tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4510403153696847794..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: My AttitudeBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43058183348968698962011-02-01T13:01:49.642-05:002011-02-01T13:01:49.642-05:00I'm a first-time blogger. Your site is first c...I'm a first-time blogger. Your site is first class, meaning you must be a wonderful agent. No, I don't expect you would meet that qualification if you didn't send out rejection letters and make some people unhappy. When we, the published and unpublished, come to an agent such as you we have high hopes, but it should be possible to remain enlightened and friendly even though two people don't see eye to eye. Good luck to you. J. I love your site. I love the colors and the organization of your blog. Don White, alias Donald D'BruceDonWhitehttp://HotAirMachine.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16222909208734498102009-05-12T23:38:00.000-04:002009-05-12T23:38:00.000-04:00Unlike these other posts, I've noticed J does seem...Unlike these other posts, I've noticed J does seem rather depressed of late...aren't we all, due to the doom and gloom in publishing? But maybe some anons take out their frustration at OTHER agents on you since you're an easy target...<br /><br />Maybe you should take a break from the blogging routine, perhaps use guest bloggers more often? We all need to take a breather now and then...Keep up the good work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66616368748301210462009-05-12T23:22:00.000-04:002009-05-12T23:22:00.000-04:00I come down on the side with the folks that don't ...I come down on the side with the folks that don't see the surly in you. It sort of frightens me. If you're surly, I'd hate to think what I am.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74158029177289230112009-05-12T22:56:00.000-04:002009-05-12T22:56:00.000-04:00Surly? You? Sure, you seemed a little frustrated a...Surly? You? Sure, you seemed a little frustrated at times, but nowhere near surly.<br /><br />In fact, I think you handle criticism admirably. You keep your cool through heated discussions. You remain helpful and informative. That's why I always check in although I'm 'between queries' at the moment.Sandra Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00231342310371529022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82235900132521756892009-05-12T20:56:00.000-04:002009-05-12T20:56:00.000-04:00Twice now in posts I've left a comment about my co...Twice now in posts I've left a comment about my concerns with my agent. Once during agentfail, as a matter of fact.<br /><br />I wasn't one of the general masses complaining about rejection times or anything else. I had genuine concerns. You gave me genuine, concerned responses, both times. It has given me the courage to move forward from my agent, feeling confident I'm doing so for the right reasons.<br /><br />I've always found your blog interesting, forthright and educational. You provide serious writers with a fantastic resource.<br /><br />There will always be the negative folk out there, the unprofessional writers with bitterness riding their shoulder. That is, well, the way it is. <br /><br />Best wishes for you and yours.Vicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-24533471456074674632009-05-12T17:04:00.000-04:002009-05-12T17:04:00.000-04:00Jessica,
I usually lurk around your blog, but let...Jessica,<br /><br />I usually lurk around your blog, but let me tell you, if this is 'surly' then when you're happy kittens and unicorns must fall from the sky. You're one of the most even tempered, patient folks on the web!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11886151771194369513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7991315837283854232009-05-12T16:27:00.000-04:002009-05-12T16:27:00.000-04:00Ahhh, so blogging has changed you and your policie...Ahhh, so blogging has changed you and your policies. I like that. Now, I want to know, has it changed 'us?'Carol Doane #pearlofcarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11842466080956761108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-1519896757242334652009-05-12T16:01:00.000-04:002009-05-12T16:01:00.000-04:00I haven't noticed any real change of tone in this ...I haven't noticed any real change of tone in this weblog. Obviously, you're addressing the current situations between writers and agents, which have been less than stellar in some cases. Never the less, I wish to remind you that you are doing the writer a great service by maintaining and contributing to this weblog and by allowing participation.<br /><br />Thank you.David Alton Doddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648764158310219476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87432074858813949742009-05-12T15:27:00.000-04:002009-05-12T15:27:00.000-04:00Thanks for the efforts you've made to create a saf...Thanks for the efforts you've made to create a safe place to talk about the author/agent relationship.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920175688407593776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46011139347629210242009-05-12T14:43:00.000-04:002009-05-12T14:43:00.000-04:00I think why the negative always bugs us is that we...I think why the negative always bugs us is that we always want to defend out position or point and prove that the negative isn't true, that it is in fact human nature. As a teacher, I know I was taught to look more at the negative then the positive to improve yourself and your methods...so perhaps it's the teacher in you. ;)<br /><br />I'm a lurker and don't post comments often to blogs, but I enjoy reading yours daily, moods or not. Should I ever finish my novel, I will be one of the smart queriers thanks to advice from people like you, Nathan, Janet. So keep up the good work and don't let the people with too much free time and not enough to complain about, get you down.Miss Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01997635270285716217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79072436160023115112009-05-12T13:45:00.000-04:002009-05-12T13:45:00.000-04:00Jessica,
Unlike a lot of the other bloggers, I ha...Jessica,<br /><br />Unlike a lot of the other bloggers, I have noticed both your's and Nathan's blog have an underlying current of sadness, disappointment, and frankly a little bitterness. Perhaps you feel like David fighting Goliath, but you're not. Truly you have the upper hand, and thousands of supporters. The loud mouthes have no one to back them up, and no other way of changing things. The majority of the time when we agree we tend to keep quiet, it's when we disagree we make noise. Just remember for every hundred people who are upset over something, there are thousands that are content and remain silent. There is not a single occupation in this world that can make everyone happy 100% of the time, and no matter where you are at you will hear criticism. The internet just makes it easier for you to recieve complaints. Be glad they aren't walking into your office.<br /><br />Thank-you for blogging, keep your chin up.<br /><br />And please remember not to link all anons together. I think small complaints sound angrier coming from anons; probably because our brains tend to link them with another anon who was over the top angry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88501213896142752262009-05-12T12:51:00.000-04:002009-05-12T12:51:00.000-04:00i haven't noticed any attitude, but maybe that's j...i haven't noticed any attitude, but maybe that's just me.<br /><br />I'm always stunned that there is a new post everyday. Most "industry" bloggers only post a few times a week.<br /><br />I hope I'm not a commentor that is negative. I've had some bad experiences in publishing, so I think I may rant a bit without realizing it sometimes. I'll have to change that.<br /><br />I love this blog, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62268261146543020652009-05-12T12:24:00.000-04:002009-05-12T12:24:00.000-04:00Hi, Jessica,
I've been lurking for a while and on...Hi, Jessica,<br /><br />I've been lurking for a while and only recently started posting.<br /><br />It shocks me that people can say that agents want writers to fail. There are so many agents taking time out of their busy schedules to write informative blogs on how to submit queries and the publishing industry as a whole. Back in the old days, boys and girls, you had the Writer's Market and conventions.<br /><br />Jessica, I have not seen a bad attitude on your part in any of your posts, and I've browsed through quite a few of your past posts.<br /><br />My first novel wasn't rejected because of bad agents or bad editors, my first novel had structural problems inherent to a new writer. I understand that now, and I’m so glad that novel was rejected. Instead of wasting my time pointing my finger at the failings of agents and editors, I took classes and worked on learning the craft of writing so that I could eliminate my own failings as a writer. <br /><br />I’ve read in your posts how you sometimes take the time to comment on a manuscript in your rejection letter to the author. That tells me you care about the writers and their stories. If they are so dense as to reject good advice, then they fail themselves.<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time that you do to make it easier for all of us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60955949682190100842009-05-12T12:12:00.000-04:002009-05-12T12:12:00.000-04:00Jessica, I read this blog every day and I haven't ...Jessica, I read this blog every day and I haven't noticed anything amiss in your posts. I love the advice you give and the way you give it -- if your delivery has changed because of agent fail, I hadn't noticed.<br /><br />Keep up the good luck!Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70207755532964525852009-05-12T11:57:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:57:00.000-04:00Another lurker here.
I just wanted to say that on...Another lurker here.<br /><br />I just wanted to say that one of the principles I held close to my heart while teaching high school was that the vocal, rowdy students were never the majority. But, man can those two clowns make enough noise to fill a classroom! The students who were happy with the class weren't standing on chairs and yelling at me that they loved what I did. They had their heads down busily doing classwork and writing lab reports. <br /><br />You strike me as someone who, like me, has developed a pretty thick skin. But still, I thought I'd lift my head up from writing and revising and stand on my chair to shout that your blog has been a fabulous resource for me on my agent hunt and a great window into the publishing world in general.<br /><br />Thanks for being willing to put yourself out there, knowing there's a lot of snapping turtles in this ocean.Jeannie Linhttp://jeannielin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5978648124570117812009-05-12T11:35:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:35:00.000-04:00You never struck me as being cranky -- honest and ...You never struck me as being cranky -- honest and forthright, but not cranky!EilisFlynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09730321975978034753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40177175166744891562009-05-12T11:17:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:17:00.000-04:00Personally, I skipped Agent Fail. I don't know why...Personally, I skipped Agent Fail. I don't know why so many blogging agents were talking about it. Let me know when Agent Success comes on. That might be more interesting.Henrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15692599822110092910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-25483109145397497132009-05-12T11:08:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:08:00.000-04:00Yet another lurker here (I’d suggest we form a Lur...Yet another lurker here (I’d suggest we form a Lurkers Anonymous group but we’d probably all hang around not saying anything). It’s amazing how differently people interpret the same words.<br /><br />I am one of those writers for whom you are concerned. I sent my first real batch of queries on queryfail day, and followed the discussions through all the vitriol and finger-pointing. The more I read blogs like yours, the more my knowledge of publishing evolved. When I started, I immediately formed opinions about agents in general and some agents in particular, but I continued to read industry posts to educate myself. The more I read, the more I learned. Agentfail was a key component in that education. So was Nathan Bransford’s Agent for a Day (I zoned out in the first query. The first one. And that’s not even the hard part of the job).<br /><br />You are performing exactly the service you set out to provide. <br /><br />I’ve never thought about your mental state (sorry if I should have), and took from your writing that you are savvy, adaptable and committed (if only you took my genre!). All the empathizers are clearly very nice people, but I can’t help but think they may be missing the point of some of your posts, which aren’t really about you (no offense intended, empathizers. As I said, you’re all very kind).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-84606788790503597492009-05-12T11:02:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:02:00.000-04:00LOL...reading your post and all the comments, I re...LOL...reading your post and all the comments, I realize I am SUCH a Pollyanna...for one thing, I just don't read the negative stuff, and while I've read all your posts, I didn't pick up surly at all.<br /><br />Guess I'll go back to playing ostrich and stick my head back in the sand, but all news that informs us more about the industry we choose to participate in is good news, as far as I'm concerned. It's part of the package that makes writing and the publishing industry so utterly fascinating.Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-38046325348409090372009-05-12T10:57:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:57:00.000-04:00After I sent my post, I had an epiphany... YEP, a ...After I sent my post, I had an epiphany... YEP, a CALENDER for 2010, featuring the Playboy/girls of bloggin' Literary Agents. Tasteful, but provocative poses... (and not just the young ones of y'all)!<br /><br />All proceeds going to a charity of your choice. I'd buy a dozen.<br /><br />Okay, I'll stop epiphanizing now. <br /><br />Haste yee back ;-)Haste yee back ;-)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00345715370509449971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19274891025395469352009-05-12T10:54:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:54:00.000-04:00Jessica,
It's impossible to write a daily blog wi...Jessica,<br /><br />It's impossible to write a daily blog without your personality emerging, and that's a good thing. Spending your days doing something you love will engender joy, frustration, humor, and insight. When you mix the daily blog with something you enjoy, the result is that the rest of us get to see a real person struggling with these emotions.<br /><br />What does any writer want from an agent? A real person who loves her job and who will ride that roller coaster of emotions with us. If you weren't surly at times, it would mean you didn't care. Add in the honesty, the urge to educate, the eagerness to learn from your own blog, and the humility to admit that publicly, and it leaves me with the impression that all your clients are lucky people indeed.<br /><br />Keep up the good work and fight the good fight.Bill Greerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14547897778543135864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9456480611541910132009-05-12T10:47:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:47:00.000-04:00It so easy to spot an angry mob, what with all the...It so easy to spot an angry mob, what with all the screaming and burning torches. It's easy to think it's the whole village because the the mob is all you see. But tucked away quitely in their homes are the majority of villagers, keeping their nose to the grindstone, not wishing harm on anyone.<br /><br />I think the angry mob has had the stage long enough. It's time to move on. I love your blog and pass by everyday to learn a little. Keep them coming.Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430626765231636800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88968656142177374362009-05-12T10:44:00.001-04:002009-05-12T10:44:00.001-04:00Jessica,
First, I am thrilled and proud to have my...Jessica,<br />First, I am thrilled and proud to have my work represented by Bookends (shout out to Ferocious K here). <br /><br />Putting Agentfail out there was a brave move; it's one thing to deal with criticism, but to invite it in such a public way is quite another, and I admire you for that.<br /><br />Few of us would be willing to open ourselves up to that kind of criticism. (Teacherfail? No thanks. Or how about Mommyfail? Now there's a thought.) <br /><br />Most of us just do our best every day, and we like to think people appreciate it. Sometimes they don't. <br /><br />You're doing right by your writers. You're doing right my the many who turn to this blog for information and advice. <br /><br />For what it's worth.Rosemarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10160636116943460432009-05-12T10:44:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:44:00.000-04:00snarky Jessica, surly Jessica, business Jessica, L...snarky Jessica, surly Jessica, business Jessica, LOL after readin' a little Bella Andre... is there a naked Jessica? Please!<br /><br />Haste yee back ;-)Haste yee back ;-)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00345715370509449971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-61508586068967722922009-05-12T10:36:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:36:00.000-04:00Don't forget, Jessica--Agentfail wasn't supposed t...Don't forget, Jessica--Agentfail wasn't supposed to be directed at you...you just provided the sounding board. I think an exchange of ideas is healthy, and writers were able to get a lot of pent-up frustration out in the open. Thanks for the great blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com