tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post701711470129988728..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Question: should an agent recc a freelance editor?Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59553651601463487102015-06-11T12:34:47.368-04:002015-06-11T12:34:47.368-04:00Thanks for writing about this important topic. I t...Thanks for writing about this important topic. I think it's fine (great!) for agents to recommend freelance editors, but only in the form of a list. It's up to the writer to check out each of the names on the list and determine who really is the best fit. One exception: An agent once recommended that an Indian American writer hire me, specifically. The agent thought we'd be a great match and we were, but the author asked a lot of questions about payments, timing, general expectations, etc. before we proceeded. All writers thinking about hiring an editor should do the same.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13120712323166868097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74630979385465284372015-06-10T21:22:20.938-04:002015-06-10T21:22:20.938-04:00Ah, last is cool.Ah, last is cool.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77321394594218251242015-06-10T06:34:00.371-04:002015-06-10T06:34:00.371-04:00Since being first has become a challenge of late, ...Since being first has become a challenge of late, how about being last. Last certainly suits my station in life, so I'm thinking last here might be of merit. Because I have to leave my house in five minutes I'm thinking that perhaps one of you yahoos might mosey on in and beat me to last. If you do, it just proves...well it doesn't prove much of anything.<br />Have a nice day.<br />Last is cool, isn't it? <br /> Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67235126727791613232015-06-09T22:33:50.688-04:002015-06-09T22:33:50.688-04:00Diane,
I have several friends who write historica...Diane,<br /><br />I have several friends who write historicals and my current WIP is a Civil War historical, so I'm sort of keeping an eye on these things. That's not saying I've given up on the fantasy, it's in revision again, my brain just needed something completely different to think about.<br /><br />RE hinky, I think it's from the '50s. Seems like I recall that.<br /><br />I posted part of the Civil War piece in writers exercises on Books and Writers and we got into a discussion about my use of one of the characters saying, "I swan."<br /><br />Some felt she should be saying, "I swear."<br /><br />In actuality, "swan" is a substitution for "swear" as even that was/is considered vulgar to some southern ladies.<br /><br />I had a dear friend in Texas who would always use it. "I swan, Julie. Come in and have some sweet tea. If you'll pardon me just a minute, I'm about to go brain this contractor with a shovel if he doesn't fix that fence like I told him. And if he lets those horses out of my backyard we are going to have a come to Jesus meeting."<br /><br />Sweet tea is the balm for all that ails you in the south.<br /><br />Gads I love language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26162197226313273492015-06-09T21:52:48.528-04:002015-06-09T21:52:48.528-04:00AJ—I've used hinky before. I'm from the Mi...AJ—I've used hinky before. I'm from the Midwest (originally). I'm also NOT old (or at least, not showing it...). Conclusion: It must be a regional thing. <br /><br />Back to the original post. It does seem that the agents are giving their roster of editors a leg-up on the competition, a fair and reasonable leg-up, but a leg-up nonetheless. That said, there are so many editors available out there, many of them untrustworthy, that recommending a reputable and trusted editor would be a benefit to both agent and writer. Why not hand out the names of those you trust? Word of mouth within a community is a powerful thing, no matter the community. Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45366035613387479842015-06-09T21:41:45.117-04:002015-06-09T21:41:45.117-04:00bjmuntain - so I'm showing my age? Dang it, lo...bjmuntain - so I'm showing my age? Dang it, lol. Although Colin didn't know the word so I'll cling to the hope it's regional, as DLM said, and not age related *grin*.AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46762095474339739882015-06-09T21:28:39.353-04:002015-06-09T21:28:39.353-04:00I'm sorry, DLM. I missed or forgot you mention...I'm sorry, DLM. I missed or forgot you mentioning #MSWL.<br /><br />I guess the message to take away from these late rejections is: If you still have queries out, there is always a chance someone will like it. If so, great! If not, no loss, since as you say, it's fallow for now, anyway. Good luck! :)<br /><br />AJ: hinky is a slang word, but I think it's older slang. Too old for some of these readers (not old enough for others, I'm sure, though I do think I've heard it before. Yes, I count myself among the older readers.) It's a good word. It says what you want it to mean. No reason not to use it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-888660392628697812015-06-09T21:21:53.415-04:002015-06-09T21:21:53.415-04:00A. J., maybe a regionalism? I'm certainly fami...A. J., maybe a regionalism? I'm certainly familiar with it (American Midatlantic South). Hinky and wonky.<br /><br />Now I need a drinky.<br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, seriously, I will shut UP comment hogging now.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14605142453211608442015-06-09T21:16:47.112-04:002015-06-09T21:16:47.112-04:00I use hinky all the time. Thought it was an Americ...I use hinky all the time. Thought it was an American term until it was questioned, then thought, okay, must be English, until Colin quetioned it. Maybe it's Aussie?<br /><br />I don't know much about this one. So instead I'll ask a question: I have always wondered what qualifications are needed by someone before they hang up their 'editor' shingle? AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91508833054861025452015-06-09T20:53:39.945-04:002015-06-09T20:53:39.945-04:00Julie, thank you! :)
Y'all are dangerous, tem...Julie, thank you! :)<br /><br />Y'all are dangerous, tempting a writer to drag AX out of mothballs. Thanks to all of you.<br /><br />Fortunately, even if I do stop to query or pitch, momentum on the WIP is good right now. Yum!DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-55615167166663508942015-06-09T20:31:55.580-04:002015-06-09T20:31:55.580-04:00Diane,
I'm not saying this to make you feel b...Diane,<br /><br />I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, but one of the #PitMad requests just got a request for a full today. I only say this because I think there's another contest coming up later this month, so you may want to dust off your pitches.<br /><br />JWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3678478325261576942015-06-09T19:37:20.613-04:002015-06-09T19:37:20.613-04:00Hi, bjmuntain! Yeah, I mentioned #MSWL because I k...Hi, bjmuntain! Yeah, I mentioned #MSWL because I know about it (and the site) but the thing is, AX has been at rest for a while now as I've been working on the next novel.<br /><br />Funnily enough, months along, I got *two* rejections today on old queries. I don't really take that as a sign, since I'd already resigned myself to letting AX lie fallow, but ironically it's the most action the thing has seen since like April.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9811360951216154912015-06-09T19:14:53.961-04:002015-06-09T19:14:53.961-04:00DLM - see if you can find out which agents request...DLM - see if you can find out which agents requested the histfic. Nothing says you can't query them the ordinary way. :)<br /><br />I've had nibbles at #PitMad, but no full requests. The last #PitMad (March, I think it was?) had all the same agents requesting, so I figured the same would go here. I spent the day researching more agents to query.<br /><br />You might also check #MSWL (manuscript wish lists). They get gathered here:<br /><br /><a href="http://mswishlist.com" rel="nofollow">#MSWL website</a><br /><br />Sometimes they'll surprise you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30970049158814106352015-06-09T18:37:45.567-04:002015-06-09T18:37:45.567-04:00Yowza! That was worth reading just for the "r...Yowza! That was worth reading just for the "ranted about it" link. I know if was about 17 months ago, but I'm left wondering one thing: <br /><br />Have the scars of that post writer healed yet? Whew, that was a tongue lashing. I bet the temperature in New York went up 4 degrees by the time you finished that blog entry.<br /><br />In other words, I loved it. Thank you.<br />John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34561133558476978032015-06-09T18:03:39.898-04:002015-06-09T18:03:39.898-04:00Late to the party but this makes me think of some ...Late to the party but this makes me think of some work we just had done on our house. We could have saved a couple of bucks to go with someone different, but went with the contractor we had worked with before. We knew they did great work and as usual, they did a beautiful job. When it comes to something so expensive as home repairs, I go to someone I can trust because the other guys don't always deliver. But there are probably other companies that do a great job and I just don't know who they are yet. I sympathize with you though, OP. I feel like I have to deliver something pretty amazing to convince someone to take a chance on me and my work. Instead of being discouraged, I'm thinking of it as a challenge :)Katie Loves Coffeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15354098379566246348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22630056693967718052015-06-09T17:46:58.682-04:002015-06-09T17:46:58.682-04:00True story Craig -
I once won a presidency and I ...True story Craig -<br /><br />I once won a presidency and I didn't even realize I was running. Talk about embarrassing. Heck, I didn't even show up for the vote.<br /><br />My homeowners association must not know me and really like me... Or know me well and really hate me.... Can't decide which.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-4676790660092323222015-06-09T16:42:26.636-04:002015-06-09T16:42:26.636-04:00On Topic: I am not going to look for an editor. I ...On Topic: I am not going to look for an editor. I am fully aware that my punctuation is not what a grammar cop would want. It is the style I affect though. There are other things I think about. I call them pacing and concept. Others have other names for those. Rhythm is one of those.<br /><br />If I get to be agented and they request or offer up an editor I might accept. First I will ask some pointed questions. As in all things communication is the key. I would tend to trust my Agent though.<br /><br />Past News: Donnaeve, sorry I couldn't congratulate you yesterday. So, congratulations again. It seems that I have done it before. To have won more than once is spectacular. I hope to get my shit together soon so I don't fall too far behind.<br /><br />News of the Weird: I left Miami at midnight and drove to the farm for a blackberry u-pick. Nigh onto ten this morning a cadre of news vans descended. It turns out that I am running for President. It was the first I heard about it. I spent two hours expounding on politics and still don't know who tossed my name in the hat. What are friends for?Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24441362766580578952015-06-09T16:18:08.945-04:002015-06-09T16:18:08.945-04:00One of my favorite authors, Rebecca Stead, just si...One of my favorite authors, Rebecca Stead, just signed on as an agent and you can bet that I would love to work with her. It doesn't bother me that she also writes. In fact, my work has been compared to her (the biggest compliment possible, with full understanding that I am nowhere near the level of a Newberry Winner).<br /><br />Hoping to open my inbox and see a request for full from her. Hoping. . .hoping. . .hoping. ..<br /><br />S.D.Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707682524268581476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-584811499396558792015-06-09T16:01:28.250-04:002015-06-09T16:01:28.250-04:00Julie M. W. ... "I, in a moment of weakness, ...Julie M. W. ... "I, in a moment of weakness, pitched a couple of times during #PitMad this last week. Two friends got requests for their historicals from very good agents. Yay friends!"<br /><br />The sound you hear right now is me KILLING MYSELF because I knew #PitMad was coming and I didn't bother. Nobody ever wants histfic.<br /><br />Le sigh.<br /><br />And The Ax and the Vase sleeps on. (Until temptation overcomes me and I look at #MSWL/historical again, hoping against hope ...)<br /><br />Got another rejection today, from a query I literally can't even recall, it's so old. Hey, it's movement of a kind.<br /><br />Not the right kind.<br /><br />But there it is.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17917561668436518752015-06-09T13:50:45.037-04:002015-06-09T13:50:45.037-04:00Maybe this won't fly in the publishing busines...Maybe this won't fly in the publishing business, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway.<br /><br />Ready? The wind up, the pitch:<br /><br />Networking.<br /><br />I'm with Julie, I would trust my agent to recommend an editor they have knowledge of and I would go with that editor (I'm a trusting fool sometimes).<br /><br />However, OP, and everyone, you can use this to your advantage. When I say network, I don't mean the aggressive "I'm an editor, here's my card," but just talk to people. There are probably agents you don't want to work with. They may get into fisticuffs over silly things (I was going to say period placement, but those can be heated discussions).<br /><br />Being friendly and out there, odds are people will start throwing more work your way because 1) they know you 2) they like you and 3)you do good work.<br /><br />Another note, while I'm vommenting and haven't in quite some time, the idea of a free or discounted service is intriguing. I believe a lot of Japanese businesses, at least when I was learning this information, offer free services/items or something special to the first few customers. It was a way to get people in the door, sampling their product/service, and hopefully, wanting more. It also got their business' name out there.<br /><br />I don't know if any of this is useful (well, networking is supposed to be, but that's another topic for another time), but I hope it stirred some thoughts. :)<br /><br />Side note: I purposely don't log in before commenting, just so I can see what Captcha is going to feed me today. The menu? Hamburgers that weren't.REJourneyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08636698355820425103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21117822173173290712015-06-09T12:57:43.178-04:002015-06-09T12:57:43.178-04:00Julie:
That does sound ... what's the word sh...Julie:<br /><br />That does sound ... what's the word she used... hinky. <br /><br />There are some agencies that also have e-publishing sides. For the most part, these seem to be used for the back lists of their own clients. I wouldn't mind an agent who would help me figure out what to self-publish to make my traditionally published works more valuable (stories, novellas, whatever would work better in an e-format than a print format).<br /><br />That said, if her link goes to her indie publishing business and not to her agent credentials, I'd be wondering where she really hangs her hat.<br /><br />Iron can be useful against fae - and non-fae - hinkiness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-42589283618800765132015-06-09T12:39:47.324-04:002015-06-09T12:39:47.324-04:00I, in a moment of weakness, pitched a couple of ti...I, in a moment of weakness, pitched a couple of times during #PitMad this last week. Two friends got requests for their historicals from very good agents. Yay friends!<br /><br />I got a request from an indie publisher who specializes in SFF and has favored my pitches every contest. This doesn't mean much. I think they may just hit everything that is fantasy or science fiction.<br /><br />I also got a favor from an agent with a boutique agency. There's nothing wrong with them. What I find odd is, this agent is also an indie publisher. When you click on her link she touts her experience as a graphic artist and editor and professionalism in putting your next book together.<br /><br />Now that seems to be a conflict of interest to me.<br /><br />Maybe I'm seeing dark fae where there are just shadows, but I'm going to keep iron handy just in case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-77547438022515332032015-06-09T11:47:42.838-04:002015-06-09T11:47:42.838-04:00Donald Maass married a freelance editor (he met he...Donald Maass married a freelance editor (he met her at SiWC, if you can believe it.)<br /><br />He will often suggest an editor if you need help with your work - but he will never tell you what editors to go to. If pressed, I think he has a list of them that he'll give out, but he won't out-and-out say 'choose my wife. she's the best.'<br /><br />I just went to the DMLA site to see if they have this list of editors, just to see where his wife is... and I found this:<br /><br /><a href="http://maassagency.com/dmla-policy-on-independent-editors/" rel="nofollow">DMLA Policy on Independent Editors</a><br /><br />I've always thought Mr. Maass was a very wise man.<br /><br />As for agents doing something else on the side: <br /><br />It's not like agenting is a lucrative business. Unless you have clients like James Patterson or Stephen King, you're not making a ton of money. Some agents leave the business they love simply because they can't make enough money at it. If they have to work a second job, does it have to be at the corner McD's? Why not use a skill they have and, at the same time, hone that skill so they can do a better job when they're working with their clients?<br /><br />I've worked as a communications writer / social media manager for a non-profit. On my own time, I wrote fiction and kept my own social media up. Conflict of interest?<br /><br />No. Because I did my own writing and social media on my own time. <br /><br />If an agent wants to write as badly as I do, I'm not going to say, "No. You have to put all your dreams aside for your clients. Either that, or leave your job." That's unfair, that's unrealistic, and that's a darn good way to lose a good agent.<br /><br />To go back to editing: If an agent has skills in editing and needs to make more money, I don't think editing on the side is a problem, as long as they are up front about it. I *do* think that an agent who has rejected someone should *not* offer to edit for the person they have rejected. <br /><br />Agenting and editing should be kept completely separate in this case, I believe. If an agent edits on the side, they should not offer editing services to writers who have approached them in their agenting guise.<br /><br />As for offering representation to authors who buy their editing services... Perhaps they should wait until they are approached by that author before offering representation. Keep the editing and the agenting separate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-23753052629920248042015-06-09T11:34:59.305-04:002015-06-09T11:34:59.305-04:00I have experience with this.
Agency declines the ...I have experience with this.<br /><br />Agency declines the manuscript but refers me to their sister editorial service. I spend $500 getting one hundred pages edited which comes out to 625 pieces of ironing taken in or 104 hours of labor. The edit was a very generic copy edit and not all that useful.<br /><br />I didn't send the next 100 pages and started getting phone calls. "Julie, we loved your manuscript. I know this is going to be a best seller if you just believe in yourself enough to invest in your writing. Writing is a business, you know."<br /><br />Well, yes, except my ironing, baking bread, and cleaning houses makes ends meet and school is coming up. I'd like my kids to have some decent clothes to wear to school and I already selfishly squandered $500 on your editorial service.<br /><br />The phone calls continued until I finally got hateful. I know hard to believe.<br /><br />Sometime after that I came across a bit of information about this agency warning writers away. This was standard practice. They referred wide-eyed hopefuls to the editorial service which was also owned by them. Win/win for them, not so much for the writers.<br /><br />Today it's very easy to check out agencies and agents ahead of time. There's really no reason for a writer to be caught in their unawares.<br /><br />If I'm dealing with a reputable agent (And why would I be dealing with a disreputable agent pray tell?) and they recommend an editor I'm going to believe it's because they want my book in the best shape before it goes to a publisher. <br /><br />Some agents are very hands on, but in the end, they are still agents, they are not editors. The writer may need editors. Some agents wouldn't touch track changes if their lives depended on it. I just had a discussion with a friend about this who left her agent over just this thing. The writer just felt like she was bobbing around out in the ocean all alone with no advice about what to do.<br /><br />A lot of good writers use editorial services. I recently had a lovely conversation with the copy editor a well known, best seller author uses before he sends off to his publisher. This isn't unheard of.<br /><br />OP, sorry you missed a job, but this happens and frankly, I would rather go with a recommendation from an agent I trust or an author I trust than an editor I may not know. It happens.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-40781617174816662632015-06-09T11:01:05.384-04:002015-06-09T11:01:05.384-04:00My daughter got A-s in Junior High English. She...My daughter got A-s in Junior High English. She's cheep. I use her. Maybe that's why I don't have an agent for my fiction.<br />Non-fiction, my editor loves my stuff. We're not related.<br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.com