June 2010
29 posts
May 31, 2010
SMALL PRESS/ BIG PRESS PUBLISHING: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE?
Let me be honest. Since I started my quest for an agent 4 months ago, I’ve endured lots of rejection. Mostly, my query letters are ignored. If I do get a response, it’s usually canned — though one e-mail was rude and yesterday’s was opportunistic. So why do I go on? No, I’m not crazy; at least I don’t think so. I go...
May 2010
10 posts
May 30, 2010
Opportunists, Scammers and Sleazebags, Oh My!
Yesterday, I received another agent’s e-mail rejection. This one started off encouragingly but ended with the usual “not for us” statement. I was steeled for that but not for his suggestion that I spend $12 to purchase his book on how to find an agent!
I should have seen the pitch coming because his website was salted with ads for his book. He was...
May 29, 2010
On the Hunt for an Agent
People interested in writing often ask me if it’s necessary to have an agent to get published. The answer is: yes and no.
In the past, writers could submit their work directly to a main stream publishing house and if the company liked it, they’d recommend an agent. The offer wasn’t benevolent. Negotiating book terms with an agent was easier than with an artist who was...
May 27, 2010
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
A couple of days ago, my new novel was rejected by a top New York agent. Like every insecure writer, I prepared for the worst when he asked to see it.
The head knows the probability of success; the heart doesn’t listen. When the rejection came, I sucked my thumb for a full 24 hours.
As it happened, I was scheduled to meet a friend for coffee the...
May 26, 2010
More Thoughts about writing on another rainy day:
Yesterday, a friend e-mailed me regarding a response she’d gotten from a small press about her first novel. It wasn’t a rejection but a request from the publisher to make some changes and submit again. I expected her to be happy; she wasn’t. She took the proposal as criticism rather than as an opportunity. I think I talked...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Hi everyone and welcome,
It’s a rainy Sunday and the only bright spot in the room is my white computer page. At this point in my blogging life, I realize I’m talking to myself, but should anyone wander into my electronic room, I thought I’d explain the purpose of this blog. It’s about writing, writers, sources to help writers and all things literary. I’m happy to answer questions about my work,...
6 tags
