tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post3514322466271291999..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Agentfail Right HereBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15835783441291943572010-03-29T16:00:17.474-04:002010-03-29T16:00:17.474-04:00I just got an agent. What chaps my hide is the 8 o...I just got an agent. What chaps my hide is the 8 or so agents with fulls who never responded, not even after I told them I had an offer. <br /><br />Agents, I spent a half hour hunting through my email to find our threads from 7 months ago so that you'd have the proper context to know which manuscript has garnered interest elsewhere. Would it have killed you to hit 'reply' and write 'Congratulations. I'll step aside. Best of luck to you', seeing as how I saved you the trouble of reading my 400 pages only to be told by me that you're a little late to the party?<br /><br />I almost wish now I hadn't bothered so that I could just laugh when the rejections rolls in, like Stephanie Meyers didAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57388359479038280262010-03-16T18:30:25.737-04:002010-03-16T18:30:25.737-04:00I am way, way past a day late and a dollar short, ...I am way, way past a day late and a dollar short, but heregoes: <br /><br />When I ask a question, I expect a response that doesn't include talking to me like an adolescent with issues. Say you've already answered, show me where to find it, and be done with it! In other words, when I ask something on a blog, it is rude to give out snippy advice and say it is ridiculous to even bother asking in the first place, when that is the sole reason you claim to have an agent blog!<br /><br />You don't know me well enough to be rude when I ask you for simple advice you think all writers should know. Some of us don't have access to all the info. Ever think about that? Probably not. <br /><br />If this is a business you claim to love, treat it as such because it goes both ways. Listen, authors talk too and we are much louder and more bold than some others in this business. If we're talking about the good, you better believe we're talking about the bad too, and more.<br /><br />You don't have to like me and I damn for sure don't have to like you, but respect is a two way street here, and if you want it, you'll give it. Otherwise, I will happily take my manuscript elsewhere and stop wasting your precious time. Because of course, mine means nothing. Especially the time I spent writing the novel.<br /><br />All agents are different, I get that. All information varies from agency to agency, coast to coast. I get that too. If I can, why can’t you? <br /><br />I also ditto the no response means no. That policy should be scrapped for good because it’s pure and utter crap and in my opinion, laziness on the agent's part. You have a lot of clients and your job is tiresome. I get it. So is mine.<br /><br />But, I’m not lazy when sending out info to my clients, even if I am not interested, they get something. A simple 'Thanks but no thanks' automated reply is better than nothing. A line or two words tops, I don’t care. <br /><br />How do we know you even got the material so that we don't make a mistake and send it out twice? Especially when you don't take time to email us back when we asked if you received it. Ever. <br /><br />Agents ask a lot, but we only expect to get what we give. If I’m crude, I’ll get it back, no doubt. But if I ask a respectful question or want more info on you and your agency, don’t cop an attitude, because damn it, I don’t care who you are, you’ll get it right back! <br /><br />You say you're people, so are we. Treat us as such and not like the dimwitted imbeciles you think we all are. Again with the levels of professionalism. Get some! And to the person who posted about junkmail we receive vs. queries? Please. That's a load of crap. Queries aren't junkmail to agents. It's a way for them to read new material they might want to represent in manuscript.<br /><br />Junkmail is junkmail. Period. And if I want to delete something I DIDNT ask for, then I will. But when an agent is accepting queries, I expect a response.<br /><br />And now. I need a drink.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79918468956813557982010-02-05T09:44:08.583-05:002010-02-05T09:44:08.583-05:00Having been a part of the Online Universal Work Ma...Having been a part of the Online Universal Work Marketing team for 4 months now, I’m thankful for my fellow team members who have patiently shown me the ropes along the way and made me feel welcome.<br /><br />www.onlineuniversalwork.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24942508744567927422009-09-17T16:31:31.393-04:002009-09-17T16:31:31.393-04:00i agree with nearly all these comments. however, n...i agree with nearly all these comments. however, none of this is really very helpful. it's just bitching/venting/kvetching. we live in a competitive world in an even more competitive media marketplace. if an agent doesn't respond, too bad, move on. query a bunch of them and don't hold your breath. we writers, while sensitive folk, are also gutsy just be be doing this. let's show a bit more of that. just... move... on. in the end, the non-responding/too-curt/snarky agent loses. granted, my current agent hasn't failed me, but even during the hellish queying process, a time at which i look back and shudder a bit (knowing i may very well be back on that pavement again) i didn't think anybody owed me anything. at all. nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55015155053266475282009-05-01T19:00:00.000-04:002009-05-01T19:00:00.000-04:00Confusing submission guidelines and then complaini...Confusing submission guidelines and then complaining when people don't submit correctly.<br /><br />Not updating information. I lost count of how many agents respond that they are no longer accepting submissions and yet don't put that on their website. <br /><br />Agents who are no longer there. This happened four times. If you no longer work for an agency they should get rid of your name and mail address.<br /><br />And worst of all, thinking that because they like something that it is great. I have heard agents say that they decided to represent a client because they had a perky smile or made them laugh??? I then checked and found that this agent only represented beautiful, young women. Yet NOTHING was put on the site for that. I am sure plenty of males got rejected and didn't know that there was an age and gender thing going on. They could have PUT that on their site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71708699443395031192009-05-01T18:40:00.000-04:002009-05-01T18:40:00.000-04:00I hate agent websites that are dry and anal about ...I hate agent websites that are dry and anal about writers submitting work with typos and then you look and you find that they have typos on their own website!<br /><br />Oh, and there is a California agent who got a query from me and she sent me a response that said, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT FROM ME? I AM CONFUSED. Uh, it was a query for a book with BOOK QUERY on it. How hard can it be to guess.<br /><br />I checked her website again and she had this huge picture of her and her husband in frilly dress in front of a very LOUDLY colored curtain. <br /><br />She then emailed me about two weeks later DEMANDING that I answer her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84408497253762012762009-04-10T16:01:00.000-04:002009-04-10T16:01:00.000-04:00Okay, hundreds have commented on the major annoyan...Okay, hundreds have commented on the major annoyances, but here's one that bugs that no one has mentioned.<BR/>It is the response:<BR/>Well written, good story (something nice), but I don't think I can sell it.<BR/>Make up any fancy title for yourself you like, a sales person is a sales person is a sales person and first and formost should have a sales person's instincts. <BR/>I'm willing to believe there is more to it than what that one sentence implies, but no agent ever goes into detail. When it is blogged about, it always goes with the individual likes and dislikes of the agent. If that is the criteria, then why would anyone want that person as an agent? Their sales ability is limited and flawed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17678756703836175642009-04-09T20:28:00.000-04:002009-04-09T20:28:00.000-04:00I received an email rejection the other day...with...I received an email rejection the other day...within thirty seconds of sending the query.<BR/><BR/>Auto Responder Rejection = #EPIC AGENT FAIL<BR/><BR/>~SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4809965429825093512009-04-08T15:31:00.000-04:002009-04-08T15:31:00.000-04:00Very few authors hate agents. I know I don't and I...Very few authors hate agents. I know I don't and I refuse to comment anonymously. <BR/><BR/>Authors and agents need each other. We're supposed to be professionals.<BR/><BR/>But somewhere agents got the idea that they have the RIGHT to be snarky and make fun of authors. It's not professional and it's not fun for authors.<BR/><BR/>Sure, I've had my share of bad experiences with agents who don't keep their word. But that hasn't been my typical experience with agents. But I am disgusted and upset at the large number of agents who took part in queryfail and each and I will certainly hesitate to query them.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11214496738289459632009-04-07T12:38:00.000-04:002009-04-07T12:38:00.000-04:00I just want to say that this was a brave thing to ...I just want to say that this was a brave thing to do - and a smart one.<BR/><BR/>I suspect you may be getting flack in the industry for doing this - if so, that's unfortunate.<BR/><BR/>First, letting people get their feelings out is the first step toward a healthy relationship. Also, you can't solve a problem if you don't know it's there.<BR/><BR/>But more important, in the long picture, this post may helped the entire profession of agents re-evaluate their practices.<BR/><BR/>This benefits not just authors, but agents. <BR/><BR/>In the transition to e-books, agents may become only one of a writer's many options for negotiation.<BR/><BR/>Your peers and superiors should be thanking you, Jessica, if they are not already. This was a smart move.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59358783530023595942009-04-07T12:02:00.000-04:002009-04-07T12:02:00.000-04:00Wow. Just wow. I hope you folks who hate the "no...Wow. Just wow. <BR/><BR/>I hope you folks who hate the "no response means no" respond to every junk mail, spam, and junk email with a suggestion of why you aren't going to buy or use the product or service listed.<BR/><BR/>And heaven forbid that if you request info from a company, you let them know that you received it and give them a critique of their materials. <BR/><BR/>Yeah, sure you do. This is why things like #queryfail exist. Too many writers think they are owed something.<BR/><BR/>If you send out unsolicited queries, you get the same response as someone who does mail marketing.<BR/><BR/>An agent's first priority is to his/her current clients. Not to read the slush pile.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216365213708551330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13098717545703716132009-04-06T17:57:00.000-04:002009-04-06T17:57:00.000-04:00I have an agent and my problem is whenever I conta...I have an agent and my problem is whenever I contact her about progress, work, things I've submitted her answer is " I am busy, get back to you." Then I hear nothing for months. Plus I never get a straight answer when I ask where proposals have been submitted. I have problems with that.<BR/><BR/>Shouldn't a good agent communicate with the client and be open about where things have been submitted? I just want to know she's actually doing something for me...but she's always so busy. I don't know.<BR/><BR/>I also have issues that her website does not list any of her clients or books that she has sold. All the other agent sites I check out list their authors and the many books they've sold.<BR/><BR/>My contract with this agent is almost up so I might be in the market for someone new. I just wish I could find an agent or agency that handled fiction, non-fiction and poetry so I didn't have to shop around for several different agents since I write in all three genres.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91621682149871894912009-04-05T19:43:00.000-04:002009-04-05T19:43:00.000-04:00I'm really late to the game...but I've been pretty...I'm really late to the game...but I've been pretty lucky. I've had only one 'bad' experience with an agent.<BR/><BR/>A year ago, I spent a bundle of hard-earned money to have an agent critique a partial and synopsis as part of a charity auction. I thought it would be very valuable to have a professional eye help me improve as a writer. I was sorely disappointed. Not only did the agent NOT live up to his/her part of the bargain. The agent outright refused to complete the critique--the synopsis was never critiqued even upon my request--on the grounds that they would be repeating themselves and went so far as to chastise me for spending so much on a critique.<BR/><BR/>Sadly, I received absolutely no positive feedback--even after asking for feedback on what I might be doing right.<BR/><BR/>It was an exercise in dealing with overwhelming negativity and unprofessionalism. I was disappointed, but I also learned that this agent is someone I will never query.<BR/><BR/>C'est la vie, right?<BR/><BR/>:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24695293917950432102009-04-05T15:05:00.000-04:002009-04-05T15:05:00.000-04:00I guess this is more opinion on my part. I am new...I guess this is more opinion on my part. I am new to this industry and am quite frustrated by the way agents work.<BR/><BR/>Here is where I am a little put off by agents in general. Yeah, agents are busy, much like us all. How can agents not respond to a query at all, or pass on one without really knowing the heart of the story that someone has wrote? Im sorry, I think querying is a joke. I think that a three page sypnosis should be the minimum guidelines for submissions and kill a one page query all together.<BR/><BR/>To prove my point, I was the #1 salesman for 2 major companys for ten years. The reason why, is because I wasn't dissmissive or already had an assumption of what an individual was all about by the first few lines that came out of their mouth. I went further into details with a client and found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There is more to a story than just a few lines. I know we all know this, this is common knowlege, but still, a one page query is the majority of submittal guidelines because the agents today are too lazy to go the extra mile and actually read a few chapters of a story. I'm sorry, but if there was a nice chunk of change in it for me as an agent, i'd sacrifice the time and read everything that came into my hands as to not miss a genuine opportunity instead of automatically putting my finger on "the reject button." I realize that some agencies request sample chapters along with a query, but come on, if the query doesn't grab them, your sample chapters are in the trash.<BR/><BR/>Im sorry, but in my opinion, 80% of the books on shelves today are crap. I have read books from writers who have never been given the chance to get published that tell a story a 100 times better than what is sitting on shelves at brick and mortar stores. It is a shame to know that these stories are not published at all because the author wasn't good at querying. Yeah, I am one of those few that thinks Twilight sucks. Sorry, I know there are better stories out there that have went unnoticed.<BR/><BR/>All in all, I have completely accepted the fact that whether my story is good or not, I will never know. Because so many like me cant even get a foot in the door because we do not know someone who knows the agent, or we have never been published anywhere, or we just cannot query. While majority of the good books will never get published, I guess people like myself will have to wander through the slushpile sitting in every brick and mortar store across the country hoping to find one recently published story of interest.<BR/><BR/>That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-78512469146593168812009-04-05T12:11:00.000-04:002009-04-05T12:11:00.000-04:00I'm responding so late, probably no one will notic...I'm responding so late, probably no one will notice, but I did want to say a couple of thing:<BR/><BR/>1) Naming names is very tough because for every person whom this agent has treated poorly, there is at least one other who has found great success through this same agent. At least, that's my experience. Absolute Write is a great place to learn of this -- go there and search agent names. You will find many posts from some of us who willingly share our experiences (both good and bad) with agents -- and you'll see the wide variety. Yes, there are a few agent/agencies who are mostly negative; but most are a mix.<BR/><BR/>2) The best way to get blacklisted and never make it anywhere in this business is to say something in a forum such as this about using names. It doesn't matter if writers are correct in their assessment -- it simply comes across as whining or disrespect or sour grapes. <BR/><BR/>I think much of this problem would be solved if more publishers would open up to unagented queries. I've had every book I've submitted requested by publishers -- I haven't gotten a contract YET, but in my experience, editors are so much more open to strong writing which doesn't fit the mold (which is the most common reason I hear from agents on why they don't want to take me on).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83471893221289037182009-04-05T03:41:00.000-04:002009-04-05T03:41:00.000-04:00Still puzzles me why writers must follow all of an...Still puzzles me why writers must follow all of an agents' guidelines, turn in a near-perfect query and ms., wait patiently for a reply (often months)--and then act grateful to even get a form rejection or personal feedback. <BR/><BR/>But when an agent is rude or slow or makes any kind of mistake, they shrug it off with, "We're too busy" or "We're only human." Well, guess what? So are we writers. Why don't WE get a break?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70640234776828369932009-04-04T21:19:00.000-04:002009-04-04T21:19:00.000-04:00I thought that the agents who participated in the ...I thought that the agents who participated in the whole query/fail debacle acted unprofessionally. Talk about tacky! I lost respect for all of them and one of them happened to be my agent. It probably doesn't hurt to remind agents (and editors) that without writers most of them would probably be umemployed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55112802613165158802009-04-04T21:05:00.000-04:002009-04-04T21:05:00.000-04:00If an agent states the policy as "no response," gr...If an agent states the policy as "no response," grow up and accept that. You may not like it, but it's the agent's right to do so. That said, I don't like the policy, but I can chose not to query such an agent. It doesn't make the agent bad, just not a fit for me.<BR/><BR/>It occurs to me, however, that if agents took a few seconds to distinguish for the hopeful writer - "your query really sucks" (my first few did - I'm humiliated!), "your idea is absurd," "your writing is awful" or "this is okay/good/well written but not for me," it would not only help the writer but the agents. If I got a few "your query really sucks" I'd take a look to see what I could do to improve and I'd stop sending to more agents until I did. Wouldn't that cut down on the crappy queries that agents receive and therefore take up less time? Perhaps a universal rejection letter with some check boxes? If my plot, writing, etc. are awful, I'd like to know. In the 20 or so queries I've sent out I've gotten two "interestings" and one "intriguing." I have no idea what this really means. It's interesting but there's no market? It's intriguing but I find your plot hard to believe? Your characters unrealistic? Or maybe, as stated, none of the above and they simply don't think it's right for them.<BR/><BR/>In other words, if an agent has taken the time to read the query, would it really take that much longer to write a few words to point the author in the right direction, even if it's to stop writing (tactfully put, but clear)? I'm going to keep sending queries but that may be pointless; I don't know. To me, that is the frustration. I've not had an unkind or rude reply to my queries (most have been incredibly responsive) but I do feel frustrated, not that the agents aren't responsive or doing their jobs, but that it seems like it could be even better if a bit of feedback were provided. Just a crazy idea!Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681784522182360769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34368523024275393992009-04-04T17:20:00.000-04:002009-04-04T17:20:00.000-04:00I don't generally mind "no response equals no" pol...I don't generally mind "no response equals no" policies too much because I reject them as a ludicrous concept in this age of spam filters (and if I've send you a $.42 SASE, forget it, buddy). If an agent doesn't respond within a few months, I re-send. What are they going to do? Call the query police? Ignore me extra, super hard?<BR/><BR/>I do mind no response to requested materials very, very much, however. You are in posession of something that is mine, something that is important to me. No, I didn't send you my only copy, but come on.<BR/><BR/>That said, I consider these (and many others of the common complaints listed here) to be agentannoyances more than agentfails. I've really only got two I consider true agentfails.<BR/><BR/>1) The agency currently referring it's rejected queriers to iUniverse and AuthorHouse, which is mentioned a few times here already. We're talking about a big selling agency (recent seven figure deal), that is <I>*was*</I> considered reputable. Their new practice displays a deep and disturbing disregard for writers as an entity IMO, suggesting that if they don't think they can make a buck off a writer's work it is useless, that no other agent or publisher could ever find any worth in it, and thus the writer should just take it out of everyone's way by paying for self-publication. Respectfully, bite me.<BR/><BR/>One of their agents was considering <I>two</I> of my manuscripts, was in regular contact and seemed very enthusiastic, and had promised to be in touch about them within a day or two of this bizarro business beginning. I emailed her for information; cue hemming and hawing. Agentfail. Capital F. I withdrew both books from consideration.<BR/><BR/>2) An agent who requested the full manuscript of my first book in May 2008 (after reading the first 60 pages, so she knows she's at least cool with my writing). No response to status queries, not ever, but a WHOLE lot of Twittering.<BR/><BR/>I love agents who blog and Twitter. I'll take inside info anywhere I can get it, and I'm grateful. But when the volume of an individual's Internet activity displays page after page after page of Tweets, with very little down time evident and includes multiple references to being bogged down by requested materials (back to May, no less) and unresponded to queries, I start thinking Internet addiction. Should this agent finally get to my manuscript and love it, is she actually going to power down and submit it to publishers? Perhaps, but it's hard to take that gamble, and it does rankle. Agentfail, but with sadz and some concern.<BR/><BR/>I feel strongly about these two, but I enjoy the Authorpass/Agentpass entry more. I think I'll go post another good experience or two. I've got lots to choose from.<BR/><BR/>(Okay, my word verification came up "deall." Is somebody funning me?)Magshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05350451902814461987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17010732249337161012009-04-04T15:21:00.000-04:002009-04-04T15:21:00.000-04:00Sure they want to find the BIG author but having s...<I>Sure they want to find the BIG author but having said that, none of them want to take a chance on a new author who might be, could be, probably will be, big. </I><BR/><BR/>Antonia Woodville, this statement is patently and provably untrue. I know dozens of writers who got an agent without prior publishing credits. It happens every day.<BR/><BR/><BR/>And Anon 11:23, 4/03...I'm sorry, but this:<BR/><BR/><I>I think we all just need to accept the fact that the publishing industry doesn't exist for the benefit of writers, it exists for the benefit of publishers and agents.</I> <BR/><BR/>is seriously one of the dumbest statements I've ever seen anyone make. <BR/><BR/>The publishing industry exists to provide books to readers. Period. It exists for the benefit of <I>readers</I>, you know, those people who buy and read books? The industry runs the way it runs in order to provide those people with quality entertainment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-80405660961785879802009-04-04T14:54:00.000-04:002009-04-04T14:54:00.000-04:00One time an agent rejected me. I imagine he is sti...One time an agent rejected me. I imagine he is still laughing with his motorcycle gang.Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11031226145526664876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75157456168341034302009-04-04T13:27:00.000-04:002009-04-04T13:27:00.000-04:00Excuse me, michael gavaghen, but some of us work a...Excuse me, michael gavaghen, but some of us work as writers, and some of our work is the prose for marketing material. When you say<BR/><I>I don't know anyone who pours heart and soul into marketing copy. Wordsmith the hell out of it, sure. Take pride in its cleverness, absolutely. But why be insulted when someone rips into your marketing material -- especially when they don't attach your name to it?</I><BR/>you make me want to puke. "Wordsmith"? Feh. That's the pseudoverb people who can't write use to refer to the act of writing. Try having some respect for those of us who put bread on the table by crafting original, insightful, dare I say well-written advertising/marketing material. I've been in this business for 20 years, and only people who can't do what I do make fun of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-52209596997757240632009-04-04T12:51:00.000-04:002009-04-04T12:51:00.000-04:00An agentfail I've seen very often, with multiple p...An agentfail I've seen very often, with multiple people:<BR/><BR/>"I loved the partial. Send me the full right away! I'd be really surprised if we don't offer you representation."<BR/><BR/>Surprise.<BR/><BR/>Agents just don't seem to be aware the effect this has on us. Please don't use words like love and representation unless you're offering representation. Please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-35908575671479520362009-04-04T12:47:00.000-04:002009-04-04T12:47:00.000-04:00Agentfail 1:Recently, an editor had taken three of...Agentfail 1:<BR/>Recently, an editor had taken three of my manuscripts to her editorial meeting, where she told me they were well received. I was using this heavily in my pitch, of course.<BR/><BR/>I pitched to an agent at an agency that was having a query holiday. I was told that my three manuscripts could not be read due to the deadline for the query holiday.<BR/><BR/>Blink blink. So, I'm getting serious interest, but you are going to prioritize people that you probably would have rejected based on their query -- because of a rule you made up yourself. This tells me something about your business sense.<BR/><BR/>Agentfail 2:<BR/>At the time, I was starting out my query with the information about the editor's interest. One agent rejected my query -- not the book, the query. She wrote back that I should visit her website and query again based on the extremely strict guidelines she explained there in minute detail.<BR/><BR/>I dunno, it seems to me that the info I provided was relevant, but what do I know?<BR/><BR/>But I feel very lucky for both these agentfails. Knocked two off my list.<BR/><BR/>I ended up with three offers of representation and a very shiny agent, so it worked out excellent well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81874884201467972612009-04-04T10:04:00.000-04:002009-04-04T10:04:00.000-04:00Twitter is for the birds...what a hen house of non...Twitter is for the birds...what a hen house of nonsense, good grief, grow up. I only read through it for a few seconds, and felt too insulted to continue. If you dislike writers so much and think we're idiots, get out of the business of being agents. <BR/><BR/>Without writers, you wouldn't have a job.<BR/><BR/>My complaints:<BR/><BR/>I don't like wasting my time researching or querying agents who claim to represent literary fiction when they actually represent commercial fiction.<BR/><BR/>I find it disrespectful when agents have a partial or a full who don't respond in a timely manner.<BR/><BR/>I'm simply tired of agents telling me my MS is too long for a first novel...yet, The Time Traveler's Wife and The Historian are beefy tomes that make excellent doorstops happen to be best sellers.<BR/><BR/>The latest excuse is the economic downturn...yeah, whatever. <BR/><BR/>Might as well self-publish, which I have. Now that my book is in the grubby hands of readers it's tainted. Oh well.<BR/><BR/>You better look out, the barbarians are at the gate.<BR/><BR/>;)Laura J. Wellner (author pseudonym Laura J. W. Ryan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02521328695400639226noreply@blogger.com