tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post2810455357297102652..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: You Have No Business WritingBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-56005354913495414422009-09-09T05:22:48.353-04:002009-09-09T05:22:48.353-04:00I agree with DebraLSchubert.For the moment, the me...I agree with DebraLSchubert.For the moment, the merit of a work is ultimately determined by a plurality of tastes and opinions, but my day will come.Software development Indiahttp://www.nomiinfotech.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-36478363003743316302009-09-08T09:20:28.263-04:002009-09-08T09:20:28.263-04:00I will tell you right now that there are so many w...I will tell you right now that there are so many wonderful books out there and to decide that entire genres aren't worth being published is nothing but elitism and snobbery.Software development Indiahttp://www.nomiinfotech.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-23305144521680733062009-08-21T07:12:53.977-04:002009-08-21T07:12:53.977-04:00I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very...I chanced upon to view your blog and found it very interesting. Great ... Keep it up!Jesushttp://www.rnbresearch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40472397374001197722009-06-19T13:45:48.715-04:002009-06-19T13:45:48.715-04:00Since I started working on my novel, I've been...Since I started working on my novel, I've been participating in some writers' groups and reading writers' online forums.<br /><br />I've read sections and excerpts people share for criticism. I've read posts describing the projects people are working on.<br /><br />My experience is, admittedly, purely anecdotal and has not been subjected to rigorous methods of scientific testing. However, it's hard not to draw the conclusion that personality disorders and serious mental illnesses are significantly more common among unpublished authors than among people generally. <br /><br />I've also looked at a number of agent blogs and checked out some of the #queryfail feeds, and agents seem to find a lot of profound weirdness in their slushpiles.<br /><br />Based on my own observations and on stories relayed by agents, I've drawn the following conclusions:<br /><br />There are a lot of people out there writing 250,000 word sci-fi or fantasy epics where every character has a six-syllable name with the sole exception of the heroic protagonist, who will have the same name as the author and/or sex with an elf. A significant percentage of these novels are also based on existing intellectual property which the author does not have permission to appropriate.<br /><br />There are a lot of people out there writing books about their cats. Many of these authors print their query letters on stationery that has pictures of cats on it and most of these queries also smell like cat urine.<br /><br />There are also a lot of people out there writing erotic fiction that explores sexual fetishes most people would find disturbing and distasteful. Some of the books in the categories discussed above also fall into this category.<br /><br />On top of that, a lot of people write "mainstream" or "literary" novels where nothing happens. Maybe the protagonist burns one on his couch and eats a bag of Doritos, but that really isn't a plot arc.<br /><br />A lot of people who think they can write do not read, for some reason, and don't have a clear idea of what a novel is, or how it is structured. Some of this can be improved with reading and practice, but there are limits.<br /><br />A lot of people are also very boring and kind of stupid. Medical science has not yet developed a cure for this. <br /><br />So, yeah, some people have no business writing.Crawford, aka Daniel Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11162987412006559655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-76743593987508153402009-06-18T09:26:33.277-04:002009-06-18T09:26:33.277-04:00Even an awful book may bring joy to a reader if on...Even an awful book may bring joy to a reader if only to laugh at the dreadfulness of it technically.<br /><br />Maybe from an ecological standpoint less printing would be good. But publish electronically.<br /><br />Every piece of writing is an opportunity for others to learn something, about writing, about writers, about the individual writer specifically.<br /><br />The more communication that goes on, the better for us all personally.banana_the_poethttp://poems-2-share.blog.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66486395871136870522009-06-17T00:56:12.931-04:002009-06-17T00:56:12.931-04:00I agree that not everyone should seek publication....I agree that not everyone should seek publication. <br /><br />I spent nine years on my first novel, because I realized along the way how terrible it was. I had to keep working on it and educating myself about the process. Only now am I seeking publication for it, when I feel it could be salable and relevant to readers. It may never be published, but novel number two is a heck of a lot better thanks to nine years of practice on novel number one. That is what writing is: a craft. <br /><br />I wish getting published wasn't as difficult as landing a record deal. But then sometimes I'll read a truly terrible book and wonder how it managed to get published. Which brings me to the point that marketing is nearly everything when it comes to the success of a book.<br /><br />I'm convinced a good number of great works (or at least relevant works) are being overlooked because they do not fit into the mold of what the executives think can make a buck. Everyone's looking for a breakout novel, when dozens of good, salable novels are being turned down. Sometimes the audience disagrees with the execs, albeit this may be rare. That's why I think self-publishing can be a good test of this theory. If you really feel your work should be out there for people to read, have it professionally edited and try to market it for yourself. You may find that your novel is crap, but then again, it may not be.Kristina Emmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03071883277257702073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10962919651141738482009-06-16T14:27:06.886-04:002009-06-16T14:27:06.886-04:00Great post, well said, and now I'm wondering i...Great post, well said, and now I'm wondering if I should even submit! My first NF go-round, I was told, "Great topic, you're a funny writer, but publishers say no one will buy this." <br /><br />My book is in its 2nd incarnation, and we'll see...one can only try, right?Etiquette Bitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656611315466903464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62964303426758855502009-06-16T09:14:44.013-04:002009-06-16T09:14:44.013-04:00I can understand the notion that literary agents a...I can understand the notion that literary agents act as the gatekeepers. My problem is that I don't have confidence in them in that role. I'm not saying they're no good at it. I just don't happen to agree with the selection criteria they are using.<br /><br />Yes, they filter out the rubbish. Unfortunately they filter out a lot of good stuff too - anything with minority appeal, anything lacking a long term strategy (eg. the author has no immediate second book plans) or anything which they cannot confidently predict will sell in large numbers.<br /><br />Exactly the strategy that large mainstream publishers adopt - which is why the agents do it. It's all about big budget, big scale books. Unfortunately it marginalises minority appeal books and places too much emphasis on celebrity or reputation ahead of quality. It is a sad fact that folks are more likely to purchase rubbish from a name they've heard of (even if not as a writer) than good writing from an unknown.<br /><br />Maybe good work from minority appeal, or unknown, authors won't sell in the tens of thousands but does that mean it doesn't deserve to be published? Should it not be available to reach its small, but discerning, audience?<br /><br />Like most wannabe writers, I am confident that my own work is better than most of the other wannabes. It's only human nature. However I considered myself vindicated, and my suspicions about the industry confirmed, when a large UK publisher told me my Alice book was "an excellent pastiche", "very well written" and "a subject much in vogue" but still turned me down because I wasn't "a celebrity author". They therefore felt it wouldn't sell.<br /><br />I rest my case.Keith Sheppardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459386705336221779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-922591847723295902009-06-16T01:03:16.048-04:002009-06-16T01:03:16.048-04:00It's foolish, boring, and pedantic to suggest ...It's foolish, boring, and pedantic to suggest that books only teach in very literal, obvious-on-the-surface ways.<br /><br />Reading about fantastical creatures can teach a lot about humanity, for example.<br /><br />And <i>Twilight</i> can teach a lot about the dynamics of a budding abusive relationship.Sarahlynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658866017847046987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9686258177298160052009-06-15T15:52:11.434-04:002009-06-15T15:52:11.434-04:00It seems many have mistaken my comments to mean I ...It seems many have mistaken my comments to mean I believe genre fiction should not be published. I do not think this for one moment.<br /><br />For example, take Ken Follett's classic thriller "Eye of the Needle." Certainly genre fiction, but if the teens who read Twilight read this book instead they would learn about the deprivations the English people suffered during WWII, about Operation Overlord and the D-Day invasion, about why some Germans who were not Nazis chose to fight for their country, etc., etc., etc. While being thrilled by a wonderful story and vivid characters, readers actually learn something incredibly important about history and why the world is as it is today (and, of course, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it).<br /><br />But what does one learn from reading Twilight? Nothing, other than the personal story of non-existent creatures. If the only purpose of a book is to entertain, we have lost a chance to teach while the reader is being entertained. To those posters who state their children would not read books if the Twilight books did not exist: in my opinion, that is quite regrettable.<br /><br />I apologize in advance for any offense my post might cause; it is unintentional.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04195773026938978539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16604605360969258362009-06-15T11:49:11.212-04:002009-06-15T11:49:11.212-04:00"The "common" people were not educa..."The "common" people were not educated enough, he said,to effectively rule themselves. Hamilton was wrong. Democracy has worked just fine."<br /><br />The United States government is actually a republic. So, maybe Hamilton was right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79535067865643472762009-06-14T09:32:42.266-04:002009-06-14T09:32:42.266-04:00Jessica, I would amend your edit to, "there a...Jessica, I would amend your edit to, "there are people out there who have no business seeking publication <i>right now</i>."<br /><br />I have a friend who's always wanted to be a writer but her stuff stank. Everything from her blog to her writing exercises were just . . . awkward. But she worked and worked and practiced and studied and now she's having significant success.<br /><br />I was in a workshop once with a non-native English speaker who wrote the most painful dialogue. Her story simply did not read well as written. But if she keeps working on her English and started writing about, say, other non-Native English speakers (rather than the WASP types she was trying to write about) maybe someday she'll find - or create - her groove.Sarahlynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658866017847046987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43629541172055328092009-06-13T14:35:56.641-04:002009-06-13T14:35:56.641-04:00Jessica - I enjoyed the initial post and I thought...Jessica - I enjoyed the initial post and I thought it was well-worded.PurpleCloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07933014134696608557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20715974538509648912009-06-13T04:09:53.230-04:002009-06-13T04:09:53.230-04:00Jessica, really, I would agree with you if books l...Jessica, really, I would agree with you if books like Twilight didn't exist.<br /><br />Now as there are a million females on here who loooove Twilight, I'm sure most of them who've read this comment are sharpening their knives, ready to cut my head off at this instant.<br /><br />I. Don't. Care. Get in line.<br /><br />But my point is, Twilight - though not properly written - has a great story that appeals to these people. So I don't really think we all can sit here and say some people have no business getting published because they can't write well. This is a very subjective art. What you think distinguishes a good writer from a bad writer, or a writer who should be published or not may not parallel what a million readers think.<br /><br />In the end, that's where you come in, Jessica. You and other agents. You are all gatekeepers. It's your job to give us readers the best we deserve. Just remember that in publishing, there are no rules to what makes a great book. Anything goes. Hey, look at Twilight! Did anyone actually think it'd be this big? I read it back when people weren't talking about it and I didn't think it would come to this.<br /><br />Okay, now you can kill me.Glen Akinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09647296775230237162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62940491777758446642009-06-13T03:42:35.800-04:002009-06-13T03:42:35.800-04:00I disagree with John that if there was less genre ...I disagree with John that if there was less genre fiction published, more people would read literary fiction. As amazing as it seems to everyone who loves reading and writing, there are people who just don't read unless they find something they really love. For these people, it's not a question of 'Shall I read?" but 'What shall I do?' If there's a book that interests them, they'll read that. But otherwise they'll watch a movie, play a video game, surf the web, etc. <br /><br />If all genre books were pulped and there was only literary fiction left, some people would just stop reading because it's not their thing.Jadanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-30901772662602607952009-06-13T01:49:39.370-04:002009-06-13T01:49:39.370-04:00I agree. There has to be a distinction between a g...I agree. There <i>has</i> to be a distinction between a great literary project from someone who has the experience and talent, and the someone who aspires.<br /><br />Great post--thank you!Weronika Janczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02578288655500573458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-61823546114159083882009-06-12T20:39:14.572-04:002009-06-12T20:39:14.572-04:00You are right. But nowadays a writer has the optio...You are right. But nowadays a writer has the option of blogging if they want to share something that may not have a commercial appeal. 'Family tales heard in childhood' sounds like a very interesting blog idea. I would like to visit such a blog although I may not buy that book. But of course how is a writer to know whether or not he is worth being published. I guess that is the reason agents are there to sift through that. Though I'm sure agents wish only the good writers queried them. No harm wishing!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-23895422084317071122009-06-12T19:27:22.774-04:002009-06-12T19:27:22.774-04:00One of the biggest clues to how seriously you take...One of the biggest clues to how seriously you take your craft is whether or not you've ever confronted the truth of your own crap. Many beginning writers haven't reached that point yet. However, I don't know a professional writer who hasn't. Humility can be excrutiating, but it's essential.<br /><br />I happen to have just written a series of posts on this humbling experience on my blog on the craft of fiction writing at: http://victoriamixon.com. Please feel free to let me know what you think.<br /><br />best,<br />Victoria<br />http://victoriamixon.comVictoria Mixonhttp://victoriamixon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17243553245179940182009-06-12T16:54:54.578-04:002009-06-12T16:54:54.578-04:00Well, like I said, we don't live in a perfect ...Well, like I said, we don't live in a perfect world where all aspiring authors know what crap is.<br /><br />Authors should be weeding out their crap, and then agents would get perfect manuscripts. I think any agent will tell you, he/she does NOT get perfect manuscripts. What should happen and what does happen are two very different things. :-)XiXihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364953168828471897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68606788111704296762009-06-12T16:35:29.749-04:002009-06-12T16:35:29.749-04:00I'd like to come down on the side of letting t...I'd like to come down on the side of letting the marketplace decide what "should" be published. I can't think of anything that sounds good coming after the phrase "... no business doing ..." except maybe "no business telling other people what they can and cannot do."karen wester newtonhttp://karen-wester-newton.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88502981519339884742009-06-12T15:42:24.420-04:002009-06-12T15:42:24.420-04:00The main catch here is that judging one's own ...The main catch here is that judging one's own work (well) is among the highest-level skills a writer can have. Any writer who's even remotely good at it is probably among those who SHOULD be published.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15427467362005735472009-06-12T15:37:23.108-04:002009-06-12T15:37:23.108-04:00"I do agree with the premise that great writi..."I do agree with the premise that great writing is often ignored because it can't be pigeonholed into a genre."<br /><br />The story of my (writing) life.Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-78769543645671933052009-06-12T15:29:57.002-04:002009-06-12T15:29:57.002-04:00The author should be the first person to weed out ...The author should be the first person to weed out the crap. I could tell just from reading it that my first novel--well, the first version of my first novel, written on a computer that crashed, thenk God--sucked big time. So I rewrote it and that version is what got published. Anyone who reads the genre they're writing in should be able to tell whether their work is up to even the most minimal standard. Not to mention some of the standard self-checks available, searches on 'said', 'was', 'were', words ending in -ly, simple mechanical checks. All things that authors can and should be able to do.Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87866560829751310272009-06-12T14:58:14.678-04:002009-06-12T14:58:14.678-04:00"Agents have less time as it is, let alone lo..."Agents have less time as it is, let alone looking at things which clearly will never be published." <br /><br />Sorry! I have to respectfully disagree. I fully appreciate how much time agents spend looking through slush piles, but let's be honest. MOST of the stuff they look at will never be published. And I think everybody has every right to SEEK publication. It may be a hassle for agents to read manuscripts that are clearly not up to par, but that, after all, is their job. In a perfect world, only people who wrote beautifully would submit, but unfortunately, we do not live in that world. This is why agents are gatekeepers. They're supposed to weed out the crap. <br /><br />Good conversation, though.XiXihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364953168828471897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5648456150204035482009-06-12T11:27:14.521-04:002009-06-12T11:27:14.521-04:00I wish every writer seeking publication would read...I wish every writer seeking publication would read the Cornell study on incompetence. Some writers, no matter how many manuscripts they write and revise and workshop, will never attain competency in writing. Not because they're stupid-across-the-board or have no taste in books, no. They simply can't recognize competence in the first place. <br /><br />Because of this (repeatedly)<br />proven psychological aspect,<br />Incompetents have no way of seeing that their own work is substandard, no way to perceive a higher point toward which they must strive to qualify for respect and success. In essence, Incompetents have no self-determined path toward competency, because they think they're already competent. <br /><br />Cornell demonstrated two things: Incompetents universally over-estimated their abilities, and Competents universally underestimated theirs, while simultaneously<br />overestimating the PRESUMED abilities of their so-called cohorts/study peers. <br /><br />The big gap here is in learning. Given appropriate comparative data, Competents are understand instantly that they're adept at a much higher level, and they correctly revalue their own work higher, and the rest of the throng's lower. I.e. they're not acting superior. They ARE superior. It's impolitic to say so, but it's a fact. Sorry. <br /><br />Whereas Incompetents don't learn anything of the revelatory sort. In fact, even after being informed of their ranking below competency, they persist in their delusions of competence (and in their measuring of the Competent as no-more-competent than themselves). <br /><br />The study found that the ONLY way to take an Incompetent to competency is by remedially removing their incompetence and slowly, slowly replacing it with competence. Which, only works a very little bit. Sometimes. If at all. <br /><br />I think the frustation of Competents seeking publication is justified. Incompetents are irritating and exhausting. They actually do NOT learn, as say a competent amateur will. They're not really in the game, except in the role of dung providers to the heap where the work of the Competent writer can be offset to its best effect. <br /><br />But I disagree that the majority of published genre books are garbagey spewings by incompetents, or were found by agents who are successful as purveyors of incompetence. I don't believe there is any such beast outside of the scamming fields.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com