tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4616393341302475259..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Revise and resubmitJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78549589723357636732016-06-02T06:58:47.896-04:002016-06-02T06:58:47.896-04:00Numbered files within files. Wow. I don't spen...Numbered files within files. Wow. I don't spend enough time getting and staying organized. I also dislike putting away clean dishes and clean clothes. The last job I left, I sorted files for two days and then just tossed the rest without looking at them. Is there such a thing as aversion therapy for non-neatniks? Cuz I need to sign up when I get a minute.Delaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05547110687684578056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26185144617537132702016-05-28T08:11:07.560-04:002016-05-28T08:11:07.560-04:00Hey, thanks, Claudette and kdjames!
It's help...Hey, thanks, Claudette and kdjames!<br /><br />It's helpful to remind myself that an R&R is a good thing, not a "you have fallen short of the mark YET AGAIN" thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35576900743773604932016-05-28T04:17:27.027-04:002016-05-28T04:17:27.027-04:00Holy moly Julie, what a way to characterize a plac...Holy moly Julie, what a way to characterize a place. When are we going to be graced with one of your books. <br /><br />Congratulations Jennifer.<br /><br />Congratulations Jeangie Brooksby-Arcangiolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000615140577512304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85731492775093581342016-05-28T00:51:07.318-04:002016-05-28T00:51:07.318-04:00Colin, Freudian slip? And thanks for the definitio...Colin, Freudian slip? And thanks for the definition of Norman - I had no idea.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29437311838786862562016-05-27T21:09:03.724-04:002016-05-27T21:09:03.724-04:00Panda & Colin - That is so very helpful!! I...Panda & Colin - That is so very helpful!! I'm already drowning in the revisions to 'The Work That Will Be Submitted This Fall' and glad to have system models to help tame that piece before (fingers crossed) some positive helpful comment zips across the Internet.<br /><br />Good time off this weekend to you both : )Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226720665890665661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9250776033847998642016-05-27T20:41:50.739-04:002016-05-27T20:41:50.739-04:00OP, congrats on the oh-so-subtle R&R. As other...OP, congrats on the oh-so-subtle R&R. As others have said, take your time. Good luck! <br /><br />And the same to you on your R&R, tsrosenberg.<br /><br />Jennifer, I missed it yesterday-- congrats to you as well, and let us know when/where we can read it.<br /><br />Lots of good news vibes around here lately.<br /><br />As long as we're speculating, I think Folder 501 contains cat/dog/horse/coyote pics for use on the blog. Then again, I'm convinced Folder 502 is pics of mountain vacations and Folder 504 is a sampling of quiet introspective musings. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49284703777179649122016-05-27T19:04:19.152-04:002016-05-27T19:04:19.152-04:00It is very easy to tell if a R&R request is th...It is very easy to tell if a R&R request is the real deal instead of a fake cake. If the agent does not bother to put your name in the form letter, you’re toast. Thus if a rejection starts with, “To Whom It Might Concern, Your work sucks and your email address has been blocked, Revise and Resend,” it is likely the agent does not think you are a new Stephenie Meyers.<br /><br />Alternatively, if the form letter still has the placeholder in it and they did not bother to type your name (“Dear [Enter Querier Name Here], Your book is great, and I am sure my worst enemies in the biz would love to consider it. Revise and Piss Off (RAPO), but don’t resend to me.”), you’re probably not getting nominated for the Man Booker this year.<br /><br />What gets me is that authors take themselves so seriously. In a business in which you are likely to get a letter that says, “Dear Murgatroyd, your memoir VERY MUSCULAR APPENDAGE, THE AUTOBIOGRALY OF MY LEFT FOOT did not sell quite 500,000 copies in hard cover, so we don’t want to hear from you ever again, and so ha!” you have to do the very best you can but not have much invested in the outcome. Nobody owes anybody anything. You have to be prepared to take a crapshoot without actually hitting any crap. And believe me, there is plenty of crap out there.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37202501817385588062016-05-27T18:46:09.060-04:002016-05-27T18:46:09.060-04:00Arggh!! That's what works for me so far! :)Arggh!! That's <b>what works</b> for me so far! :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31072912096568775552016-05-27T18:45:00.847-04:002016-05-27T18:45:00.847-04:00Claudette: I keep every revision, and save them by...Claudette: I keep every revision, and save them by a number system as follows:<br /><br />1.0: First draft. Each subsequent revision of this draft increments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.) until it's ready for my First Reader (my wife).<br />2.0: First Reader draft. Her revisions and subsequent tweaks I make become 2.1. 2.2, 2.3, etc. This then becomes<br />3.0: Beta Reader version. These create new versions for each round of beta reader changes (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, etc.), culminating in a final revision, which becomes<br />4.0: The Final Draft. I save this to a separate folder, along with other submission materials (query template, synopses, 1st 5 pages, 1st 50 pages, etc.). This makes it easy to make sure I send the correct version of everything to satisfy each agent's submission guidelines.<br /><br />I wonder if I'll be this organized after publication, given the fact that I'll more likely be working to deadlines. Indeed, I wonder how differently Gary Corby approaches Novel #8 as opposed to THE PERICLES COMMISSION? Did the imposition of publisher deadlines, etc. change his revision methodology, assuming he had one to begin with?<br /><br />Anyway, that's what's work for me so far. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57489653761090307522016-05-27T18:21:15.767-04:002016-05-27T18:21:15.767-04:00Claudette, I'm guessing that every author has ...Claudette, I'm guessing that every author has their own way to keep track of manuscript revisions. As I went through each set of revisions while I was in the SCBWI mentor program, I would start with the previous document and do a "save as" with a new number. So the first MS version had no number, the second one was "Version 2" and the date, and so on. I know some people track revisions in a single document, but that would make me crazy. Then each time I finished a revision, I save it as a pdf and sent it off to my mentor (now agent) then I can start a new one with the next round of revisions.<br />When he sent me back the pdf with notes, I renamed it to indicate it is the one with notes from agent.<br />I need to be able to look at both versions at the same time, so one of those programs that tracks changes in the same document wouldn't work for me, unless you could look at both versions simultaneously. I'm way to old to remember subtle diffenences for more than say, .002 seconds.<br /><br />This way, I have all versions of the manuscript and can go back to look at any of them at any time. <br /><br />Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84663348234996245572016-05-27T18:11:52.166-04:002016-05-27T18:11:52.166-04:00And congrats to tsrosenberg as well!And congrats to tsrosenberg as well!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226720665890665661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79243610649483923482016-05-27T18:03:19.748-04:002016-05-27T18:03:19.748-04:00Hurrah to Jennifer for yesterday's achievement...Hurrah to Jennifer for yesterday's achievement and OP for the R&R - the stuff beginner's dreams are made of.<br /><br />Imagining what getting R&Rs might be like, how do you keep track of all the different versions of the ms that are generated by different agent requested revisions? And when or how do you turn all that into one master revision?<br /><br />A very restful and peaceful weekend to all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226720665890665661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63155942340362554052016-05-27T16:08:09.690-04:002016-05-27T16:08:09.690-04:00Wow, this was timely, as I just received my first ...Wow, this was timely, as I just received my first R&R - including an editorial letter - and the agent is interested in hearing what I think about the suggestions. All of this is very positive, though at times it feels like Zeno's Paradox For Writers. (Partial request! Full request! R&R! Almost there, for the 18th time!)<br /><br />I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on where agents draw the line between 'I must offer representation this moment' and 'I will take the time to make thoughtful, extensive comments and will carefully consider a revision'. Is it the extent of the revisions, i.e. 'restructure the entire first third of the novel' versus 'run spellcheck'? It does seem as if it would be unfair to the writer to offer representation and THEN say, 'I heart your book but want you to change all the things, you okay with that?' but surely almost all offers would involve some kind of revision?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-7732910118518844462016-05-27T16:03:46.220-04:002016-05-27T16:03:46.220-04:00Ah yes. Regina, Saskatchewan. The City that Rhymes...Ah yes. Regina, Saskatchewan. The City that Rhymes with Fun!<br /><br />Although I never understood what was so funny about angina... Anyway...<br /><br />I got into a very serious argument (well, he was serious - and drunk. I thought it was funny) with a fellow from New York at a wedding in North Dakota. He insisted the city was 'Regeena', because that was his cousin's name. I resisted telling him that the city wasn't named after his cousin. After all, he was so serious (and drunk.) Also, he had a Bronx accent, and it was so cool to listen to, so I just let him talk. You don't hear that much in Regina.<br /><br />BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41008452357973243652016-05-27T15:47:11.659-04:002016-05-27T15:47:11.659-04:00A question prompt writing contest? 8-O Well that w...A question prompt writing contest? 8-O Well that would mix things up a bit... not that I don't enjoy the word prompts, but I know you've been trying to think up more creative ways to torment us, Djanet. That would be one. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46675929269557097882016-05-27T15:21:04.001-04:002016-05-27T15:21:04.001-04:00Oh, yes please, we should ABSOLUTELY have a contes...Oh, yes please, we should ABSOLUTELY have a contest where the prompt is a question! I love that kind of a prompt and torment my writing group with them at least once a week.<br /><br />One of the most fruitful ones, that I've used a couple of times across the years, has been "What's on the radio?" My first answer to that became the opening scene for my exorcist bikers novel.Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63102331131311980172016-05-27T15:07:24.278-04:002016-05-27T15:07:24.278-04:00Bah, I knew I shouldn't have gone back and rer...Bah, I knew I shouldn't have gone back and reread that post or at least written post coffee. Gads at the mistakes. Conrad, not Konrad for one and and I probably spelled his last name wrong. Yes, it's Helen-uh. I know that. I love Helena. <br /><br />It's one of those old, historic towns that renews my spirit.<br /><br />The streets were literally paved with gold as it was impossible to find rock that didn't have gold in it.<br /><br />Now, back to work.<br /><br />And thank you.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37588711732357371732016-05-27T15:04:39.535-04:002016-05-27T15:04:39.535-04:00I guess we all know who's in Folder 501. Like ...I guess we all know who's in Folder 501. Like there was really any question. As the lady said, Julie, write that goshdarned novel! ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58976281154508655772016-05-27T14:44:26.696-04:002016-05-27T14:44:26.696-04:00I love organizing stuff. Even though in my writing...I love organizing stuff. Even though in my writing, I am a confirmed "pantser", in all else I am a relentless organizer. I live to create spreadsheets. Sometimes I even look at them after I make them and fill them up.<br /><br />Congrats to today's OP who gets another shot at getting this manuscript accepted. That's exciting, to say the least.<br /><br />I would still rather have a succinct "no" than be NORMANed. I hate not knowing more than I hate being rejected. <br /><br />OT. There is a cursed woodpecker using my metal roof as a communication system, to let all the girls in town know he is available. It sounds like a jackhammer on my roof. Some days I am not a fan of nature.<br /><br />And in reply to Colin's punny comment yesterday, what's wrong with pandaing? Every one loves pandas.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73637817727219538752016-05-27T14:42:05.743-04:002016-05-27T14:42:05.743-04:00Holy Helvetica on a pogo stick, Julie M. Weathers,...Holy Helvetica on a pogo stick, Julie M. Weathers, quit reading this damn blog and GET BACK TO WRITING MY DAMN COWGIRLS BOOK.<br /><br />That little Helena lagniappe was awesome.<br /><br />And it's Helen-uh when you're in Montana.<br /><br />Maybe we need a flash fiction contest with a question rather than prompts? <br /><br />Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37491600264149870232016-05-27T13:51:30.428-04:002016-05-27T13:51:30.428-04:00Joe,
The pronunciation was after Helena, Arkansa...Joe, <br /><br />The pronunciation was after Helena, Arkansas according to legend if I remember correctly. I've been gone from Montana for a long time.<br /><br />Variations abound like the pronunciation of Regina, which drives my former editor nuts. When she was in Montana and Canada she'd often hear Canadian news and wonder why they talked about vaginas so much. It finally sank in it was Regina and the name of a city.<br /><br />FWIW, it drives Montanans nuts to have reporters call Helena Heleena. It's the capital of the state. It wouldn't be hard to find someone who knows how to pronounce it. God help them if someone out of state has to do a story on Wibaux.<br /><br />Anyway, I've steered the post off topic long enough. Sorry.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85302888327198216272016-05-27T13:19:49.457-04:002016-05-27T13:19:49.457-04:00Colin
501 is probably just a reminder what type o...Colin<br /><br />501 is probably just a reminder what type of jeans Janet Reid prefers.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65145583342827086812016-05-27T13:18:13.227-04:002016-05-27T13:18:13.227-04:00I couldn't help but also notice how MANY files...I couldn't help but also notice how MANY files there must be, before we get to the ones that encompass a literary agent's work. What else can you possibly squeeze into your day, Janet. I feel like you must be a secret agent with an army under you? Oh, right, QOTKU. Silly me.<br /><br />Congrats to the OP. Good luck with revisions :)<br /><br />Jennifer Donohue - congratulations! Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62034797312080422632016-05-27T13:17:24.550-04:002016-05-27T13:17:24.550-04:00Beautiful description of Helena, Julie.
A bit of ...Beautiful description of Helena, Julie.<br /><br />A bit of trivia for you. Even though the "Rebs" won the pronunciation war in Montana to call it Hel-i-na, the Scots (or Scotch-Irish?) must have won the war in Alabama since the town up the road here is pronounced Hel-ee-nah.<br /><br />Researching some, Helena (Alabama) was named after a woman named Helen. Logically, then, it should be pronounced the same as the Montana Helena; but it's Alabama, and it's not.<br /><br /> Bo Bice, Vonetta Flowers and Rebecca Luker are from Helena, Alabama.(population under 17,000) Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-43517563097031362292016-05-27T12:23:41.400-04:002016-05-27T12:23:41.400-04:00Congrats to Jennifer for yesterday's news! An...Congrats to Jennifer for yesterday's news! And OP for getting a casually worded R&R!<br /><br />Besides Janet's excellent advice, I love the questions, answers, advice (and general hilarity) of the comments. Most of y'all are so far ahead of me in the process that I'm sure I'll be way smarter than the average bear when I'm ready to query. (That's the hope I'm clinging to at any rate.)<br /><br />Cindy Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13196306055833459983noreply@blogger.com