tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post205126778261041031..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Agents Aren't the EnemyBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43476059775591346192009-05-14T02:46:00.000-04:002009-05-14T02:46:00.000-04:00Dear Anonymous 10:39 PM May 13:
Why are you anony...Dear Anonymous 10:39 PM May 13:<br /><br />Why are you anonymous at all? I'm certainly not, nor am I some emotional invalid, nor would I hide from my comments like you are doing. My comments are meant to be constructive. Yours seem to be meant to be destructive.<br /><br />I am published. So far, I have managed without an agent, but I'll need one soon. I sincerely hope that you aren't an agent, because you seem to share the exact attitude from some that I've read, and I really don't want any part of that.<br /><br />If you are an agent, I beg you to reveal yourself, I'd hate to waste a query letter on someone like you.David Alton Doddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648764158310219476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-22061901220847965512009-05-13T22:39:00.000-04:002009-05-13T22:39:00.000-04:00Yes, Gringo and May 10 12:44 Anonymous, the agents...Yes, Gringo and May 10 12:44 Anonymous, the agents only put all of that effort into blogging and holding workshops at conferences and, heck, reading queries at all in order to taunt writers. It all makes sense now!<br /><br />Seriously, if it causes you that much emotional harm to be involved in the process of trying to get published, maybe you should choose another path for your life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81691310705109506952009-05-13T00:17:00.000-04:002009-05-13T00:17:00.000-04:00(1) Maybe you should disable anonymous posters... ...(1) Maybe you should disable anonymous posters... <br /><br />(2) Hear! Hear!S.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10637012429541938128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68530231701666240592009-05-11T06:08:00.000-04:002009-05-11T06:08:00.000-04:00Very good post. I think the problem is that positi...Very good post. I think the problem is that positive, balanced people are often writing and trying to improve rather than constantly posting nasty things on internet. Or maybe we are even living our lives :) <br /><br />Because of this, agents may get a warped picture of what most writers are really like.<br /><br />Most of us appreciate that agents are on our side. So - as someone who is often a blog "lurker" - I just wanted to say thanks for your blog.Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16687979843959717461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62219651407180427182009-05-10T23:31:00.000-04:002009-05-10T23:31:00.000-04:00Absolutely.
Thank you, Jessica.Absolutely.<br /><br />Thank you, Jessica.Weronika Janczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02578288655500573458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59210975439562957322009-05-10T09:30:00.000-04:002009-05-10T09:30:00.000-04:00I love your blog. Please! Never stop.
I think age...I love your blog. Please! Never stop. <br />I think agent blogs are a blessing. Tell me what to do and what not to do. I'll take all the advice you got. <br />My father's best advice: Keep your ears open and your mouth shut! <br />I think he thought I talked to much :) but good advice over all. Especially when someone is trying to help. Agents want books that sell, we want to sell our books so we should listen to the people who sell them. Simple.Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88718221325890059732009-05-10T00:24:00.000-04:002009-05-10T00:24:00.000-04:00Good for you, Gringo--that's it in a nutshell. Ma...Good for you, Gringo--that's it in a nutshell. Many agents seem to take a perverse delight in telling hopefuls how they're so inundated w/ queires. But oftenyou don't know about their "no-response" policy until onth later when...you get NO response! Worse, when they do request your ms., they're just too damn busy to read it cuz their client list is so full. <br />But still they keep your hopes up and promise to read it "this week" as the months go by... <br /><br />Meanwhile, they continue to accept submissions, attend conferences, teach classes and workshops, all the while knowing that 99.9% chance of wannabe writers don't have a chance in hell of getting an agent or getting published...<br />a tad one-sided?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15744730435108505492009-05-09T16:44:00.000-04:002009-05-09T16:44:00.000-04:00Here's something for you to consider, Jessica.
I'...Here's something for you to consider, Jessica.<br /><br />I'm going to have to query an agent soon, so I've been latching onto websites like this one, agents that blog, in order to minimize my learning curve. Most of the agent weblogs I follow are not written by agents that I would query; mostly because of their genre preference, and occasionally because I don't think we would get along very well. I preface these points because I can honestly say that I'm attempting to make a fair statement concerning the agent-writer relationship, and that I have no poker in the fire, so to speak.<br /><br />I don't look forward to the process of finding an agent, I loathe it. Not because I don't like agents, most of you seem to be a swell bunch of people, but more because the process is humiliating for the writer. The humiliation isn't because of rejection, at least for me; I've been writing freelance for over a year now - shorts for magazines - and the rejections don't bather me at all. Twenty years ago, I wrote for a newspaper, I had plenty of articles rejected. Rejection is a part of this process.<br /><br />The humiliation comes from the attitude of some of the agents concerning the query process. Understand that the writer probably has a day job. He or she wants to make their living writing, not stocking shelves at Walmart. The agent, ostensibly, is already doing what they love for a living. Unless the writer decides to write articles about dog food or go-cart racing or twenty ways to improve your love life or some other nonsense, they are going to have to stay at Walmart until the get an agent's attention.<br /><br />Some agent blogs actually note their weekly statistics. For example, 157 query's received, 1 partial requested, 328 query's in the slush pile. Most agents that share their statistics have well under 1% of requests from the query. So, right away, writers seeking agents are at a huge disadvantage.<br /><br />Next, we have queryfail, writerfail, and lots of snarkyness from many of the agents, claiming that all the while they are over-worked and under-appreciated. While some of the criticism is helpful, much of it comes off negatively. It came as no surprise that agentfail brought so many comments from writers that were negative, imagine how frustrated they are!<br /><br />And, to cap it off, many agents have decided that they need not answer the query. They can't be bothered to reply to a query, perhaps they are too busy bashing writers. This is totally unacceptable to me, and unprofessional. I won't query an agent that has a "no reply means I'm not interested" policy, it's a ridiculous way to do business.<br /><br />I'm not lumping you in to any of this, just pointing out what I've been reading over the last six months.David Alton Doddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648764158310219476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79888733880491025852009-05-08T21:32:00.000-04:002009-05-08T21:32:00.000-04:00Agent mak-a-me money! Agent goooood!Agent mak-a-me money! Agent goooood!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91406674933160195752009-05-08T19:02:00.000-04:002009-05-08T19:02:00.000-04:00Amen!! We LOVE our agent. We still LOVE our former...Amen!! We LOVE our agent. We still LOVE our former agent. It's a rough job, and somebody has to do it. We do not want to do what you have to do and we could not do what we do w/o you!! <br />DeBerry & GrantDeBerry and Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400186417993285626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71954591549034745422009-05-08T17:57:00.000-04:002009-05-08T17:57:00.000-04:00Jessica said: If we start snipping and sniping at ...Jessica said: If we start snipping and sniping at each other we’re only making our own lives and the publishing process harder than it needs to be. It’s tough out there. Publishers are backing off on buying new books and published authors are being let go...<br /><br />Well said, and thanks for all you do, you are appreciated.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-38045961882309129112009-05-08T17:27:00.000-04:002009-05-08T17:27:00.000-04:00But previous Anonymous, when you say that the agen...But previous Anonymous, when you say that the agents *seem* to hold all the cards, you're right. They only seem to, they don't "make the rules" any more than the writers do. <br /><br />What "rules" there are are made by the market, and ultimately the public. <br /><br />The public is buying fewer books. The public's desire for entertainment is coupled with the fact that solvent people, even those with the money to frequently buy new books, have much less available time to read a book.<br /><br />And unfortunately, most members of the reading public know what they like, and want more of the same. <br /><br />That's why it's hard to sell books. Agents can't change that. Most of them would if they could, I'm sure. <br /><br />Why shouldn't any agent want to sell as many titles as possible? They'd be accepting every single one that came across their desk, if they honestly thought every one would sell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33924360721558200082009-05-08T16:19:00.000-04:002009-05-08T16:19:00.000-04:00Writers are frustrated and angry because agents an...Writers are frustrated and angry because agents and editors seem to hold all the cards. We can't make or change the "rules," we have to live by them...like a people held hostage in a country under occupation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-758364137381489752009-05-08T15:25:00.000-04:002009-05-08T15:25:00.000-04:00Right on and well said, Jessica! Thank you for th...Right on and well said, Jessica! Thank you for the reminder of how much we need each other to succeed.<br /><br />Have a stellar weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39021541478773278352009-05-08T07:44:00.000-04:002009-05-08T07:44:00.000-04:00Whoa, good morning, my empathy for agents just sky...Whoa, good morning, my empathy for agents just skyrocketed!Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62483663084467615672009-05-08T07:20:00.000-04:002009-05-08T07:20:00.000-04:00Yes. Negativity spreads faster than a Santa Barbar...Yes. Negativity spreads faster than a Santa Barbara wildfire. But I want to add, it is not reflective of the majority of writers I have met. In fact, except for two or three, everyone has spoken of agents in, at the very least, professional terms. Agents are holding the reins, they are in control, sometimes seen as a wall that must be broken through to move on. It's easier to blame them for our lack of success instead of our own writing. But, big BUT, when the blame gets displaced, the writing doesn't improve.jdsanchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04658357606303732115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40588865427769973882009-05-08T01:42:00.000-04:002009-05-08T01:42:00.000-04:00Jessica, thank you for this post. You're right. An...Jessica, thank you for this post. You're right. And I hope you do move on. <br /><br />The snarkers are going to carry on; it's all they know how to do. And they're everywhere, on every kind of forum, whether it's current events, music, weather or pudding cups. I'm a relative newcomer to the world of online community -- blogs and forums and such -- and I'm astonished at how just plain mean people can be. I wonder if the anonymity of the medium gives safety for venomous posts. Anyway...<br /><br />I have come to count on this blog and others like it at the end of my day, as a means to help me learn the in's and out's of the publishing business and how to be a better writer. I like the community. There are good people here whom I assume to not be just a bunch of polite brown-nosers. You write good stuff and it's helpful. But I'm definitely ready to move on to other topics so cheers, hip hip for you! <br /><br />Thanks so much!Jan Eriksson-Perssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01408622728934931924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-36889064262976210622009-05-08T01:28:00.000-04:002009-05-08T01:28:00.000-04:00"...i don't have much to say."
That about sums it..."...i don't have much to say."<br /><br />That about sums it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-27527378410894625012009-05-07T23:17:00.000-04:002009-05-07T23:17:00.000-04:00Nope anon - I just happen to agree with Jessica. ...Nope anon - I just happen to agree with Jessica. I get lonely writing - its nice to join in the conversation sometimes even if i don't have much to say. Thanks for making me feel welcome.Melinda Szymanikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10202080805759494767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50643006745981182492009-05-07T22:56:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:56:00.000-04:00"I think you'll be hard pressed to find a literary..."I think you'll be hard pressed to find a literary agent that isn't a "literary type." <br /><br />Perhaps I oversimplified things a bit.<br /><br />Of course agents have an interest in literature. However, my main point is that agents should be first and foremost skilled businesspeople, and that's why you want them, not for their editing skills (although, should they happen to have the latter, it's a nice bonus, but it's not the reason you hire them).<br /><br />Minions, I have spoken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-85324657074359820492009-05-07T22:44:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:44:00.000-04:00While I appreciate the clarification of my job des...While I appreciate the clarification of my job description, I think I'll stick to the way I'm doing things. Thanks. I think you'll be hard pressed to find a literary agent that isn't a "literary type." If our only job was to market, then we'd be selling cars or houses or vacuum cleaners. <br /><br />A lot of agents (like all of us at BookEnds) were formerly editors at major publishing houses. Therefore, we have experience working with authors to hone their manuscript. But I don't think an agent has to have an editorial background to have a great eye for improving a project. <br /><br />Some authors are looking for an agent that's very hands-on, like Jessica and I. Others just want an agent that will submit their work. You should enter into the relationship that you feel is right for your career.Kim Lionettinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-47347282052427694642009-05-07T22:41:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:41:00.000-04:00Waaaaaaaaaa, they're saying stuff I don't agree wi...Waaaaaaaaaa, they're saying stuff I don't agree with...help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32259077790105810152009-05-07T22:29:00.000-04:002009-05-07T22:29:00.000-04:00Hi Jessica, I've been online since 1996, and I thi...Hi Jessica, I've been online since 1996, and I think I can say that vitriol on the Internet is pretty much as inevitable as space debris. My first online writing club had a golden period of 3-4 years where teen writers like me found kindred for the first time. It was almost magical then, but without proper self-renewal and the rules and vigilance that online communities need, it succumbed to self-poisoning and in-fighting in the end.<br /><br />I guess what I'm saying is that opening yourself up to the Internet does to some extent expose yourself to the anger and vitriol out there, especially as tools like Twitter get the word out faster and more furiously than before (small character counts, while neat, also invites sweeping generalisation). As agents' online profiles and blogs become more widely known, thanks to broadcasts and word-of-mouth, this is only going to go up.<br /><br />I feel it's no use getting upset or angry. While I've always been pacifist, I recognise that it's just as much part of human nature to be antagonistic. These people exist, and they're going to exist. They thrive on war- it's why we _have_ wars. <br /><br />It's just that in a small community, it's magnified, and feels more painful. In the SFF world, just in the last two years alone, we've seen huge internet fights erupting over SWFA and RaceFail, to name a few. And why they're painful is because we have stakes invested and we can't just walk away. <br /><br />I can't say that I can see a solution to these, except that I don't think withdrawal is the best way forward, for us and for the industry as a whole. But you have a loyal community of supporters :) Maybe you can mobilise us to stamp out trolls, or enforce the rules.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13460720476024817802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-21988046472399131092009-05-07T21:54:00.000-04:002009-05-07T21:54:00.000-04:00Besides, everyone knows that the authors/bloggers ...Besides, everyone knows that the authors/bloggers who use their real names (with clickable links to their blogs/websites, no less), are merely santized versions of their real selves--they're here to advertise to the publishing industry, and that's all. So all we get from them are watered down nicities devoid of any real substance, transparaent ploys meant merely to to say, "Hey, click my link, I'm here, buy my stuff!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64972302878468706932009-05-07T21:49:00.000-04:002009-05-07T21:49:00.000-04:00Melinda,
I did say, "...that the polite (and brow...Melinda,<br /><br />I did say, "...that the polite (and brown-nosing) posts are MOSTLY from the un's--unagented, uncontracted writers..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com