide and form an L and place it in the middle of your forhead.<br />Yup...it suits you.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-223465443179113282011-02-19T20:27:56.884-05:002011-02-19T20:27:56.884-05:00Desperation is never pretty, even when you only ha...Desperation is never pretty, even when you only have 140 characters to express it in.<br /><br />Maybe I should stop tweeting Damon from Vampire Diaries.Marsha Sigmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11095210839900479297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30799956791877005932011-02-19T20:23:02.176-05:002011-02-19T20:23:02.176-05:00Had to lol out loud, this was so funny.Had to lol out loud, this was so funny.Orlandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103458688711351378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31634102042390441002011-02-19T14:58:12.670-05:002011-02-19T14:58:12.670-05:00"Save your ammo for the 1-star reviewers on A..."Save your ammo for the 1-star reviewers on Amazon."<br /><br />I agree with all of the post except this review thing. If you want to shoot yourself in both feet, go after any reviewer, on amazon, a blog, or anywhere else. They eat writers who do this for breakfast.ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74544336019712603132011-02-19T14:05:22.174-05:002011-02-19T14:05:22.174-05:00It seems that part of the problem is that too many...It seems that part of the problem is that too many people are confusing a blog for a diary.<br /><br />There's personal and then there's personal. And for many of us, that line dusted over way too long ago.<br /><br />Get your toes out and draw a quick line again. If you blog about your failure, then you are only a successful blogger. Not a successful writer.<br /><br />Building a social media platform isn't about spilling your sucky day. It's about enticing people to read you. Position yourself to be read, not to be pitied.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16679613223759580578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37165256880129985602011-02-19T13:56:16.759-05:002011-02-19T13:56:16.759-05:00I wish there were a required-reading manual for Tw...I wish there were a required-reading manual for Twitter and Blogger. So many newbies make ridiculous mistakes that I'm sure embarrass their older, wiser selves. I see someone trying to make friends by playing the "ain't it awful" game--which might work in the school cafeteria, but not here.<br /><br />Sigh. She's going to be so sad when she figures out what she's done.<br /><br />And Katie--we all love your creepy query humor. No specific agents are ever dissed, so I can't imagine people would object. It's not as if you're Tweeting @Sharkipotamus! Come read how stepping in dog poo in brand new Jimmy Choos isn't as bad as your rejections! You let us play "ain't it awful" in a controlled environment.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27158405710794637232011-02-19T13:18:04.835-05:002011-02-19T13:18:04.835-05:00I agree!
I've mentioned rejections before, bu...I agree!<br /><br />I've mentioned rejections before, but never in a whiny manner. I never tag agents on twitter, but if they drop by my blog, they won't find any mention of any agencies. The only reason I ever mention rejections is if I've received enough to convince me that I need to rewrite my query. And I ALWAYS make a point to to insist that I'm not giving up.<br /><br />I understand how the business works, and I'm working with the system. So I point out how hard I'M working without blaming agents. After all, I'm still learning, and agents know the business better than I do. I trust their expertise. And I certainly don't want them to remember me unless I impress them. If I'm rejected, I want to be forgotten by the end of the day. Complaining makes that very difficult. :DGiles Hashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10772067878017549159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86250160164002336502011-02-19T12:51:25.143-05:002011-02-19T12:51:25.143-05:00...so i have a question about this blog. i underst......so i have a question about this blog. i understand not to bitch about the specific people you've been rejected from (that's tacky), but my blog is called TheSubmissionProcess...which includes submitting to agents and getting rejected. <br />I have two posts, one about being rejected in under 20 minutes, and one about keeping my head in the game and "having heart"...is this a no no, as well?Lynn(e) Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13111991752818662608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-771928631971669732011-02-19T12:00:09.335-05:002011-02-19T12:00:09.335-05:00It's even worse when said blog posts go viral ...It's even worse when said blog posts go viral Rejection Queen style and the Publish America book you've been trying to pass off to your friends and family as published through a commercial press (with photoshop-altered cover)gets outed.Josin L. McQueinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751043333147850336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61823315372555663362011-02-19T11:44:09.539-05:002011-02-19T11:44:09.539-05:00Too bad the annoying example got this much attenti...Too bad the annoying example got this much attention, @squeakywheel? Skin is too thin these days!Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31144484936908305352011-02-19T11:30:19.475-05:002011-02-19T11:30:19.475-05:00Great post, Janet! Amen.Great post, Janet! Amen.Jennifer S. Wilkov - Your Book Is Your Hook!https://www.blogger.com/profile/07719453407104377009noreply@blogger.com