Comments on: Monday Rants http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/ Novelist, Dog-Lover, Bon Vivant Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:48:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jana DeLeon http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2131 Jana DeLeon Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:38:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2131 I had never met my agent before querying - STILL haven't met an editor. I queried, got an offer for representation from one out of at least forty tried, she marketed the book and we got an offer. I live in Texas, work as an accountant and originally hail from a hole-in-the-wall in Louisiana.<br/><br/>That traditional enough? I had never met my agent before querying – STILL haven’t met an editor. I queried, got an offer for representation from one out of at least forty tried, she marketed the book and we got an offer. I live in Texas, work as an accountant and originally hail from a hole-in-the-wall in Louisiana.

That traditional enough?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2127 Anonymous Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:24:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2127 What I'd like to hear is a story of someone who did it the traditional way while being a complete nobody and knowing no one. Meaning: no mutual friends with any agents, never worked as an editor, not married to a publisher, an agent, not a cover model, not a celebrity, not a big magazine editor, not a great friend of a NY Times bestselling author, no high concept book Hollywood would die to get, has no mentor respected in the industry... someone who is no one from the boonies, just sent a query on a good book, and voila...:) What I’d like to hear is a story of someone who did it the traditional way while being a complete nobody and knowing no one. Meaning: no mutual friends with any agents, never worked as an editor, not married to a publisher, an agent, not a cover model, not a celebrity, not a big magazine editor, not a great friend of a NY Times bestselling author, no high concept book Hollywood would die to get, has no mentor respected in the industry… someone who is no one from the boonies, just sent a query on a good book, and voila…:)

]]> By: cin http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 cin Tue, 31 Jan 2006 16:35:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2126 Diana- you are never off base (IMO) - beeatch slap the NNBs- I hate seeing their snotty little posts. Diana- you are never off base (IMO) – beeatch slap the NNBs- I hate seeing their snotty little posts.

]]> By: Diana Peterfreund http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2115 Diana Peterfreund Tue, 31 Jan 2006 13:06:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2115 Jami, I htink you're right, that it was about the experience, I'd submitted enough stories to know that this situation was different. I mean, I'd written four novels, and I never had people knocking down my door for them like they were for this one, so I knew I needed to move on it. I didn't think it would sell on a partial. MY CP did, but I thought she was nuts, and then my agent told me we were going to do it, so I went with that.<br/><br/>Hey, Karmela! Nice meeting you, too!<br/><br/>Ah, Gabriela, if only, right?<br/><br/>Yeah, Carrie, the Mondays, but not undeservedly. When I was coordinating a contest, people turned their entries in all manner of ways, which is all well and good, and doesn't it just take me a few seconds to fix it? yeah, but that's not hte point. YOu'd only have to do it once. I'd have to do it two hundred times, to every entry!<br/><br/>Really, Alison? Wow, the secret's out! Jami, I htink you’re right, that it was about the experience, I’d submitted enough stories to know that this situation was different. I mean, I’d written four novels, and I never had people knocking down my door for them like they were for this one, so I knew I needed to move on it. I didn’t think it would sell on a partial. MY CP did, but I thought she was nuts, and then my agent told me we were going to do it, so I went with that.

Hey, Karmela! Nice meeting you, too!

Ah, Gabriela, if only, right?

Yeah, Carrie, the Mondays, but not undeservedly. When I was coordinating a contest, people turned their entries in all manner of ways, which is all well and good, and doesn’t it just take me a few seconds to fix it? yeah, but that’s not hte point. YOu’d only have to do it once. I’d have to do it two hundred times, to every entry!

Really, Alison? Wow, the secret’s out!

]]> By: Alison Kent http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2114 Alison Kent Tue, 31 Jan 2006 04:52:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2114 <i>What did you do for responses back in the pre-email era?</i><br/><br/>HQ always responds, whether you send an SASE or not, so I just waited to hear from them! What did you do for responses back in the pre-email era?

HQ always responds, whether you send an SASE or not, so I just waited to hear from them!

]]> By: Charlene Teglia http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2113 Charlene Teglia Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:43:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2113 *raises hand* I sold the usual way. After getting lots of (usual) rejections. Query, send partial, send full. Query, send partial, send full. Lather, rinse, repeat. I kept doing those steps until I got a yes. That's all! I've sold twice on partial now but only because I've got a track record. <br/><br/>I did have an agent ask me for a full that I never sent because I just didn't think we'd be a good fit after talking with her. She later defrauded a bunch of clients, so that was a good call. *raises hand* I sold the usual way. After getting lots of (usual) rejections. Query, send partial, send full. Query, send partial, send full. Lather, rinse, repeat. I kept doing those steps until I got a yes. That’s all! I’ve sold twice on partial now but only because I’ve got a track record.

I did have an agent ask me for a full that I never sent because I just didn’t think we’d be a good fit after talking with her. She later defrauded a bunch of clients, so that was a good call.

]]> By: Jana DeLeon http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2112 Jana DeLeon Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:33:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2112 Sign my sale up for "usual." But the book's not....... Sign my sale up for “usual.” But the book’s not…….

]]> By: Gabriele C. http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2111 Gabriele C. Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:13:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2111 And there I thought the trick was to keep an interesting blog, sneak the occasional writing snippet in, and one day an agent or publisher will stumble across it and offer a contract. <br/><br/>*grin* And there I thought the trick was to keep an interesting blog, sneak the occasional writing snippet in, and one day an agent or publisher will stumble across it and offer a contract.

*grin*

]]> By: Cindy http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2110 Cindy Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:48:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2110 Diana,<br/><br/>I still totally trust in the method ('the usual way'). My former agent and I were simply not a good match--not really the fault of either of us, sometimes this sort of thing just needs to be experienced. And, actually, when I think about it, the agency was supposedly not taking on new clients when I queried them. I didn't listen to that, which I guess isn't the usual way.... But I didn't listen b/c the RWA website agent listings are stale, stale, stale, and, for all I knew, the agency I targeted would be in the mood to take on someone. And, as it so happened, they were. The primary agent's assistant was looking for her first client, and I was in the right place at the right time, even if it didn't work out in the end. I'll never regret the experience. It taught me bunches, and I'll continue to query agents and editors 'the usual way.'<br/><br/>Re - the SASEs. I buy American postage for SASEs from my U.S. critique partners, but I only send a #10 envelope for a reply and ask eds/agents to shred the manu if it's not what they want. I think a U.S. agent/editor's eyes would bug out if I sent them a cheque in Canadian dollars! <br/><br/>Cindy Diana,

I still totally trust in the method (‘the usual way’). My former agent and I were simply not a good match–not really the fault of either of us, sometimes this sort of thing just needs to be experienced. And, actually, when I think about it, the agency was supposedly not taking on new clients when I queried them. I didn’t listen to that, which I guess isn’t the usual way…. But I didn’t listen b/c the RWA website agent listings are stale, stale, stale, and, for all I knew, the agency I targeted would be in the mood to take on someone. And, as it so happened, they were. The primary agent’s assistant was looking for her first client, and I was in the right place at the right time, even if it didn’t work out in the end. I’ll never regret the experience. It taught me bunches, and I’ll continue to query agents and editors ‘the usual way.’

Re – the SASEs. I buy American postage for SASEs from my U.S. critique partners, but I only send a #10 envelope for a reply and ask eds/agents to shred the manu if it’s not what they want. I think a U.S. agent/editor’s eyes would bug out if I sent them a cheque in Canadian dollars!

Cindy

]]> By: Jess Riley http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/monday-rants/comment-page-1/#comment-2109 Jess Riley Mon, 30 Jan 2006 20:08:00 +0000 http://gator465.hostgator.com/~dianablu/monday-rants/#comment-2109 Hear hear! I got my agent the usual way, with a twist (targeted agents who'd sold to the editor that requested my manuscript while judging the fantastic Stiletto contest). The original editor ended up making one of the offers we considered. <br/><br/>You are so spot on with this. Before signing with an agent, it can be very tempting to focus on the peripheral stuff, thinking there must be a secret handshake or formatting trick involved in breaking through the literary Red Rover line. <br/><br/>I know I developed this mindset with my first project. But nope. The big picture is so much more important: be professional, stay open to criticism and advice, and write a darn good story. Just as you so eloquently stated. :) Hear hear! I got my agent the usual way, with a twist (targeted agents who’d sold to the editor that requested my manuscript while judging the fantastic Stiletto contest). The original editor ended up making one of the offers we considered.

You are so spot on with this. Before signing with an agent, it can be very tempting to focus on the peripheral stuff, thinking there must be a secret handshake or formatting trick involved in breaking through the literary Red Rover line.

I know I developed this mindset with my first project. But nope. The big picture is so much more important: be professional, stay open to criticism and advice, and write a darn good story. Just as you so eloquently stated. :)

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