tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6950333037430584535..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Question: the query process is going so well I gotta shout from the rooftops!Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64722768300075817082014-06-24T18:25:51.481-04:002014-06-24T18:25:51.481-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.MNyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406097805165082275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37854736364868298162014-06-24T15:09:27.351-04:002014-06-24T15:09:27.351-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.MNyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406097805165082275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67761976365450699122014-06-24T10:23:45.402-04:002014-06-24T10:23:45.402-04:00Best line ever. "You'll need it come wint...Best line ever. "You'll need it come winter, and trust me, George RR Martin was talking about publishing when he said "winter is coming."Luanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10650726938670159468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91675974797830383512014-06-24T07:03:42.799-04:002014-06-24T07:03:42.799-04:00Been there,signed,head of the publishing house lov...Been there,signed,head of the publishing house loved, loved, loved it. Nine months later, the rights reverted back to me.<br />(And it was the head guy boys and girls, Pres. of the house.)<br /><br />I shouted so often my friends and family were wearing ear muffs. <br /><br />That was forty years ago. My mother cried more than I did. Sorry mom.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26976343559119864412014-06-24T07:00:51.756-04:002014-06-24T07:00:51.756-04:00I've made that mistake, and for the same reaso...I've made that mistake, and for the same reason, the mistake of sharing a new story idea before I've developed it enough to discuss it. Some things I think just have to live with you alone, first.Susan Bonifanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05889354888091500881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5206374759943689182014-06-23T19:51:28.933-04:002014-06-23T19:51:28.933-04:00One of the things which falls under "discreti...One of the things which falls under "discretion is the better part of valor"....kind of.<br /><br />Man. Two years ago, about, I signed with a "boutique press" to publish a collection of my short stories. I wish I'd been reading this blog then, because I never would've signed. And then they went under or reorganized or some such, and the rights reverted back to me anyway, so I feel as though I've dodged one of those big grinning bullets from Mario Brothers. But, point is, of course I told people I was Finally! Getting! Published! I had a cover and everything. We'd done the edits.<br /><br />....and then I had to tell people I wasn't. Sigh.Jennifer R. Donohuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363886899308588391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14370959326391913952014-06-23T19:42:43.424-04:002014-06-23T19:42:43.424-04:00I remember my first request for a partial, and cal...I remember my first request for a partial, and calling my mom immediately FROM the writers conference. That agent is someone I've talked with several times now; she is not for me, and that makes it easy, but it's impossible not to remember how shiny she was going to make EVERYTHING, like within a month.<br /><br />I've blogged about my process and even some of the agents I've gotten more than a form response out of; the first one who asked for a revision two *years* ago, I still have never named. He was brilliantly smart, generous to provide really specific direction - I took it far too far - and I would not betray his generosity by gossiping.<br /><br />I even have an interview on my blog with one agent it didn't happen with (he really didn't exist online before that, either - that post still gets hits all the time). I have another interview I ought to get out to another agent who is amazing, delightful, and does not rep my genre but requested a full anyway because she is a try-er. Didn't happen. She's no less delightful and worth interviewing.<br /><br />"Moments" with agents along the way to The Agent are incredibly gratifying. Sometimes, not because they lead to six-figure deals, quitting The Day Job, international rights, and movie deals. Does that make them less gratifying? Hell no, not for me.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62842766160781210682014-06-23T15:54:20.951-04:002014-06-23T15:54:20.951-04:00You’d be better off shouting it from the rooftop i...You’d be better off shouting it from the rooftop if that would make you feel better. People will hear your shouting – if you live in a big city they might not even look up -- but they won’t fully understand what you say. And once you return to the ground floor, your words will not remain in big black letters against the sky, indelible, for people to point at and comment upon. <br /><br />But blog, Twitter or Facebook? You have no control over what other people do with your words after you post. Just imagine the disastrous scenarios!F Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11370208584683454066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80448011404402270912014-06-23T13:53:09.664-04:002014-06-23T13:53:09.664-04:00If my query was doing *that* well, I'd be fit ...If my query was doing *that* well, I'd be fit to burst. Heck, it's hard enough containing yourself when you get a personalized rejection! :)<br /><br />Seriously, though, as usual the Shark advise is sound. As the US found out against Portugal last night, the game's not over until the final whistle blows. Save the celebration until it's a done deal.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1292992130865018572014-06-23T12:19:01.979-04:002014-06-23T12:19:01.979-04:00This makes me think of that fine old fable about c...This makes me think of that fine old fable about counting chickens before the eggs are hatched.<br /><br />It's awesome that you're getting lots of requests for fulls. That's definitely good news. But I have to agree with the Shark. This is just one step in a very long haul.<br /><br />Savor the moment, but don't crow about it. Eggs can be very fragile (as can egos).Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80301959482966633432014-06-23T11:14:01.940-04:002014-06-23T11:14:01.940-04:00It's one of those lessons you learn the hard w...It's one of those lessons you learn the hard way – Don't brag about it until the papers are signed. Or even mention it casually. Twice I had manuscripts make it to the final meeting at publishers – one of them one of THE big houses, would have been a perfect home for the book. I couldn't stop myself from mentioning it with some pride to several friends – "I should get final word next week" After four months of silence the editor, for whom I'd done two full revisions, finally wrote back, "Oh, we decided it didn't fit our list. Thanks anyway." <br />Wait until the papers are signed. Then shout.John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120550659339089195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36128785822099525212014-06-23T09:22:04.348-04:002014-06-23T09:22:04.348-04:00I can so relate to this. It took me a while to le...I can so relate to this. It took me a while to learn to temper my words about my writing progress. Even to family. Of course, that doesn't stop them from asking, but my answers are bland, rather boring - and I wait until I have something specific to tell them before I tell them. <br /><br />Why?<br /><br />It's such a long process, with a lot of ups/downs. It makes it doubly hard, especially if sharing every single step, and then the outcome might not be what's expect. This is a little different, but for instance, last summer I'd sent in 100 pages of my newest endeavor to the freelance editor I use. My family knew she had it. Every single phone call I had with them began with "have you heard from the editor yet?" I was already on pins and needles, and it wore me out to say "not yet... not yet... not yet..." over and over. And then I got the message back from her - and she did NOT like the pages - at all. I had to tell everyone, when I would have much rather kept that bit of bad news to myself, and moved on.<br /><br />It's not easy to keep quiet, but when I send something off now, I tell no one until I get the feedback - then I share it. Good/bad. This is just me, and how I do it, but I have found it helps. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com