tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post5386839606751081446..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Week in Review 9/13/15Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50340324399093790212015-09-15T22:01:58.935-04:002015-09-15T22:01:58.935-04:00QOTKU said:
"Good writing trumps everything. ...QOTKU said:<br />"Good writing trumps everything. (I need a new word for trumps. That man should be stripped of his NYC residency permit)"<br /><br />I thought that had already happened – when he tried to eat pizza like a 'real' New Yorker… with a knife and fork…!<br /><br />Anyhoo, how about "Good writing TOWERS over everything"? <br />In a not so oblique reference to one of His Hairnesses properties.<br />I'm having trouble at the moment working his Taj Mahal into the line, but give me a day or so. I should be able to comb-over his other properties, and come up with something… <br /><br />Personally, I think we should all be saying 'toupee', or at least 'rug' or 'shag carpeting', rather than 'trump'… <br />But I seem to have less and less of a governor on the ol' tongue, these days…<br />So it's probably best if I just stop here… <br />Scott Sloanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05331803044056836688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67187866522989484792015-09-15T02:17:35.779-04:002015-09-15T02:17:35.779-04:00There might not be a query police, but there is a ...There might not be a query police, but there is a Query Shark!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736352366533619152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23232124613207845982015-09-14T17:44:48.001-04:002015-09-14T17:44:48.001-04:00Thanks, BJ. I don't think we have any regs lik...Thanks, BJ. I don't think we have any regs like that here in Oz. Interesting though.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47025139156667026002015-09-14T15:44:37.516-04:002015-09-14T15:44:37.516-04:00I wonder how one could figure out how many readers...I wonder how one could figure out how many readers are likely to care. <br /><br />I remember talking about the movie Troy with people once, and saying I couldn't get past the scene where the sun sets in the East (or maybe it rises in the West), it was just too blatantly wrong. And we knew some of the scholars whom the studio had consulted - and the movie makers calculated that not enough people would care to make it worthwhile to cut the cool scene. <br /><br />My buddies were more bothered by the fact that I knew which way Troy faced, then the movie's gaffe. <br /><br />I guess the more familiar the audience is with the place or topic, the more deviations will bother them. RachelErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510327163701754950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62508840574505914042015-09-14T11:20:46.046-04:002015-09-14T11:20:46.046-04:00AJ: The FTC is the (American) Federal Trade Commis...AJ: The FTC is the (American) Federal Trade Commission. Unlike other countries, the US feels no need to say *which* country its 'federal' means. :)<br /><br />Here's Janet's blog notice on the topic: <br /><br /><a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.ca/2005/08/ftc-compliance-notice.html" rel="nofollow">Janet's FTC Compliance Notice</a>BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20828761105409051972015-09-14T08:54:58.381-04:002015-09-14T08:54:58.381-04:00Thanks for the WIR, Janet, and the kind mention.Thanks for the WIR, Janet, and the kind mention.Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50566598612544019522015-09-14T07:57:27.922-04:002015-09-14T07:57:27.922-04:00Heard that California's in a state of emergenc...Heard that California's in a state of emergency because of bushfires. I know there are some here from California (but I don't know where you are in relation to the fires). Stay safe. Thoughts and prayers with you.<br /><br />(And apologies, JR, if this is straying too far OT) AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65765149449572991842015-09-14T07:36:04.044-04:002015-09-14T07:36:04.044-04:00kd - agree about the torrential rain in the mounta...kd - agree about the torrential rain in the mountains here. According to records, the 1940 flood for NC (it was in three states) was in part caused by clear cutting the trees, allowing for just what you mention - mudslides, etc. Although, it likely would have happened anyway with the hurricanes coming one after the other - even with all the trees standing.<br /><br />Thanks all - very helpful! Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-11978123268744575612015-09-14T07:28:43.597-04:002015-09-14T07:28:43.597-04:00Tamlyn I know what you mean about “not-reading” a ...Tamlyn I know what you mean about “not-reading” a book. I recently did that with Anne Leckie’s Ancillary Justice for a few weeks before setting it aside. Maybe later.<br /><br />I’m still waiting to read Station Eleven. I had hoped that after it won the Arthur C Clarke Award in the UK, that it might appear in bookstores here (Kuala Lumpur), but I haven’t found it yet. Stephen G Parkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627973901802634152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76450938016108641962015-09-14T05:10:55.008-04:002015-09-14T05:10:55.008-04:00I recently gave up on Station Eleven >> I lo...I recently gave up on <i>Station Eleven</i> >> I loved the concept, the setting(s), but it just did not work for me on the writing level. I kept not-reading it until it was due back at the library and I hadn't even had a chance to look at my other library books.Tamlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525165288826101469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79043035765903349932015-09-14T03:40:42.177-04:002015-09-14T03:40:42.177-04:00Oh, so happy WIR is back. Thank you, wonderful QOT...Oh, so happy WIR is back. Thank you, wonderful QOTKU.<br /><br />Curious, what is FTC? I'm assuming it's an American 'thing', and if so, does that mean the rules don't apply to non-US reviewers?<br /><br />It took me a while to click to Cyberia, but when I did loved it. Not sure if it is Sharkism, but I'm adding it to my vocab =)AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32812375009249083302015-09-14T01:06:38.901-04:002015-09-14T01:06:38.901-04:00As much as I like to make stuff up, it is true tha...As much as I like to make stuff up, it is true that if you get the geography of a real place wrong, the people who live there will get annoyed. I always think of the movie "Trouble in Mind" an Alan Rudolph movie set in Seattle. While I really love this movie, I kept thinking "why is he going back and forth on the monorail between downtown and Seattle Center?" <br />Or maybe it wasn't really meant to BE Seattle, but it was filmed here. If I didn't know that's where the monorail went, I might have been able to believe that's how the MC traveled all over the city.<br /><br />That and the final scene shot at the Seattle Art Museum in Volunteer Park, meant to be a private mansion, where everyone starts pulling out guns and everyone is dead by the end of the scene. I love that scene, which I always think of when the NRA folks start saying everyone should be armed all the time to prevent random shootings.<br /><br />Thanks for starting up WIT again. I love it.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-71153965177494450372015-09-13T23:43:04.470-04:002015-09-13T23:43:04.470-04:00Accuracy in geography, weather, etc. -
An early v...Accuracy in geography, weather, etc. -<br /><br />An early version of the screenplay for the movie, "Earthquake," had a tsunami happen prior to the earthquake. Oops!<br /><br />Will the inaccuracy be so egregious as to yank the reader out of the story? In the case of "Earthquake," yes - at least to those of us who grew up with earthquakes. <br /><br />As for geography, if the place is fictitious, then all that's needed is for the internal logic to be consistent. Santa Teresa, based on Santa Barbara, better not have heavy snows. Northern suburbs and southern suburbs better be consistent. Hmm. Makes me wonder if Sue Grafton has a made-up map for Santa Teresa. I can see it now, "Santa Teresa from A to Z". <br /><br /><br />Pam Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535615408563055466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79238058306571417512015-09-13T21:32:26.076-04:002015-09-13T21:32:26.076-04:00Donna, I can't answer the question about flood...Donna, I can't answer the question about flooding in that area, but I've lived here (NC) long enough to know that when there's torrential rain in the mountains it often results in landslides/mudslides and roads can become impassable. If you decide the flood thing doesn't work, for whatever reason, that might be an alternative.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63863631564160632692015-09-13T21:21:56.744-04:002015-09-13T21:21:56.744-04:00Donna,
I check newspapers in the 1800's to se...Donna,<br /><br />I check newspapers in the 1800's to see what the weather was on a certain day in a certain area when writing a scene. I don't find it odd. Most of the time no one will ding you on that stuff, but when writing heavily researched times like Napoleonic wars, the Civil War, etc. stitch counters will howl if you have them out picking posies and the area was still snowbound.<br /><br />An author mentioned on a forum she didn't think it was important to check the weather for her scene in NYC in fairly recent history. She had a torrential storm going on. Other people protested it was too easy to see it had been bright, sunny, blistering hot, and without rain for ages at that particular time. Ah, well, No one will care.<br /><br />Each to their own. I doubt very many people will really care the level of research behind my books if they ever read them, but I'll know I did the best I could to paint an accurate picture.<br /><br />Be true to yourself and the world will follow.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12913035111236088662015-09-13T20:59:22.236-04:002015-09-13T20:59:22.236-04:00Add my voice to those who enjoy and appreciate the...Add my voice to those who enjoy and appreciate the WIRs (WsIR?).<br /><br />I found the geography part interesting, because just this week I attended a conversation between Lee Child and Stephen King where Child said that when he knew the geography too well, his writing came out sounding too much like Mapquest (and I believe he was even talking about a New York scene). He rewrote the scene with wrong directions, because it read better, and he figured the percentage of readers who would care was small.<br /><br />And if you think the whole purpose of this comment was to let slip that I got to see Lee Child and Stephen King have a conversation, well, you might be right. :) But if this crowd can't appreciate that, no one can.CEDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411394450673673225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30257730648173078172015-09-13T20:01:50.774-04:002015-09-13T20:01:50.774-04:00BJ - see? Now ya'll know how my brain works -...BJ - see? Now ya'll know how my brain works - busy, busy busy and worrying'est woodland creature EVER.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1003696863174227362015-09-13T19:47:08.702-04:002015-09-13T19:47:08.702-04:00Donna, it would probably have to be someone who re...Donna, it would probably have to be someone who remembers 1940... So the person would be in their 80s... and chances are, any memories (and tale telling) was probably exaggerated... I think you'll be fine. :) But research can be inspirational, too :)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12933142547138212222015-09-13T19:30:13.536-04:002015-09-13T19:30:13.536-04:00Julie, a great point about the flood plains, and a...Julie, a great point about the flood plains, and actually makes my "job" easier in that I'm basing part of the story on fact, relative to back to back hurricanes which came in 1940.<br /><br />I tend to worry about this kind of stuff though... like, <i>wait, I have them heading towards Hwy 107 and they encounter a flood. What if someone from the area says Hwy 107 didn't flood.</i> Yeah, that kind of nit worrying.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32254791704416514302015-09-13T19:20:04.961-04:002015-09-13T19:20:04.961-04:00Adele: Whoa. No deserts in Canada? Was this a Cana...Adele: Whoa. No deserts in Canada? Was this a Canadian contest?<br /><br />Until recent years, most of south Saskatchewan was desert. Dry years, it's very much desert. The southwestern corner of Saskatchewan is still desert. Rattlers and everything. Saskatchewan also has sand dunes, which is really cool.<br /><br />Thinking of what the author might have done... perhaps giving a specific area of the desert is enough? Such as 'between this place and that place, the (is there a name for it?) desert holds ... desert-like stuff...' I mean, the more specific, the less the judge can say anything, right? Especially if the desert is called something specific. Like the Great Sandhills or the Val Marie area in Saskatchewan.<br /><br />It would make it easier for the judge (and others) to do research, if they do it. :)BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34529530522048622252015-09-13T19:04:25.469-04:002015-09-13T19:04:25.469-04:00As usual, the WIR was much appreciated and cleared...As usual, the WIR was much appreciated and cleared up a couple lingering questions for me, too.<br /><br />And then there was this: "(Hands off the writing and grammar though, ok?)"<br /><br />Ooops. Sorry about that.<br /><br />It's a very small, almost minuscule, consolation that I wasn't the only one who oh-so-helpfully [ahem] offered suggestions on how to re-write your email response re fulls. <br /><br />Maybe we need a 12-stop program for writers. Pretty sure admitting you have a problem is essential to recovery: "Hi, my name is KD and I'm a writer. It's been, um, maybe a week since I re-wrote someone else's words, unsolicited."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72947086377199986832015-09-13T18:41:03.314-04:002015-09-13T18:41:03.314-04:00Donna,
" but is it really close enough to th...Donna,<br /><br />" but is it really close enough to the Tuckasegee and therefore if I have FLOOD water, can it actually impact the 107?"<br /><br />Oddly enough, there are areas of arid west Texas that are designated flood plains. When I lived in Wickenberg, AZ, people warned me constantly about being careful during rains. Tourists and campers drown frequently when flood waters rampage down dry gulches and stream beds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59949525792303023982015-09-13T17:31:32.162-04:002015-09-13T17:31:32.162-04:00Adele, I think that one is on the contest judge. I...Adele, I think that one is on the contest judge. If you are going to complain about someone else's facts, you'd better triple-check your own.<br /><br />That said, if the author could work a line or two in the manuscript putting the (apparent) oddness of a desert in generally lush BC in context, it might help the reader.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36634899106690107952015-09-13T17:29:22.350-04:002015-09-13T17:29:22.350-04:00Thanks to the Week in Review, and Colin's ques...Thanks to the Week in Review, and Colin's quest for clarification, I now know that my 89th place in the 80th Annual Writer's Digest Competition, Memoirs/Personal Essay category, is not as impressive as I imagined.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025832536749983018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91947411807661934502015-09-13T17:18:14.385-04:002015-09-13T17:18:14.385-04:00Thinking about the geography thing. In my original...Thinking about the geography thing. In my original post, the situation was that the contest entrant had mentioned an area in British Columbia and referred to it as a desert. Well, it is a desert. It gets about 1/4" of rain a year and has sagebrush, rattlesnakes and scorpions. The contest judge did not know that, wrote "Canada doesn't have deserts" and carried on with a diatribe about how important it is to get your geography correct. <br /><br />So here's the thing. Obviously, the geographic fact of this desert was not known to the judge and also probably not known to agents, editors, and most potential readers. So as a writer, do you think the contest entrant should have tried to explain more fully? Perhaps working in the info that lots of people don't know about the desert? Or was she right to just assume that if she says desert, there's a desert?Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08790958029798438793noreply@blogger.com