tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6759802028253139384..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Vodka is not the answer, don't tell @bpoelleJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58287641348743570732017-07-20T08:00:07.773-04:002017-07-20T08:00:07.773-04:00I hate when I read my comment and I make sure ever...I hate when I read my comment and I make sure everything is correct before hitting publish and then afterwards I see something wrong. *to agree* Jeez! LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58488340021417257672017-07-20T07:53:55.349-04:002017-07-20T07:53:55.349-04:00Oakwick, I have agree with Her Grace, you asked fo...Oakwick, I have agree with Her Grace, you asked for the phone call, so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for one. And I would concentrate on agents who are looking for MG and not non-fiction. Besides, you got a requested full so you're doing something right. Keep going and good luck to you!LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83102304265429678372017-07-20T03:13:39.672-04:002017-07-20T03:13:39.672-04:00Gulp! Oakwick, was a frustrating position to be in...Gulp! <b>Oakwick</b>, was a frustrating position to be in. Everything's been said, so I'll just wish you all the best with your ms.<br /><br />Brilliant news, <b>Hanna</b>. Congratulations!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82866814467489329722017-07-20T00:24:38.065-04:002017-07-20T00:24:38.065-04:00OP, your comment that the work is MG adds context ...OP, your comment that the work is MG adds context to your statement that the plot is "over done and convoluted." It is probably super for an older audience. I don't think I could write MG. Maybe you could rewrite for a more mature readership. Good luck in any case.<br /><br />Kudos to Hanna.<br /><br />And very best wishes to Ms. Reid on response to her R&R. I hope you get everything you want and the client makes you rich.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81186912316121075172017-07-19T23:44:10.023-04:002017-07-19T23:44:10.023-04:00Congratulations, Hanna! So excited for you.
Oatwi...Congratulations, Hanna! So excited for you.<br /><br />Oatwick, hope once you get that phone call it all becomes clear and that your beta readers are helpful. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18948400108291222252017-07-19T23:03:40.510-04:002017-07-19T23:03:40.510-04:00Congratulations, Hanna! What exciting news!Congratulations, Hanna! What exciting news!Gingermollymarilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684318210445109786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70663592060252888802017-07-19T21:23:53.811-04:002017-07-19T21:23:53.811-04:00Awesome, congrats, Hanna!
Lucky client of Janet&#...Awesome, congrats, <b>Hanna</b>!<br /><br />Lucky client of Janet's! Well, probably not so much 'luck' as hard work, but you know what I mean. <br /><br />Time to par-tay! Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17007544656738945172017-07-19T20:24:50.820-04:002017-07-19T20:24:50.820-04:00Checking in after a long, loooong day. Nothing to ...Checking in after a long, loooong day. Nothing to add that hasn't been said, but congrats, <b>Hanna</b>!!! Pop open that bubbly and celebrate! Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05332570278984058081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19420814040981996422017-07-19T20:23:47.736-04:002017-07-19T20:23:47.736-04:00Congrats Hanna! That's excellent news!
And Oa...Congrats Hanna! That's excellent news!<br /><br />And Oakwick—best wishes to you. Skip the whiskey and the vodka, head straight for the champagne to celebrate how awesome you are. <br /><br />And btw I always use kids, tweens, and teens to beta my MG and YA. It's good form, IMO.<br /><br />Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28857765164284932162017-07-19T19:56:44.379-04:002017-07-19T19:56:44.379-04:00See...Janet does it right.
Colin does the linky t...See...Janet does it right.<br /><br />Colin does the linky thing.<br /><br />And Hannaaaaaaaaa congrats.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5355366262218053802017-07-19T19:35:09.949-04:002017-07-19T19:35:09.949-04:00I'm sure I speak for many of my fellow Reiders...I'm sure I speak for many of my fellow Reiders when I say, "Oh, to be that prospective client!" I hope it works out well for them (and for you, Janet!).Claire Bobrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666082441972111293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70256099521241800192017-07-19T19:15:16.093-04:002017-07-19T19:15:16.093-04:00I just sent an R&R to a prospective client. Th...I just sent an R&R to a prospective client. The phrase "I love this" appears three times in the email.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34081904026081912252017-07-19T18:27:18.652-04:002017-07-19T18:27:18.652-04:00Oakwick, sounds like you're trying too hard to...<b>Oakwick</b>, sounds like you're trying too hard to make <i>this</i> sale. It feels like you hit a baseball that almost make it to third base, then you hoofed it out there, picked up the ball and ran it to the other side of outfield in an effort to claim a home run.<br /><br />Conserve your energy. Don't pin every hope onto this one glimmer of attention. You do have other queries out there, right. Keep sending them until you hear the news you want to hear. Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8676543803684087342017-07-19T18:14:45.659-04:002017-07-19T18:14:45.659-04:00The Shark knows when something smells fishy. The Shark knows when something smells fishy. Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47442287916357497082017-07-19T18:09:18.346-04:002017-07-19T18:09:18.346-04:00Regarding Janet's link:
I can see that. I put...Regarding Janet's link:<br /><br />I can see that. I put a chapter of a WiP in front of a writers' group, and they were full of all sorts of 'exciting ideas' to 'fix it'.<br /><br />In another group, someone came closer: "I think you've polished out the emotion." (That wasn't the answer, because it was pretty new and I hadn't had a chance to polish it yet, but it was close.)<br /><br />I realized I wasn't getting emotion across, probably due to life events. Now I look more closely at that, to make sure I'm not 'writing from a distance' but writing from the heart. I think it's working, now.<br />BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28787513166986432502017-07-19T17:35:57.151-04:002017-07-19T17:35:57.151-04:00H Oakwick
I'm not laughing. I think getting f...H Oakwick<br /><br />I'm not laughing. I think getting feedback from your intended audience is a great move - but remember your intended audience may be the parents and elementary school librarians.<br /><br />I won a Goodreads illustrated book aimed at children (for my sister's grandchild). Beautiful illustrations, Nice Story, but holy cow the vocabulary was way above pre-schooler and elementary schooler understanding. I saw a book without an audience.(Of course I may be wrong - I just checked Amazon.com -it's getting great reviews and is ranked in the 400,000's).Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49917188467259261262017-07-19T17:11:17.423-04:002017-07-19T17:11:17.423-04:00This was a very interesting article. You may laugh...This was a very interesting article. You may laugh- since my manuscript is middle grade, I've recently sent it, with parental permission, to an eleven year old and a fifteen year old. If the adults don't help, maybe the target audience can.H.Oakwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787785117014423829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39920438372655165742017-07-19T16:14:17.579-04:002017-07-19T16:14:17.579-04:00Hanna, CONGRATULATIONS! Can't wait to read it....Hanna, CONGRATULATIONS! Can't wait to read it.Brigidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768090206152536761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2358568490204803262017-07-19T15:45:31.873-04:002017-07-19T15:45:31.873-04:00Congratulations, Hanna! I remember seeing the noti...Congratulations, Hanna! I remember seeing the notice in PW and thinking it sounded fascinating.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18165072684559960801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45758639434887921272017-07-19T14:35:50.539-04:002017-07-19T14:35:50.539-04:00They seem to be a respectable agent by the way, bu...They seem to be a respectable agent by the way, but primarily work with non fiction, not middle grade.H.Oakwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787785117014423829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15670347169951418212017-07-19T14:35:00.087-04:002017-07-19T14:35:00.087-04:00I'm the OP. What happened is that I queried to...I'm the OP. What happened is that I queried to one agent at the house, got a full request, and got a reply from the head of the agency. They did say they liked my writing and world building. But what precisely they liked about it, I don't know, because that was as detailed as they got before the rest of their critique. I asked to set up the phone call and even offered my own ideas before hand but they haven't yet returned my email and that was a week ago.H.Oakwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787785117014423829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83459232130791028142017-07-19T14:14:50.676-04:002017-07-19T14:14:50.676-04:00Sometimes insight into a problem arrives via the w...Sometimes insight into a problem arrives via the window, not the door.<br /><br />I read an article today about a man who shuttered his startup.<br /><br />He wrote:<br />"When users are unhappy but can’t explain exactly why, they often express that dissatisfaction as a series of tangential, trivial feature requests."<br /><br />A lightbulb went on in my head: if readers are pointing out lots of problems, maybe it's that they don't know what the real, core problem is.<br /><br />The <a href="https://medium.com/startup-lesson-learned/why-i-turned-down-500k-pissed-off-my-investors-and-shut-down-my-startup-2645c4ca1354" rel="nofollow">full article is here. </a>Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9847517742079345212017-07-19T13:37:18.022-04:002017-07-19T13:37:18.022-04:00Awesome, Hanna! Brava!
OP: I'm with Kathy Jo...Awesome, <b>Hanna</b>! Brava!<br /><br />OP: I'm with <b>Kathy Joyce</b> on this one. Check QueryTracker and Absolute Write and see what others have said about the agent. And, yeah, hide the credit card, practice saying "no," and stand by your story--don't change a word unless you honestly believe you're making it <i>better</i>.Casey Karphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10592351859886981726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67200980335661585582017-07-19T13:35:13.868-04:002017-07-19T13:35:13.868-04:00Oh my goodness, Hanna! What wonderful news! The pr...Oh my goodness, <b>Hanna</b>! What wonderful news! The premise of this sounds amazing too. Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22126394768520861582017-07-19T12:44:07.294-04:002017-07-19T12:44:07.294-04:00First off, Hanna!! Major props! And many more :)
...First off, <b>Hanna!!</b> Major props! And many more :)<br /><br />As to the OP's question, I'm reminded of something that came up several years ago to a friend who had written, revised, edited, polished and created a bright, shining, wonderful novel. She submitted to various agents and received on response similar to yours. Come to find out, with a bit of research because the interwebs never forget anything, said agent that responded in this manner was originally a writer who was never published. On a couple forums, other writers had posted similar responses where said agent was actually trying to rewrite their story. I'm wondering if that's the scenario here. Maybe this agent wrote something like your story that was never published and sees in yours, the ability to get theirs out there by having you write yours to their specs.<br /><br />Just a thought...nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.com