tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post6269246550169573003..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Do We Impress YouBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3382692491740075042010-08-25T12:15:35.594-04:002010-08-25T12:15:35.594-04:00I frequent a number of agent blogs and my skeptica...I frequent a number of agent blogs and my skeptical side sees many of the positive comments as possible brown-nosing attempts.<br /><br />But then again, I see that on FB and just about any place where there's a community.<br /><br />BTW, Mira, I usually find your posts funny on Nathan's blog. Chin up, gal!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920097731375075684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34929860862585404202010-08-24T20:49:34.297-04:002010-08-24T20:49:34.297-04:00This was by far the most insightful, entertaining,...This was by far the most insightful, entertaining, beyond perfect blog I have every read in my entire life. Your words flowed like a river brings life to a dessert... OK maybe not but I laughed some and have seen the sucking up to try and get attention. I like people who are real and down to earth. Unfortunately you can't read someone's body and facial expressions when they post a comment. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Daniel L Carter<br />Author of The Unwanted TrilogyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43329617367278835582010-08-22T13:34:00.966-04:002010-08-22T13:34:00.966-04:00I think the client, agents, and writers who have m...I think the client, agents, and writers who have made this observation are spot on, and it's not only lit agent blogs that suffer... read the comment threads at a few business theory and self-improvement blogs (particularly anything touching on "positive thinking") and you'd wonder if you hadn't stumbled into some sort of Stepford reality.<br /><br />Most of the time, however, this sort of yeah-saying is innocuous, like polite karaoke applause. It only becomes problematic when commenters deluge the blogger with uncritical praise for some statement of professional policy or method which may or may not need reviewed, reformed, or outright revoked.<br /><br />How many potential job applicants are going to have the candor/cojones to tell a potential interviewer that the way they judge job applicants doesn't make sense, particularly when (as we are repeatedly warned!) anyone can read everything we've ever posted on the Internet? <br /><br />Even so, professionals who stay on their toes and remain skeptically introspective about the way they do business should be able to easily brush aside the misleading evidence of suck-up affirmation.J. Nelson Leithhttp://j.nelsonleith.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60787719857478156262010-08-21T01:56:46.329-04:002010-08-21T01:56:46.329-04:00Well, it seems everyone beat me to joke of it all ...Well, it seems everyone beat me to joke of it all with their overtly praise-ful comments :).<br /><br />I'm glad it was brought up though so it's not lingering there like those awkward elementary school crushes; all clumsy and subtle :).<br /><br />It's interesting to see that you, in some semi-conscious way, compartmentalize. <br /><br />I can understand as you don't want the day job to bleed over but I agree also (as having had professional sites where people commented me about the work or with interesting jewels via comment) that usually it leads at most to an interest in who they are but not usually an automatic urge to want to work with them. Still, I guess in any business, you never know. Just the right amount of pithy might change your mind :).<br /><br />aliciaAlicia Benedicthttp://www.aliciabenedict.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20942508467147097152010-08-20T20:24:22.884-04:002010-08-20T20:24:22.884-04:00You know, one thing that makes me quite angry is t...You know, one thing that makes me quite angry is to leave a positive comment and then be labeled as "kissing up."<br /><br />Hello. I don't waste my time kissing up. I don't have to.<br /><br />Folks, if you disagree with me, fine. But don't make the assumption that my remarks aren't honest or reflect a lack of integrity in pursuit of representation. Otherwise I'm going to be tempted to make the assumption that you are cynical, disillusioned, eating sour grapes, or something equally unflattering.<br /><br />None of which might be true. But neither is the idea that everyone with a positive comment is looking out for #1. Granted, there will always be "teacher's pets." What you might like to remember is that some of us actually enjoy school.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779576142896860206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25977460876426742812010-08-20T12:43:20.353-04:002010-08-20T12:43:20.353-04:00I imagine a certain amount of sucking up is inevit...I imagine a certain amount of sucking up is inevitable on any blog where the blogger is perceived as being in a position of power over the readers--and that's the case here, since most of your readers are aspiring writers, and you're an agent who could theoretically help them get published. But sometimes a positive comment or an agreement is just that. You don't represent the genre I write, so I have no reason to suck up to you. I just find your posts educational and comment accordingly when I have something to say.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26202371667845937812010-08-20T11:37:49.566-04:002010-08-20T11:37:49.566-04:00Thanks for this post, Jessica. It's a topic th...Thanks for this post, Jessica. It's a topic that needs "thinking about in daylight," since most of the time the suck-up factor is either accepted by most of us as an inevitable dark-side reality, or feverishly denied by any of us who may be actively doing the sucking up, of course. In the same neighborhood of things we may not often say aloud, I wonder how many writers worry when they discover that they have busily blogging and/or tweeting agents? Do clients ever wonder if those finely worded posts and tweets some agents engage in with such zeal are getting more attention than the work of representation? Thanks again.Bo Hansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4376727799266260942010-08-20T09:57:36.671-04:002010-08-20T09:57:36.671-04:00You're shoes are smelly and I don't agree ...You're shoes are smelly and I don't agree with anything you just said. <br /><br />Anyway, you already rejected my query, so I guess sucking up wouldn't matter. lolErin Kane Spockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05376851676240606472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-78126359085893473182010-08-20T09:03:08.529-04:002010-08-20T09:03:08.529-04:00What is this? Insult commenter's day. The clie...What is this? Insult commenter's day. The client who made this most regrettable observation to her agent was way out of line and really needs to shut the fuck up in the future.<br /><br />My pet peeve? People making sweeping judgments which influences the way other people think, and not in a good way.<br /><br />Why on earth would anyone, including every single commenter on this blog, look for the bad, before seeing the good? And for the love of God, why denigrate Mr. Bransford's commenters to make a point that ends up sounding both petty and small-minded, and yes, childish. <br /><br />"Gee, Mrytle, my boobs are bigger than yours. Ha. Ha. <br /><br />"Well, Rhoda, mine are prettier."<br /><br /> "Well, gals, I can beat that. I don't have any."<br /><br />What the hell does brown nose mean anyway? You know how some very smart writer's make a concerted effort to learn a new word everyday? Well, I make it a point to unlearn perjorative terms everyday. Brown nose goes on my list thanks to this blog.<br /><br />Personally, I'm thankful for everyone who takes the time to comment on a blog. I do learn something whether or not I agree with the substance of the comment.<br /><br />What I don't do is waste valuable writing time worrying about whether a particular commenter is brown nosing, because, frankly, I don't give a flying fuck. This is not a competition and the comment section of an agent's blog is not an audition for their attention. <br /><br />They've made it very clear as to what's going to get their attention. A good book. How many times do they have to say that? To infinity and beyond? That won't work. They'll be dead.<br /><br />So, yo writer's. Concentrate on making your book the best it can be; be open to other people's opinions without labeling them as brown nosers, or making other judgmental asides. This kind of pettiness will sink your book, because it will come out in your voice and in your writing.<br /><br />Readers are damn smart people!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05148050386482088982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-81845216655241677592010-08-19T23:44:06.497-04:002010-08-19T23:44:06.497-04:00Whew! I'm glad we got this out in the open bec...Whew! I'm glad we got this out in the open because I hate your blog. I only read it every day and twice on Mondays to confirm how much I hate it. :)Anna Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216213561070725760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-32080832183214404962010-08-19T21:14:55.096-04:002010-08-19T21:14:55.096-04:00Okay class... if I were a man I'd man up...so ...Okay class... if I were a man I'd man up...so what do I do, woman up?<br /> <br />That was my question and I'm so glad it was answered in such a decisive way. <br />I have been trolling, this site, Nathan and Reids for only the last few months so the process is new to me and I am gratified that we are able to speak our minds without career ending consequences because some random agent got ticked off.<br /><br />JJbenedictis and I had quite a time a few days ago regarding, I call it slush-vile. (Loved the vanilla ice cream with maple syrup by the way.)<br />Disagreement is a good thing, besides...a brown nose does not match my pretty blond hair and blue eyes, oh it's gray now and I wear bifocals.<br /><br />So...in conclusion, teacher picked me 'cause she likes me best.<br />Neener, neener, neener...sticking my tongue out.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62522975236689130922010-08-19T19:13:15.207-04:002010-08-19T19:13:15.207-04:00Back when I noticed I was wasting problematic amou...Back when I noticed I was wasting problematic amounts of time on the internet, I decided cut down by only leaving comments when I felt I had something of substance to say.<br /><br />I do still occasionally leave "Great post!" comments, but those are rare now (and always well deserved.)jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6238818124633387292010-08-19T18:31:40.520-04:002010-08-19T18:31:40.520-04:00Actually, I think the fear of being lumped in with...Actually, I think the fear of being lumped in with a pack of sycophants is why I sometimes don't post. Especially at Nathan's. <br /><br />What you see there a lot that I find very frustrating is a lot of comments to the effect of: 'oh man Dan Brown/Stephanie Myer/JK Rowling is a terrible writer.' <br /><br />Nathan posts his opinion; 'All bestselling writers are valuable to understand and appreciate etc'. <br /><br />And then, the comments section turns into a love fest for said bestselling authors. *sigh*<br /><br />I don't care if they agree or disagree, so long as they don't change their minds to please the blogger. <br /><br />I wish people would be more confident being themselves and less worried about the impression they're making... at least when they are honest and true to themselves, they have the convictions to make an impression.<br /><br />Oh, and one other thought. Sometimes it feels like there's a bunch of people in the comments just talking to themselves. I love it when writers engage with other writers within the comments section. Or, even better, when the blogger does.<br /><br /> I'm convinced the success of some of the blogs can be attributed to the blogger interacting within his/her readers.Victoria Kerriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957037073432262769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37182493297884485852010-08-19T18:15:03.812-04:002010-08-19T18:15:03.812-04:00Sorry, one more thing.
It is not just this indus...Sorry, one more thing. <br /><br />It is not just this industry. I know of a person who was not hired at a company because of something she had posted online, that frankly, had nothing whatsoever to do with the job. Your online comments, blog, persona, tweets, pics, everything, has a huge impact on your professional prospects, and it doesn't matter what field.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-61415554225776174572010-08-19T18:10:39.486-04:002010-08-19T18:10:39.486-04:00Actually, the only comments section of an agents b...Actually, the only comments section of an agents blog which sometimes bothers me -- and I am not thinking of anyone in particular, nor blaming the agent -- is over at Query Shark. Now, I love that blog and have learned a lot from it, but sometimes, in the comments, I feel that the commenters sort of gang up on the querier, trying to point out everything that's wrong with it. And it's perfectly possible it's their honest opinions, but I don't like this sort of mob mentality, ganging up on someone. I think it misses the point of what Query Shark is trying to do, which is offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, not just an opportunity to point and laugh.<br /><br />I suppose this is also just me: I would rather read a lot of people saying nice things, even if some are insincere, than a lot of people saying cruel things, even if they are sincere. <br /><br />Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, but a lot more often, you have to be kind to be kind.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-89198771748111008942010-08-19T18:01:55.168-04:002010-08-19T18:01:55.168-04:00I read your blog, but not your fans comments. To c...I read your blog, but not your fans comments. To call them sucking is an understatement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16170427588909991582010-08-19T16:34:31.985-04:002010-08-19T16:34:31.985-04:00Fawn, absolutely! That was really nice of you.
Ac...Fawn, absolutely! That was really nice of you.<br /><br />Actually, I'm so full of praise for Nathan that sometimes it's alittle embarrassing. So I kind of did think you were talking about me.<br /><br />But I'm really glad you weren't, and I glad we talked about this. Thank you! :)Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59950374948657492252010-08-19T16:33:24.606-04:002010-08-19T16:33:24.606-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-13694912914335663702010-08-19T16:13:18.306-04:002010-08-19T16:13:18.306-04:00Awww - Mira - it was just a little joke and your n...Awww - Mira - it was just a little joke and your natural enthusiasm is so obviously sincere. <br /><br />In fact, I know you frequent both blogs and I was hoping you would not think I was referring to you. <br /><br />So, please don't be hurt - I know who much you love writing and how much you truly appreciate all the info on the agent blogs. <br /><br />Are we square?Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-78764855074075122772010-08-19T15:09:32.658-04:002010-08-19T15:09:32.658-04:00I also liked the question, think your response was...I also liked the question, think your response was great and couldn't agree with you more. Just kidding.<br /><br />Seriously, I'm glad it's not a way you would represent a writer; then I don't have to edit my blog/thoughts.Sheila Cullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362436712218091138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66044972604491215282010-08-19T15:03:00.562-04:002010-08-19T15:03:00.562-04:00Several months ago, when I was going to different ...Several months ago, when I was going to different agent sites expressing my concerns about the industry, I was told over and over that I was trashing my career. I was told that by agents and professionals both on-line (I could copy the posts) and through private e-mails. <br /><br />Other times, I saw several posts telling writers to be extremely careful never to say anything negative about the industry, or they would be blacklisted. Anctedotal stories: "So and so editor went to someone's site, and saw a negative comment, and decided not to sign them."<br /><br />Stories about how agents and editors scanned the web for clients. You posted that very thing here just a few weeks ago, Jessica.<br /><br />I am very glad to see a post encouraging authors to be more honest. That's great and it may show that the culture is changing. I am very happy about that.<br /><br />But if there is 'brown-nosing' on the web, I believe it has absolutely been reinforced and enouraged - almost required - by many industry professionals.<br /><br />So, please let's give our colleagues and ourselves a break. Everyone is just doing the best they can in a difficult industry.<br /><br />Also, Ryan Field is right. It is always hard to tell from the outside whether someone is being sincere or not. I go to Nathan's and I think the absolute world of him and I'm very outspoken about that on his site. It's not brown-nosing. It's just how I feel. <br /><br />So, Faun, I felt misunderstood by your comment, and felt hurt by it.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-71481667302865502432010-08-19T14:40:58.003-04:002010-08-19T14:40:58.003-04:00"Well, at least the brown-noses on Nathan'..."Well, at least the brown-noses on Nathan's site are a lot worse."<br /><br />Faun - this cracked me up. I think they should pick a day and have a contest on who has the most postive comments!Lorendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02090195014205397231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6716368101246404012010-08-19T13:52:48.321-04:002010-08-19T13:52:48.321-04:00Well, at least the brown-noses on Nathan's sit...Well, at least the brown-noses on Nathan's site are a lot worse. ;)Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74563671835766434122010-08-19T13:14:38.988-04:002010-08-19T13:14:38.988-04:00I'm still learning the ropes of this publishin...I'm still learning the ropes of this publishing thing, so I frequently have nothing to say because I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground, figuratively speaking. <br /><br />As for brown-nosing, there is nothing I could say that would be more effective than a jar of my three-day spice pickles! If only Jessica would open packages from strangers...ce la vie. :-)Scooter Carlylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06193754150220063430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58848432839971122332010-08-19T13:00:06.978-04:002010-08-19T13:00:06.978-04:00Good question...awesome answer.
thlp, thlp, thlp....Good question...awesome answer.<br /><br />thlp, thlp, thlp....that's the sound of me sucking up. J/K ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com