tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7403284979688570803..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Just cause she's an agent doesn't mean she's right (said the agent who is ALWAYS right)Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33042373361322410092017-04-11T17:36:35.140-04:002017-04-11T17:36:35.140-04:00My first rejection that contained real, useful cri...My first rejection that contained real, useful criticism was a lit lamp on a dark street. Agent Chicklet may be busy. She may be lazy. She may be a power-tripper. If Agent Chicklet doesn't have the decency to throw you a bone, you dodged a bullet...um, yeah. If you believe in your book, an agent is not your only choice, either. Check out CreateSpace. It won't hurt you to just look. Just looook....Delaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05547110687684578056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47691631198355101912017-04-07T07:59:34.183-04:002017-04-07T07:59:34.183-04:00Steve S.,
While grateful for the offered assistan...<b>Steve S.,</b><br /><br />While grateful for the offered assistance, I should like to point out my emotion-fuelled email to Ms. Reid was not included in the manuscript submitted to agents. ;)<br /><br />Cheers!JMacBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618027682621308564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79251009022318413052017-04-06T10:41:48.090-04:002017-04-06T10:41:48.090-04:00Donna
"I don't know exactly what you m...<b>Donna</b> <br /><br /> "I don't know exactly what you mean about writing style and dialogue will be different between FR and RC, but if you have voice you've already won a good chunk of the battle."<br /><br />I have had, for a long time, people say there is something about the voice of Far Rider that lends itself easily to YA beyond the fact that the MC is sixteen. It's high fantasy, so it's not modern phrasing. <br /><br />In RC, the phrasing and sentence structure changes, as does the vocabulary. It's a subtle switch that sweeps people back to a different era. Her fiance's letters might be Sullivan Ballou-sentimental at times, or funny as they relate some near disaster with Jeb Stuart, and there were many, but they all feel like they came straight from 1861. I didn't set out to do this, but I think I read so many letters, memoirs, war dispatches, diaries, etc., that I channel this when I write.<br /><br />One of my writing partners says I'm a writing chameleon. Maybe I am. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but it seems to be me.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38077905645648956852017-04-06T05:44:25.412-04:002017-04-06T05:44:25.412-04:00Julie,
Let me share something with you about diff...Julie,<br /><br />Let me share something with you about differing styles. This came from my agent.<br /><br />He said there are successful writers who have one way of writing, and all of their books are written the same way, and it serves them well. Then there are successful writers who decide to try something different, and it doesn't work, for whatever reason. Last are the authors who write various projects differently and no matter what they churn out, it works. <br /><br />I'm thinking you're in the latter camp. I don't know exactly what you mean about writing style and dialogue will be different between FR and RC, but if you have <i>voice</i> you've already won a good chunk of the battle.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-91334936984110975002017-04-06T01:44:13.503-04:002017-04-06T01:44:13.503-04:00I will announce my visit before arriving. I've...I will announce my visit before arriving. I've heard rumors about what you do to strange men eeling through your window. And I've been known for both accounts: strangeness and eeling through windows. <br /><br />So to preserve my health, you'll know it's me before I offer any tea.<br /><br />P.S. It always brings a smile when I catch my clock at 12:34, and there you've delivered a message right on the minute. Nice.John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66738336656885869612017-04-06T00:34:36.410-04:002017-04-06T00:34:36.410-04:00John,
I've been eeling that imp through the w...John,<br /><br />I've been eeling that imp through the window all day. Durn him anyway. It would have been much easier if he'd stayed where he was, but I needed spies shifted and messages delivered. <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2b/84/8d/2b848df684a6d99035afdee8e51025d1.jpg" rel="nofollow">Just when you think you have all the dots connected, you look up and realize . . . there may be a problem.</a> <br /><br />Yes, you know you would always be welcome on my porch. There are always extra rocking chairs and plenty of sweet tea.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81633140805515881282017-04-06T00:03:22.667-04:002017-04-06T00:03:22.667-04:00Julie, I have one request. If you go out on that p...<b>Julie</b>, I have one request. If you go out on that porch in your bloomers and flowered hat -- or anything else, for that matter -- I will fetch your sweet tea just to hang out and listen to you chat it up with your two cohorts. SO CALL ME FIRST. <br /><br />I think I'd trade an hour on that front porch in exchange for any session at a writer's conference. Sometimes, no kidding here, I see that front porch like I'd been there in my youth and I'm coming back thirty years later. Makes me realize how some folks can start lying about something and pretty soon convince themselves it's true. <br /><br />You need a refill, Miss Julie, you just lemme know. I'll be over here leaning 'gainst the rail.<br /><br />John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32874288962592541532017-04-05T22:17:37.290-04:002017-04-05T22:17:37.290-04:00Donna,
Ha, I took your meaning. Thank you. For go...Donna,<br /><br />Ha, I took your meaning. Thank you. For good or ill, I usually don't have much trouble with voice. Right now I am in a discussion with someone about why dialogue and writing style will differ in Rain Crow than something more modern might be. It's entirely possible I have fallen through the looking glass, also. I may be the one suffering from mercury poisoning. Who knows?<br /><br /><br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32555582058765793672017-04-05T20:43:36.286-04:002017-04-05T20:43:36.286-04:00Ha, that's In My Opinion, not In Montana. :)Ha, that's In My Opinion, not In Montana. :)Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29614721920816448622017-04-05T20:42:40.187-04:002017-04-05T20:42:40.187-04:00Gee whiz, Julie - you had an example of "worl...Gee whiz, Julie - you had an example of "world building" in Far Rider and you were giving us a rather super view of Helena, IMO. I would have said that was dripping with <i>voice</i>. <br /><br />But what do I know.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14852139387406327662017-04-05T18:37:20.554-04:002017-04-05T18:37:20.554-04:00Steve,
I probably have more than a sentence struc...Steve,<br /><br />I probably have more than a sentence structure problem here. Colin and others are very careful about the way they appear in public. I, on the other hand, sit on the porch in my bloomers and flowered hat and sip sweet tea when the mood strikes me. I vomit words here as I fly by and only bother to correct the most egregious mistakes.<br /><br />That being said, I'm always happy for help with my craft.<br /><br />For now, though, I'm on my way to the son's to make biscuits.<br /><br />JW Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76525914760879777012017-04-05T18:23:50.270-04:002017-04-05T18:23:50.270-04:00Steve: If your last post was not serious, please i...<b>Steve</b>: If your last post was not serious, please ignore what follows. The directions for commenting includes this:<br /><br /><i>Civility is enforced. Spelling/grammar mistakes may be pointed out ONLY in the blog post itself, not in any of the ensuing commenter's contributions.</i><br /><br />We may, by QOTKU's grace, be permitted to fudge the other rules, but I think Janet's pretty hard on this one. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57607643639737318742017-04-05T18:18:23.370-04:002017-04-05T18:18:23.370-04:00Completely agree with Janet here.Completely agree with Janet here.Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8776761813017755742017-04-05T18:14:50.353-04:002017-04-05T18:14:50.353-04:00OP: your post is loaded with clues to why you migh...OP: your post is loaded with clues to why you might not be getting the results you want. If you want to discuss it, email me at:<br /><br />stevestubbs1 AT gmail.com<br /><br />Do NOT waste money on a "developmental editor."<br /><br />Julie Weathers: You have a sentence structure problem. If you want to discuss it, use the same email.<br /><br />My highly inflammatory opinions are offered gratis.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-62776486293753229832017-04-05T17:26:57.912-04:002017-04-05T17:26:57.912-04:00I've gotten everything wrong in emails to auth...I've gotten everything wrong in emails to authors: the title, the categorry, their name (yup, Felix is not Phillip no matter what.)<br /><br />I'm mortified when I find out but I'm not copyediting those emails, I'm trying to be clear and cogent about content.<br /><br />yes it's annoying to be called Phillip when your name is Felix, but hearing why your novel isn't quite for me, but the next one I hope will be is what you want to focus on.Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78864318944660249362017-04-05T17:10:06.509-04:002017-04-05T17:10:06.509-04:00I had someone, a pretty well-known writer, give an...I had someone, a pretty well-known writer, give an unsolicited critique on a snippet I posted on a writing board. I wasn't asking for critiques. I posted it to someone who was asking something about structuring dialogue or some such. I was explaining the technique to her and grabbed a paragraph out of a WIP to illustrate my point. <br /><br />Then that PM landed in my inbox with the force of an F5 tornado. I was devastated. <br /><br />To the point that I barely wrote for a year. Every time I applied fingers to keyboard, I heard that shrill screed inside my head. <br /><br />Until one day I said, "fuck that noise" and started writing again. <br /><br />What you found was not a fount of wisdom about how your writing sucks swamp water, what you found is someone who didn't like your book. And with that, you found someone you don't want to work with. <br /><br />That's it. Fuck that noise. <br /><br />I had an agent, who in her rejection, say something about my "sassy" heroine. <br /><br />My heroine is many things. "Sassy" is not one of them. <br /><br />I didn't write a bad heroine. I wrote a heroine that this one agent didn't resonate with. <br /><br />That's it. <br /><br />But we have a tendency to only hear the bad. Here were other rejections I got:<br /><br />"I love this, but it veers too far into romantic suspense and that's just not my thing."<br /><br />"You are very talented but it doesn't feel break out enough for me to take on as a debut author." (This one came from the lead agent, the guy with his name on the door, the one who handles the literary estates, that I accidentally queried instead of one of the associates. We ended up having a very pleasant back and forth where he apologized to me for taking so long to respond.)<br /><br />"This is good, but I'm concentrating on YA right now. I'm serious, email me when this is published and definitely query me with your next book." <br /><br />I venture to guess that mixed in with Agent Shinola's screed are comments like these. Listen to those. Now get back out there. <br /><br />Terri<br /><br />Terri Lynn Coophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07290316565247120848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35913615689160211432017-04-05T15:22:07.955-04:002017-04-05T15:22:07.955-04:00I'm so sorry you had to go through this moment...I'm so sorry you had to go through this moment of doubt, JMacBride. I've been there too many times. And Janet what a great answer! <br /><br />I'm thinking I'm like everyone else here in my reaction to JMacBride's story, which is if some (non)response from an agent doesn't resonate, there's a good reason: it's not applicable. That doesn't mean it doesn't sting. They all do. But for me, the litmus test for helpful is if the very specific reason given for the rejection sticks in my craw -- just nags at me and won't go away. If I can't stop thinking about what an agent said (again, very specifically), there's a good chance it'll be very helpful feedback after I'm done licking my wounds. <br /><br />I hope that all those fulls out there lead you to at least one offer, JMacBride! You sound tantalizingly close!! Best of luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00057611467208638753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29448659613574538432017-04-05T14:53:58.345-04:002017-04-05T14:53:58.345-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15724460766525099952017-04-05T14:48:34.119-04:002017-04-05T14:48:34.119-04:00With you, Colin. In fact, in the spirit of that, h...With you, Colin. In fact, in the spirit of that, here would be my comment to any such readers:<br /><br />Inasmuch as it is expected of authors to follow submission guidelines and deport ourselves professionally, likewise I expect of agents that they should be constructive if they decide to draw outside the lines of form communications. And GET THE TITLES CORRECT. If I queried Mizz Janis Ried, quite reasonably, she'd look askance at my approach. If I did it twice, I imagine, again reasonably, that would earn a form rejection.<br /><br />Any agent and intern team who cannot get my title correct through two iterations of using it is a form reject for me, sorry. I don't care how much of a rockstar they are supposed to be. If I see administrative skills that poor in someone whose job it is to manage my potential authorial career: I run.<br /><br />I always looked at querying as first MY slushpile, then my contribution toward others' slushpiles. I eliminated agents through my own process, just as much as they eliminated me.<br /><br />There are times, discussing all this, I really wish I could get back to it. Ohh, if only the WIP could be done in mere moments.DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74038109380921105142017-04-05T14:06:47.457-04:002017-04-05T14:06:47.457-04:00Lisa Bodenheim, I think the exact same thing about...Lisa Bodenheim, I think the exact same thing about those skirts! And the same director has the mountain man coming in from a blinding snowstorm without shutting the door behind him.S.D.Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707682524268581476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84957795627886695322017-04-05T14:05:42.010-04:002017-04-05T14:05:42.010-04:00I really hope a lot of agents and interns read thi...I really hope a lot of agents and interns read this blog, and perhaps even the comments (*waves*). There's so much here that not only helps writers be better writers, but it also helps agents understand and connect better with future clients.Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16280356910617831592017-04-05T14:01:55.222-04:002017-04-05T14:01:55.222-04:00OP, as distressing as it was to receive this kind ...OP, as distressing as it was to receive this kind of rejection, you are so lucky not to have ended up with this agent. Yup, "dodged a bullet" is the perfect description.<br /><br />I received a decline like this once, and although it stung, it gave me good information about the agent--RUN AWAY! <br /><br />Query on. There's more than one shark in that big ocean.Barbara Etlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190731838738606727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58825669370163349672017-04-05T13:22:30.258-04:002017-04-05T13:22:30.258-04:00God, it's sad when you call your banker just t...God, it's sad when you call your banker just to hear a friendly southern voice.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52135824462688669192017-04-05T13:10:24.611-04:002017-04-05T13:10:24.611-04:00I would RUN from this agent!
And not bc they...I would RUN from this agent! <br /><br />And not bc they're telling you something critical. Everything says they didn't put much effort into their critique (including caring about encouragement). <br /><br />Wish I could hang out here longer today. Lennon Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570629350169504234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64863319171405308812017-04-05T13:02:01.379-04:002017-04-05T13:02:01.379-04:00Well-written opening question AND reply AND commen...Well-written opening question AND reply AND comments today.<br /><br />My reaction when I read JMacBride received “10 full requests and many partials” was she is in good shape. For one thing, there’s a good chance at least one agent will want the book. If not, she’ll have more insight into what’s still missing. <br /><br />My second reaction was mentally to guess the dynamics between the agent and her assistant, and how long they’ve worked together. That didn’t get me very far but I’m still curious about it. <br />Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.com