tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post7873008279239311772..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Query Question: feedback and junior agentsJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17204711186546187442015-05-03T20:49:55.219-04:002015-05-03T20:49:55.219-04:00Unknown, aka Donna, yes, it was a good race. Bob t...Unknown, aka Donna, yes, it was a good race. Bob took a lot of heat from the TB people when he started training. Obviously Quarter Horse trainers know nothing.<br /><br />I guess he's proved the naysayers wrong and I am thrilled for him.<br /><br />Yep, lots of love going on in those rejection letters, just not enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37377187921762017552015-05-03T16:55:00.684-04:002015-05-03T16:55:00.684-04:00@ Julie Weathers Off topic indeed. It was an awes...@ Julie Weathers Off topic indeed. It was an awesome Derby race. Go Baffort.<br /><br />On topic: “I love your concept and writing, but unfortunately I’m not connecting with your story,” Hey! You've been reading my incoming emails!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13372323582931480620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79668854334916475012015-05-03T13:40:32.014-04:002015-05-03T13:40:32.014-04:00BJ,
Correct. Elizabeth Moon's DEEDS OF PAKSEN...BJ,<br /><br />Correct. Elizabeth Moon's DEEDS OF PAKSENNRRION, Brooks, Eddings are all classic fantasy and were and are widely read by many ages. <br /><br />FR is what it is. It will find the right home.<br /><br />My youngest son, Will, used to come tearing in the house yelling, "Mom! Mom!" <br /><br />"What is it?" You'd think there was some grand emergency, and there was.<br /><br />"Sunset alert!"<br /><br />So we'd run out to the corral, sit on the top rail and watch a particularly beautiful sunset together.<br /><br />That's what I want in an agent. Someone who understands what's important to me. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54863772366040345852015-05-03T11:59:20.653-04:002015-05-03T11:59:20.653-04:00Julie, just because a novel will appeal to the YA ...Julie, just because a novel will appeal to the YA audience doesn't meant it's a YA. Stuff all those others. Epic fantasy with twisted humour is needed for adult audiences. And you know something? The 'YA audience' will read 'adult' books, too (as WR attested above). Don't let those others sway you from your vision.<br /><br />It made me choose sushi. I looked at the picture it gave me, then looked at the others - and there was only one picture of that sort of sushi. It was hard to tell if other pictures were a different type of sushi or something else. I picked what looked like wonton soup with something that could have been sushi - and it screamed at me "INCORRECT ANSWER". Then it made me choose burgers. Luckily, burgers rarely look like anything but burgers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19200903490111536752015-05-03T10:02:15.473-04:002015-05-03T10:02:15.473-04:00Julie, sounds like you have the write (ha!) attitu...Julie, sounds like you have the write (ha!) attitude :D I'm sure you'll be fine.<br /><br />And you're right- may as well leave the genre/agegroup wrangling to the agents and editors.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07885763976837081950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66497491208513095862015-05-03T09:40:28.244-04:002015-05-03T09:40:28.244-04:00W.R.
Who knows? I'm going to keep pitching it...W.R.<br /><br />Who knows? I'm going to keep pitching it as adult epic. If fabulous agent to be named at a later date determines it will go better as YA, we'll cross that bridge then.<br /><br />It isn't that all teens have short attention spans, it's more about shelf space.<br /><br />The first Harry Potter book was 77,000 words and she didn't break 100k until the third book. When the series is that successful all rules go out the window. The fourth book was nearly 200k.<br /><br />Anyway, it is what it is and I am not a special little snowflake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64450124801604539712015-05-03T08:44:37.769-04:002015-05-03T08:44:37.769-04:00OMG Am I banished, or not? (Dying.....)OMG Am I banished, or not? (Dying.....)Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25315431735066711502015-05-03T04:18:55.620-04:002015-05-03T04:18:55.620-04:00Huh, I always loved epics as a teenager. Heck, I l...Huh, I always loved epics as a teenager. Heck, I loved 'em when I was ten. I started with Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, and went on to Tolkien and Jane Austen.<br /><br />I think it's a pain in the neck when agents/publisher say YA can't be longer. There are still a heck of a lot of kids out there reading long, epic fantasy/scifi.<br /><br />It sounds like you've got a YA there, Julie :D Voice and content are what really matter. Crummy that you can't market it because of preconceived ideas :/ Not all teens/preteens are stupid, or have the attention span of a goldfish. Maybe one day publishers will realise that and you can earn your millions from an awesome book :D<br /><br />Oh, and Harry Potter, anyone? Not short books, eh.<br /><br />(Edit: Oooh, oooh! I got to pick sushi! My life is complete!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07885763976837081950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36444303718717975092015-05-02T23:13:17.791-04:002015-05-02T23:13:17.791-04:00BJ,
FR is epic or possibly high fantasy, whether...BJ,<br /><br />FR is epic or possibly high fantasy, whether it's adult or YA seems to be the debate. There seems to be debate about that also.<br /><br />An agent's minion said it reads like classic epic fantasy. Others have said similar things.That isn't bad; it's what I'm going for with a generous twist of humor. Anyone who knows me knows there's going to be warped humor involved. <br /><br />Other people have commented I have a voice that would appeal to the YA crowd and the book would probably do well YA with some minor adjustments for language and sex. <br /><br />It will definitely appeal to YA. At 152,000 words, I don't think there's an agent on earth who would touch it for YA and I am not trying to cut 70,000 words. I'll start working on a new project, which is what this would be.<br /><br />Who knows, maybe I'm confused, but when I read #tenqueries and see agents say "YA 150,000? WTH are you thinking?" I don't think so. I see enough harping about not wanting stuff over 120k even for epic. <br /><br />If FR doesn't find a home, there are other projects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54520076913002676962015-05-02T22:07:29.835-04:002015-05-02T22:07:29.835-04:00BJmuntain,
"...length is a rather arbitrary...BJmuntain,<br /> <br />"...length is a rather arbitrary reason to choose a genre..."<br /><br />My word count is 625 per column. Does that mean I'm lazy?<br />Yawn. <br />I just got home from work. <br />Ya know, at my age I shouldn't have to work. All I should have to do is write, eat, watch David Muir for half an hour before I have a snack, count my money and go to bed. Which means if that's all I did, by Christmas I would have to have my stomach stapled because my lap top would not have a lap to sit on top of, not that I actually write with a laptop on my...oh never mind.<br /> <br />I want an agent wahhhh ... I'll take a junior's junior agent. I'll take an agent that rides a Big Wheel to work. <br /><br />I would never be like Donna who writes, runs and looks young. I look like my mother and she's been dead for nine years.<br /><br />Yawn.<br />I'm outta here before I say something stupid. Too late.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56621041040168225902015-05-02T22:00:34.259-04:002015-05-02T22:00:34.259-04:00I'm not Albertan, but we're right next doo...I'm not Albertan, but we're right next door. I've never heard of Keelaghan. I might have to look him up to see if he'll be in Saskatchewan any time soon.<br /><br />Thanks for the tip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88810061666697219822015-05-02T21:47:03.143-04:002015-05-02T21:47:03.143-04:00This started as a post to tell Julie about what ha...This started as a post to tell Julie about what happens to me when she tells a horsey story.<br /><br />I got side-tracked. The Science channel has a new show on called Outrageous Acts of Psych. If you are a writer you should watch it. It is about responses to things you would not expect.<br /><br />Commercial break and back to Julie.<br /><br />My brain plays James Keelaghan's Number 37 every time. It is a lovely song about a barrel racer with chestnut hair who gets the most from her horse with tender, loving words.<br /><br />Maybe there is an Albertan out there that can publish the lyrics. I can't find them anywhere.<br /><br />To you Albertans I think Keelaghan is a better Albertan songwriter than Corb Lund based on the strength of "Cold Missouri Waters".Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83705843714106317002015-05-02T21:43:33.356-04:002015-05-02T21:43:33.356-04:00Sorry. That should be 'choice of category.'...Sorry. That should be 'choice of category.' YA and adult are categories, not genres.<br /><br />It's been a long day. My brain is fried.<br /><br />Oh look. Squirrels!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87182897718005477902015-05-02T21:41:56.784-04:002015-05-02T21:41:56.784-04:00I'm curious, Julie. Is the only reason you don...I'm curious, Julie. Is the only reason you don't consider the novel YA (young adult) that it's too long?<br /><br />My brain is a bit off today - but it's fantasy, right? Fantasy can be longer. <br /><br />If length *isn't* the only reason, then don't worry. If the only reason *they* think it's YA is because of the age of the protagonist, then they're off the mark. Adult books can be about younger folk. <br /><br />If length *is* the reason, you might want to reconsider. It might be difficult to get a long YA published, but it might be less difficult than trying to get a YA novel sold as an adult novel. I'm sure you see the same agent comments on #tenqueries that I do, about "Trying to sell this as adult when it's YA. I don't rep YA." <br /><br />I don't know your novel, your themes, your events, your characters, your writing style. All I know is, length is a rather arbitrary reason to choose a genre on. Character age is less arbitrary, but still not a given. There are many things that separate YA and adult fiction. Basing a choice of genre on only one of these things wouldn't make sense. Whether it's you or the folks arguing the other side (and I know, I've seen arguments like 'she's under 20, so it has to be YA' when everything else is definitely for an adult audience.)<br /><br />Just my 2c Canadian, which isn't worth a lot right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37668573913869638002015-05-02T21:17:42.316-04:002015-05-02T21:17:42.316-04:00Like many of you my first 'paid' writing g...Like many of you my first 'paid' writing gig was for work, so it doesn't feel like it counts.<br /><br />Am I the only one glad that Chumbucket is going to be a late bloomer this year? Gives me time to get ready, 'cause I'm not yet and I desperately want to be (being the Woodland Creature I am I'm always certain if I don't do it *now* the opportunity will pass and I'll never get to again).AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-49105152421342135472015-05-02T19:11:50.066-04:002015-05-02T19:11:50.066-04:00Colin,
Writing, and junior agents in a woodland c...Colin,<br /><br />Writing, and junior agents in a woodland creature sort of way. ;)<br /><br />Heaven knows we circle the wagon many times in many ways on any given day.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22569450116125399582015-05-02T19:04:57.036-04:002015-05-02T19:04:57.036-04:00Julie: Which topic was that off? :)Julie: Which topic was that off? :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-51674850856378320172015-05-02T18:59:00.364-04:002015-05-02T18:59:00.364-04:00Totally off topic, but that was a good Derby. I...Totally off topic, but that was a good Derby. I'm thrilled for Baffert, who certainly paid his dues, as must we all if we want to succeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16626544892108556612015-05-02T18:27:30.952-04:002015-05-02T18:27:30.952-04:00I probably have the only pics of Ms Reid in existe...I probably have the only pics of Ms Reid in existence and though my life rest on them being mislabeled and forgotten...I want sooo badly to photoshop dreads and a rasta cap on just one...<br />just one.<br />b-Nyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04190440924186746537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47798711590872269552015-05-02T18:22:36.417-04:002015-05-02T18:22:36.417-04:00Carolynn,
Yep, we're having the "FAR RID...Carolynn,<br /><br />Yep, we're having the "FAR RIDER is YA" discussion again. It would be an easy pitch if it were, but at this word count agents are going to say, "WTH are you thinking?"<br /><br />It's a conundrum.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81347965319092595812015-05-02T17:54:19.145-04:002015-05-02T17:54:19.145-04:00I want an agent...wahhhh...now...more wahhhh...
Th...I want an agent...wahhhh...now...more wahhhh...<br />There's no whining on Janet' s planet...wahhhh Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84714606262145086742015-05-02T17:50:30.105-04:002015-05-02T17:50:30.105-04:00What Kate Larkindale said.
I stared at the blinki...What Kate Larkindale said.<br /><br />I stared at the blinking cursor for a couple of minutes, hoping I had something better to add. Nope. Not today. My youngest is already pestering to go fishing, so perhaps I'd better get some breakfast then wander down to the reef.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25791861895820867732015-05-02T17:32:41.805-04:002015-05-02T17:32:41.805-04:00If that junior agent wants what you write, send it...If that junior agent wants what you write, send it. They're at the beginning of their careers and don't have a whole lot of existing clients to juggle alongside reading queries and MSs. They're eager to succeed and have experienced agents around to back them up and give advice. <br /><br />My agent is one of these, and so far I'm extremely happy with how things are going.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85649287391031824672015-05-02T17:00:35.019-04:002015-05-02T17:00:35.019-04:00My son ... not my some.
Me tired. Been planting f...My <b>son</b> ... not my some.<br /><br />Me tired. Been planting flowers all day. And I ran this morning.<br /><br />Off to sip on a beer. Maybe two.Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-33269262475692363442015-05-02T16:56:07.479-04:002015-05-02T16:56:07.479-04:00DLM - ah, see? That's what I get for skimming...DLM - ah, see? That's what I get for skimming lengthier comments. She meant possessive, as in DLM's job, etc. etc. and simply left off the 's.<br /><br />Dena - Ha! Been there, done that. My some "blew" up his first car when he was sixteen b/c he thought oil was like gas. Let it run out and then fill'er up.<br /><br />Double shudder.<br /><br />Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.com