tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post2526987905150189141..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: SighBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-76815992357963617982009-05-07T10:50:00.000-04:002009-05-07T10:50:00.000-04:00Hey - I just had a hunk of one of my lawsuits dism...Hey - I just had a hunk of one of my lawsuits dismissed today. The judge dismissed it for all the wrong reasons. I am now back at square one.<br /><br />Do I write a snarky note to the judge telling him just 'doesn't get it and my husband thought my pleadings were just wonderful.' Ummm, not if I ever want to set foot in the courthouse again.<br /><br />No, I have to accept the fact that my written documents were not compelling enough to tell the judge the whole story and encourage him to rule my way.<br /><br />The ultimate rejection of a partial manuscript (think of it as narrative non-fiction).<br /><br />I have to write a better lawsuit and file it again . . .<br /><br />Verify word: 'laylers' [bizarrely appropriate for how I see this morning cuz this lawyer just wants to lay down and sulk]terrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17321966908756244872009-05-06T08:58:00.000-04:002009-05-06T08:58:00.000-04:00I agree with Anon 11:56 -- perphaps the writer tho...I agree with Anon 11:56 -- perphaps the writer thought you were asking her to send quotes from other authors. <br /><br />No one uses the word blurb -- was her novel not explained in the query?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-22714615389492020012009-05-06T03:28:00.000-04:002009-05-06T03:28:00.000-04:00Ay! Vanity thy name is "humans."
Whenever I come...Ay! Vanity thy name is "humans." <br /><br />Whenever I come across stories like this I think of a verbal exchange from <I>Seinfeld</I>:<br /><br />ELAINE: I will <B>never</B> understand <I>people</I>.<br />JERRY: [Totally understated tone of voice] They're <I>the worst</I>.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00560147197082915677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48624896829318474122009-05-06T02:38:00.000-04:002009-05-06T02:38:00.000-04:00Unless I'm mistaken, in this context a blurb in th...Unless I'm mistaken, in this context a blurb in the query letter is like what's on the back of a paperback describing the story without too much detail. It's the "hook" in the query letter that interests the agent and "reels them in" so they want to see more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-49712588470968259682009-05-06T01:17:00.000-04:002009-05-06T01:17:00.000-04:00Some people are happy and some people just want to...Some people are happy and some people just want to be angry - nothing you can do about it. But, I love reading your advice, it's like a free class I can take on-line, late at night in my pj's. Now, all I need is a big bowl of popcorn.Kimbra Kaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16955657301998255029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48499450761450617542009-05-05T23:56:00.000-04:002009-05-05T23:56:00.000-04:00I lot of people I know think is "blurb" is that si...I lot of people I know think is "blurb" is that single-sentence line of praise you see on the front cover or inside flap of a book, that was written by someone well-known other than the author.<br /><br />If the writer you were interacting with was thinking the same way, this person might have gone into a panic, thinking it an impossible request. How to get a famous person to read their book and send you a sentence of praise right away?<br /><br />I'm not saying this did happen, just that it's one possible way of interpreting this exchange.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-63030567138049731942009-05-05T18:52:00.000-04:002009-05-05T18:52:00.000-04:00Jessica,
I'm with one of the Anonymi, I'll send yo...Jessica,<br />I'm with one of the Anonymi, I'll send you anything you want. Spouse too! I can't believe this person's attitude. Though I've made your reject list, it was a pleasant experience with a positive word that still sets me atwitter! I'm sure most of us would love as much feedback, including constructive criticism, as possible but of course it's not possible. You're probably lucky to have "missed out" on this writer if that's his/her attitude. Thanks for a great blog site.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681784522182360769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58718987492489360322009-05-05T18:25:00.000-04:002009-05-05T18:25:00.000-04:00my first editor told me we authors are in love wit...my first editor told me we authors are in love with our own words. That first round of edits, I'll admit I cried. Then I pulled up my big girl panties and deal with it. I am not my work, but I think many authors can forget that--usually it's the newer authors. Now, I look forward to professional feedback. It helps me grow as an author.AE Roughthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02262109683422690285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6341886401254788582009-05-05T17:53:00.000-04:002009-05-05T17:53:00.000-04:00Color me confused. What is a blurb?Color me confused. What is a blurb?evilphiliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100843889719733921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26839933603854873432009-05-05T16:25:00.000-04:002009-05-05T16:25:00.000-04:00(*Hell has frozen over because this publishing cyn...(*Hell has frozen over because this publishing cynic is consoling an agent.*)<br /><br />It's not you- rather it's the relationship of the author to the work. You ever seen those overprotective parents who utter the following:<br /><br />"You see Taylor over there, why yes he's doing very well at his trilingual immersion program. Where he's really taking a liking to is Mandarin!" (*God love those chettos commercials...*)<br /><br />See what I mean? Authors LOVE their work. We're all evil narcissists, blah blah blah. <br /><br />(Insert random banter about the nature of intellectual inquire and its relationship to snobbery.)<br /><br />My personal story- it took over a year to paint, edit and illustrate a story that barrels down to three pages of script.(Spread out into a 15 page book.) I'm defensive about my work just like anyone. Pitch letters are not my strong suit. ( I didn't major in marketing.*)<br /><br />So what you're asking is for better descriptions, which from a practical standpoint is reasonable. Authors do need to describe their work. <br />However, a small one page example would do wonders for your stress level. (*In my opinion.*) That way the author can't say, "well gee you didn't look at my work!" AND you're not reduced to guessing as to what the hell the book is about. It's what they call in the marketing world: "Win-Win." Why one page, because the average reader might glance at one page in the bookstore and THAT's inevitably where your client is either going to sink or swim. <br /><br />-CCNUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465712338087624687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43407014835847576262009-05-05T16:13:00.000-04:002009-05-05T16:13:00.000-04:00Wow...
That's unbelievable. Especially for other...Wow...<br /><br />That's unbelievable. Especially for others, like me, who WANT to receive any help by way of constructive criticism from potential agents.<br /><br />I'd be THRILLED to receive a rejection letter, or any form of communication from a potential agent, if it had any advice on what to do to make it better.<br /><br />This writer should have taken the negative and made it positive. Even if it didn't turn out for the writer THAT time, it would have left it on a positive note and who knows what next time would have brought?Isobaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03761115379482525260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86006526224807174502009-05-05T15:37:00.000-04:002009-05-05T15:37:00.000-04:00I just got home from work to find a rejection in m...I just got home from work to find a rejection in my inbox. I would have been falling all over myself to provide whatever you asked for to get you to take a longer look. Can I have his blurb-space?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2892365266875504772009-05-05T14:45:00.000-04:002009-05-05T14:45:00.000-04:00Wow. People complain when they get no response, co...Wow. People complain when they get no response, complain when they get a form response AND complain when they get comments??? I don't understand. <br /><br />Don't let it get to you. It's a GOOD deed to give comments.Kate Sheeran Swedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834559757551839014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83018018708927930482009-05-05T14:26:00.000-04:002009-05-05T14:26:00.000-04:00Some of us love the critique, comments and advice....Some of us love the critique, comments and advice. At the Pikes Peak Writers Conference my first page was read out loud and an author, agent, and publisher all agreed it was too descriptive. My first page (and the rest of the book) is now 50 times better because I made amazing improvements thanks to those 3 honest professionals. I am forever grateful because of it. So please don't stop because of the panty-bunched folks.kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72291825817337260872009-05-05T14:07:00.000-04:002009-05-05T14:07:00.000-04:00You have my sympathy. I know that there are days ...You have my sympathy. I know that there are days when your honest attempts to help and encourage are percieved as slaps in the face. Unfortunately, I don't know how to prevent that. I doubt anyone does.<br /><br />However, you are only responsible for the effort, not the outcome. If there is one person out there who will take your suggestions as an insult, I assure you that there is at least one who will take them as a welcomed second chance. You saw something sufficiently promising that you were moved to request more information. You overlooked a shortcoming in a query and gave the author a chance to remedy that shortcoming. I don't imagine that happens very often, and I like to think that most prospective authors are smart enough to recognize that.Ulysseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702993322170403647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57975867605982769742009-05-05T13:46:00.000-04:002009-05-05T13:46:00.000-04:00Well, please don't let the bad banana in the bunch...Well, please don't let the bad banana in the bunch ruin it for the rest of us! I so appreciate your blog and advice, and think its great you take the time to send feedback to writers. Keep doing what you're doing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10417973646691830257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87680249144885643192009-05-05T13:39:00.000-04:002009-05-05T13:39:00.000-04:00Sounds like this writer is an idiot. Plain and si...Sounds like this writer is an idiot. Plain and simple. Nuff said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13133485393534139112009-05-05T13:34:00.000-04:002009-05-05T13:34:00.000-04:00lapetus and anonymous, a blurb is a short descript...lapetus and anonymous, a blurb is a short description of the work -- maybe a few sentences or a paragraph. think of the descriptions you see on the back cover of a published book. That sort of thing.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5026852467914058962009-05-05T13:33:00.000-04:002009-05-05T13:33:00.000-04:00Wait, you asked for more information about hte boo...Wait, you asked for more information about hte book and they said that left a bad taste in their mouth about working with you?<br /><br />Yes, I want my agents to sell my books with as LITTLE info as possible about what it is they are selling. That's the ONLY way to do business. Heaven forfend they get that kind of dangerous information in their deadly little hands.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13166873861157305042009-05-05T13:09:00.000-04:002009-05-05T13:09:00.000-04:00I find it amazing that any writer would turn down ...I find it amazing that any writer would turn down a request for anything from an agent such as yourself. (Bookends has a very good rep.) Isn't that like cutting off your nose to spite your face? <br />Who knows where we'll be a few months/years from now? That person may still be searching and then wish they sent that blurb. <br />So, do you keep a black list a annoying people? I think if I were an agent I'd be tempted to do so. <br />Vent on...we're learning. And please know there are writers out there who think any comments from an agent are like words from God.Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3775197318017213892009-05-05T12:59:00.001-04:002009-05-05T12:59:00.001-04:00AMEN! I teach journalism, so I critique (and am cr...AMEN! I teach journalism, so I critique (and am critiqued, as I write press releases and other things on a regular basis) students a lot. I mean...I'm just trying to help! And I know those who critique me are just assisting my writing as well.Pennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16791257181990955117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84953477142717259652009-05-05T12:59:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:59:00.000-04:00I'm confused too, what's a blurb?I'm confused too, what's a blurb?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37902306745588441482009-05-05T12:53:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:53:00.000-04:00There are a lot of us out here including yours tru...There are a lot of us out here including yours truly who are professional, serious writers with careers in mind and would not, in the business communication of a query, respond in that manner. <br /><br />We understand what it takes to build a business relationship, and we look forward to it. You do yourself a service with this blog by telling us this story. Those of us out here who know how to play the game will delight in querying you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67966078563170925942009-05-05T12:34:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:34:00.000-04:00Hi, I'm a newbie to queries.
How do you define a b...Hi, I'm a newbie to queries.<br />How do you define a blurb?<br />Like a quick synopsis?<br />I read so many different opinions on what makes a good query that my head spins.Andrew Rosenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09215333688753781447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-85151425585140587842009-05-05T12:29:00.000-04:002009-05-05T12:29:00.000-04:00Wow. I would love it if you asked me for a blurb!Wow. I would love it if you asked me for a blurb!Kate Levinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17054106249289327177noreply@blogger.com