Pub Rants

STATUS: A solid work day. No complaints. I’m off to the faculty bbq tonight for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference which officially starts tomorrow.

What’s playing on the iPod right now? HEAD OVER HEELS by Tears For Fears

Dorie Berenger is a southern Louisiana fun-as-heck heroine.

Obviously Romantic Times agrees! They just gave Jana DeLeon’s debut RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU 4 ½ stars. No mean feat.

And it’s a Top Pick.

RT had this to say:

“Rumble on the Bayou is a wonderful, poignant and fun mystery, with a strong romantic subplot, in which all the major characters act in intelligent and responsible ways, not taking stupid chances. Filled with likable and interesting individuals, this first-rate debut novel is a truly fantastic read.”

STATUS: I’m finally caught up. I haven’t felt this feeling in 6 months. I almost don’t know what to do with myself. Good thing I’ve asked for some full manuscripts this week. And next Monday, a client will be sending a new work my way (which means at least 3 other clients will also send me something because they have this uncanny timing and invariably that will happen).

What’s playing on the iPod right now? HANG FIRE by The Rolling Stones

I’ve been noticing an interesting trend in the already published romance books I’ve been reading lately, and I know it obviously works for some agents and for a lot of readers (because several of these books are selling like hotcakes), but I have to tell you that it just doesn’t work for me.

For the most part I’m seeing this in the paranormals I’ve been reading.

Basically there is a really cool paranormal concept (and excellent world building), and sexy alpha hero (yum!), and then this milksop of a heroine.

For example, I just read a paranormal romance and I mapped out the plot. The heroine literally has one horrifying near-rape scene (and not by the “hero” which is always an immediate NO for me and it was well-done so I didn’t have a beef with that), two or three scenes at the office/job, one scene in an alley, and the rest of her scenes were literally at her home or at the Hero’s home having sex. Not very dynamic.

The hero is wild about her beauty and has an overwhelming need to protect her (why is not clear). He also loves her caring and nurturing spirit that is exhibited only once and very briefly after a sex scene and after the hero brings a wounded compatriot back to his home.

And that’s it.

It drives me crazy.

And trust me, I don’t need every heroine to be some action-packed, kick-butt kind of gal. She can be normal (and then rises to extraordinary in unusual circumstances in some way that’s fits with her being a normal person). She can be brain-y too. I love that. But then I need to see her use her brains in action—rather than simply be told that she is smart by the other characters in the story. I want to see her brains help move the action, escalate the conflict with the hero, and be an essential part to the story’s resolution.

I don’t want my romance heroines to simply be a vessel for the hero’s unbridled (and in my mind, completely unexplainable) passion.

STATUS: Tuesdays that are really Mondays are never my favorite but I did have a great weekend. Saw INVINCIBLE. You know my love for sports films. Okay, not a great work of art and certainly not in the top 10 list but fun to watch nonetheless. Is it me or does Mark Wahlberg seem a little small to play a football player?

What’s playing on the iPod right now? BEEN SO LONG by Anita Baker

Nothing drives me more crazy than interested writers who refuse to follow directions that are clearly listed on the website.

In fact, I don’t know any agents who accept email query attachments unless specifically requested so there is no excuse for this cluelessness.

Today Sara and I tried to download the weekend email queries into Outlook—which is usual. Since we haven’t even opened the program since Friday, there are usually quite a few queries that come in.

Well, it just froze. After numerous tries, we gave up. I finally went into the emailbox via the web. Some yahoo had sent me a 4 MB file containing his or her children’s picture book.

4 MB

And I don’t even rep children’s picture books

I probably don’t need to tell you what I did with this excessively large file.

Another yahoo sent his proposal three times—all equaling more than 2 MB.

And I was wondering why we were having trouble accessing the queries. We certainly have high speed internet here but sometimes it just can’t handle 7 MBs worth of stuff and not want to time out.

Happiness from my lovely 3-day weekend immediately dispelled because it took us over an hour to fix the situation and download the queries of writers who actually followed the instructions.

Trust me, this is not how you want to gain our attention with your query. No attachments.

I mean it.

(Does anyone want a peanut?)

STATUS: Well, I didn’t quite finish all I set out to do today but hey, I’m outta here anyway. I may have to work some this weekend. We’ll see. Agents sometimes just need a break as well. I’ll feel more refreshed come Tuesday for it. Happier to be reading and all that jazz.

What’s playing on the iPod right now? AMERICAN GIRL by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

At night, I’ve actually been trying to read already published books. I like to keep my finger on the pulse of what’s currently hot, getting a lot of buzz, or just staying in touch with the younger folks by reading YA novels and watching YA movies (which, let me tell you, is no chore). Next to sports movies, I love, love, love movies set in High School or feature teens.

And I especially loved the aptly named High School Musical.

But I’m getting off-topic. So, I’ve been reading a lot of different authors. And here’s what I wanted to ask. For many of them, I love the first half of the book (I mean really getting into it) and then suddenly, for me, the book just loses steam. Either the character isn’t interesting enough or the story gets predictable or something just happens.

Then I can’t force myself to read on. This has happened several times in a row now so I have this stack of about three or four unfinished novels on my night stand.

So do you finish it?

I’m thinking I’m going to just move on. But there’s always the chance the author could get it back so I’m tempted to slog on.

What do you guys do?

I’m out.

Have a great Labor Day weekend. See you Tuesday.

STATUS: Reading client material like mad! I want both projects done and out to the authors by 5 p.m. on Friday and then the weekend, here I come.

What song is playing on the iPod right now? TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART by Bonnie Tyler

Publishing is a business and a subjective one at that.

As I was reminded of that yet again just several weeks ago.

I gave a talk to a local community of writers about queries. Not unlike what I did on the blog, I showed some of my client queries and talked about what got my attention, why I asked for sample pages, and to where the project sold etc.

One attendee raised his hand and expressed his opinion, quite pointedly, that he found one of my client’s queries to be unexceptional and generic and he didn’t understand why any editor would be interested in that project.

I have my moments and I did have to stringently resist the urge to say, “and that is why you currently remain unpublished and my client is not” but I didn’t because his comment points out something that I’m always trying to remind writers who read my blog.

Publishing is totally subjective. Agenting is totally subjective. So much of this business is based on one person’s opinion and getting a manuscript into the hands of those we, as agents, know will share that taste and opinion.

It’s an odd business model if you think about it.

So, yes, this biz is subjective. A query that floats one agent’s boat might not even make a little dent in the hull of another agent’s boat.

But I also want to convey a warning. Was this attendee’s perspective shaped in any way by frustration that others weren’t recognizing the value of his work? And yet, what he sees has a generic project is getting the coveted publishing spot? Is green-eyed jealousy in any way limiting you from learning what needs to be learned to get your stuff published?

Because the query wasn’t generic and I really tried to point out, outside of the plot elements that may or may not float a reader’s boat, why it worked. Why it would work on other agents besides me and why this project did, indeed, sell—therefore implying that others saw the value (as in dollar signs that the book could sell to a wider audience than we two).

What I’m saying is to not let your vulnerable artist side interfere with what you need to know to be a savvy writing professional.

STATUS: Doing great. Getting tons of reading done because it’s so slow in New York. Everyone is out for vaca already or soon will be with the long weekend. I love the sound of that. Looonnnnggg weekend.

What song is playing on the iPod right now? SHORT SKIRT LONG JACKET by Cake

Note to self: I only indulge in polite rants on this blog. Oh to be snarky for just a brief minute.

I’ll behave.

So, here’s what I want to rant about. I know I’ve said this before but it bears repeating.

Publishing is, first and foremost, a business.

And people who forget that astound me.

Recently I received a chastisement email from the parent of a young writer who sent me a query and was rejected.

Folks, let me repeat. Publishing is, first and foremost, a business. We read queries with only business in mind—regardless of race, gender, age, or religion.

Either it’s a professionally done query that piques our interest or it’s not. All other factors are moot—even if you are under the age of 18. Heck, even if you are under the age of 16 (and I have received queries from aspiring writers as young as 12). If it’s a well done query, we’ll give it a serious read. We have even asked to see sample pages on numerous occasions because we were impressed with the query letter.

I have yet to take on a really young person (and just as a reminder, if I were to, the parent or guardian would need to be involved), but I’m certainly open to it if the story is right. Age is certainly not a barrier.

But if the query is not well-written or professional, we’ll reject it (with our standard but nice rejection letter)—regardless of the writer’s age because publishing is a business. I’ll try not to repeat that yet again in this blog entry.

To receive an email from an angry parent accusing me of willfully dashing his or her child’s writing dream with my rejection strikes me as wrong on so many levels, I’m not sure where to begin ranting.

So I won’t. I’ll just leave it at that.

Or the one thing I will say is that the parent is not treating the child as a writing professional that he or she is aspiring to be.

And as all writers know, rejection is part of the biz. A badge of honor on this journey to publication.

STATUS: Yep, it’s late and I’m still working. I’m trying desperately to finish getting caught up. I have two clients who have waited longer than they should have to get feedback from me so I’m pulling some late nighters. My goal is to finish both by Friday—but I’ll probably need the long weekend. Incentive though. If I finish before, I might just take a mini-holiday.

What song is playing on the iPod right now? GOODBYE STRANGER by Supertramp

Now that I started ranting, you might not get me to stop.

Here’s another technology connection I think few writers realized.

Because technology advanced enough to make communication pretty seamless (mobile phones, internet, email, FedEx next day), a lot of agents realized that New York was no longer an anchor that had to exist. They could do this job from just about anywhere as long as they had the publishing contacts, a solid reputation, and used technology to their advantage.

And what a lot of writers also don’t realize is that a lot of editors started thinking this way. I can name 20 editors, off the top of my head, who don’t work mainly out of the New York office. They work remotely or only come into the office two days a week and it wouldn’t surprise me if that number is growing.

But back to the agents. Many decided to leave town and even some of the bigger houses have agents who don’t work in the New York office. Regardless of what you think of Friedman’s book, you can’t deny the argument that the world of publishing is getting flatter in many ways he defines in his book.

So Agents moved. Set up shop in California, Colorado (did you know that there are three fairly well- known agents living and working in the Denver area now and one of the most well-known agencies for the Christian market is in Colorado Springs?), Texas, Georgia, Florida, and I can’t even begin to list all the other states that have reputable agents with solid reputations. It’s not quite every state in the nation but a good portion are represented.

And we got tired of shipping full manuscripts—even with the relatively cheap rates of UPS.

So we started pushing. With each submission and for each editor, we would start asking whether we could send that manuscript electronically. Until it became common place. Now it’s the assumptive standard and if a hard copy is desired, it has to be specially requested.

Now obviously the New York agents started asking for this stuff too (because why wouldn’t they) but the big push came from those of us doing the biz outside the New York box—where we had to actively look for processes that made our lives and our jobs easier.

And it all starts with embracing technology that makes new possibilities available in this job.

Not to mention the savings to the clients because here’s another juicy secret that most writers don’t realize. Editors are very much like agents. Even if the full manuscript is sent, it’s very unlikely that editors will read it in its entirety if it’s not right for them. Most editors know within 50 pages whether a project can work for their list or meshes with their taste. Chances are good they are doing a quick read on screen or simply printing out 50 pages for the train and that enables them to come to a decision.

(And yes, some editors do end up reading the full before coming to a decision so yes, that does happen still.)

Those are some important first 50 pages. Sorry. It’s probably something more that y’all will start obsessing about.

STATUS: It’s a Monday? Need I say more? I have to say I’m known for my reliability, responsiveness, and general punctuality. Can I just say that I completely missed an appointment today? And now I feel such incredible guilt for wasting another person’s valuable time. I’d like to blame it on the fact that my computer reminder didn’t ping but alas, I’m still responsible despite the failsafe (that wasn’t so reliable today).

What song is playing on the iPod right now? BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY by Queen

I have to say that just recently, I got a completely original interview question. That in itself is worth blogging about because unfortunately, new questions rarely happen. Almost all interviews I’ve participated in tend to revolve around the “how does a writer get an agent” variety.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand the need for that since that seems to be one of the more pressing questions writers have and it makes sense for a writing publication to ask an agent that question.

But this interviewer is thinking outside of the box and now that she has asked this great question, I’m rather surprised that no one has asked me before.

She noticed that on my website, I state that “technology is meant to be used” and what do I mean by that.

Quite simply, I mean that as agents, we need to constantly evolve and use technology that’s available to us. So many folks are mired in what I call “the old ways” (this is how I’ve always done it) and if you want to succeed, you can’t be afraid of change and the technological tools that will allow you to do your job more quickly and easier.

Two examples:

Example #1: Accepting email queries.

I have many friends who just can’t get on board with this because they still love, for various reasons, the paper format. Perhaps it’s easier on the eyes to read or perhaps they think writers take more care with the writing of the letter if they will go to the length of paying $0.39 for the stamp or whatever.

I know many of my agent friends will hate me for this but I can’t help but think that’s just unnecessary old school.

If you’re an agent looking to build a client list, then it’s a numbers game and the faster you can get to a good project, the more likely you’ll be to land it. I know I’ve taken on many a good client because I was timely in my response via email.

I’m using technology to my advantage.

In fact, I’ve taken on one client in my career who couldn’t use email and wasn’t interested in learning.

Never again. My clients also need to be technologically savvy because that’s how I operate.

Example #2. Tablet PC, baby!

At Book Expo 2003, there was a technology center in a lovely space right in the middle of the exhibition.

And there were two people, besides me, there looking at the future of publishing. I kid you not. There was very little foot traffic flowing through.

But it was there I first saw demonstrated and got to play with a Tablet PC. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this technology, it’s a computer that I can actually handwrite on with a computer stylus and my notes are saved—either in my incredibly indecipherable and cramped handwriting or in the method I prefer, my handwriting translated pretty darn accurately into a different color typewritten text in track changes in Microsoft Word.

The minute I saw it, I had to have it. The dang thing cost a fortune in 2003 but I bought it and trust me, I’ve never looked back.

My clients electronically send me their manuscripts and I can edit (electronically by hand) while sitting on my couch. Quick turn around (providing, that is, six of my clients haven’t all delivered their full manuscripts all in the same week, which never fails to happen). Changes easily tracked in track changes. Clients can accept or reject anything I’ve pointed out.

Revisions are done in a flash and boom, the project is out to the editor, electronically of course, in record time.

In fact, one of my clients was so used to this method, she was stunned when she received her line edit from her new editor in the mail and on the paper manuscript. She even kindly requested (because time was of the essence and the deadlines were tight—by publisher decree not hers—if the editor could speed up the process by doing it electronically). But that’s a whole other story. My author ended up hiring a person, literally, to type in the handwritten comments into her document so she could revise more quickly.

And now I’m looking into a couple of other very interesting technological mediums and how they can apply to what I do at my agency and how they can benefit my clients.

And trust me folks, I’m no tech whiz but I’m willing to keep learning because in my mind, technology is meant to be used and my agency will be the better for it because of that mindset.

STATUS: It’s Friday! Rockies against the Padres tonight at Coors field. I cannot watch baseball on TV but get me to the field and I’m crazy about the game. I also love Baseball movies. Always have. There’s something about the metaphor of the game. All time favorite: BULL DURHAM (of course). Actually, I love all sports movies. Okay, not all but almost all. It has to be a really bad movie for me to diss it. I have very lax standards where sports films are concerned.

What song is playing on the iPod right now? TWISTIN’ THE NIGHT AWAY by Sam Cooke

I have to admit, I kind of stole this brilliant idea from Rachel Vater so go check out the original master but since Sara was in the office today working on queries…

It was time to for her to weigh in.

So, from Sara:

Here are some queries that got the dreaded, “No Thank You” today:

1)I saw four queries about adults who recently found out they were adopted. This seems to be a hot topic right now, and it is emotionally compelling. Unfortunately, it is also very common. Typically, the protagonist goes looking for his/her birth mother, and the plot revolves around this search. The successful query in this genre will have to be masterfully written to break out from the “too generic” brand.

2)There were many queries from writers who had not researched the genres that we represent (this is typical, but still sad – many were even good). I sent “nos” to multiple writers of children’s picture books, anthologies of poems, thrillers, medical mysteries, etc. *sigh*

3)Science Fiction and Fantasy writers were busy today – many good queries came through. There is one recurring theme that I keep seeing in this genre which is a bit of a turn off (and often results in the big “No”). I see many queries in which the hero or heroine has just come to realize that they are the secret savior either of this world or for a world they never knew existed. In these queries, the character doesn’t know about their hidden talent/power/prophecy until they find out it is their job to save the world. There is no reason this story couldn’t work, but I certainly see it a lot, and it takes exceptional writing to overcome my bias of it as a generic story.

4)Depressed 40 year old women whose fat husbands are having affairs have also been plaguing me today. This topic for a query never wins any points with me. Three of these “heroines” came through the in box, and then quickly went out again. I didn’t see the possibility of an original take on the storyline. I just saw “Sally needs to re-find herself and her vitality and her 14 year old sarcastic teenager is no help.”

5)Finally, again on the SF writers (like I said, they were busy beavers today) – I noted many queries that were listed over 200,000 words (including one stunning 315,000 word behemoth). This wasn’t the ultimate breaking point for any of the queries, but I thought I would mention it. 150,000 words is about my upper limit, and after that there is a mental, “eeek” of warning.

But, here are some wonderful potentials that I sent on to Kristin to review:

1) A YA novel with a 17 year old heroine who works in a museum as an exhibition assistant. She has just gotten the go-ahead to research her favorite pirate from history (or should I saw pirate-LASS – yippeeeee, a woman pirate, just like in SIREN). Adventure on the high seas is supposed to follow – sounds exciting!!!

2) A comedy about three senile, aging psychics and the havoc they cause as their talents vie with their failing mental capacities. Ha ha! How great – crazy old psychics!!!!

3) A SF about a perfectly engineered future that is threatened by a being, posing as human, who has been elected as president. The celestial protectors of the world create a new race of beings to help fight this threat. These are the heroes/heroines of the story, and they band together to learn about their powers and to save the world. Yes, it’s a “save the world” theme, but the writing in the query was very strong, and the hook with the six super-heroes, was intriguing.

STATUS: It’s still crazy but I actually felt like I accomplished several tasks that needed to be handled. So, thumbs up.

What song is playing on the iPod right now? BARRACUDA by Heart

Right now I’m reading Thomas Freidman’s THE WORLD IS FLAT for my book club that’s meeting on Sunday.

And today I was given a living example of how truly flat the world is.

It used to be that you had to live in New York to do my job—agenting. Or you had to live in New York to be a successful publisher.

It’s really not true any longer and mainly because of the precepts outlined in Freidman’s book.

For example, I had lunch with Fred Ramey of Unbridled Books today. (A month ago he broke my heart when he passed on a literary novel of mine that I thought was perfect for his house. And I was right, sort of, because it came really, really close for him. I forgave him over lunch).

But Fred has been in this biz for many years (I’ll be nice and not say how long) and not in New York.

He and his business partner Greg Michalsen have been successfully running Unbridled Books (a publishing house dedicated to publishing novels of rich literary quality—remember those?) for several years now and they don’t even live in the same town.

Fred lives here in Denver; Greg lives in Columbia, Missouri.

And this was true even when they were the Blue Hen Imprint at Putnam several years ago.

They just hired a new web marketing manager. She’s on the East Coast.

The world is flat in the sense that the whole company doesn’t need to geographically be located in one place to succeed.

Publishing Old School—great books that might actual enter the literary canon—but done in a new school, world is flat, let’s take advantage of all technology has to offer, kind of way.

Isn’t that how revolutions happen?

So if you haven’t picked up a literary work of fiction in a while, why not mosey on over to the website and check out this great title SMALL ACTS OF SEX AND ELECTRICITY. Sample pages are on the website but alas, not the first couple of pages, which are a little shocking.

I guarantee you won’t be able to stop reading,

Some folks might call it women’s fiction. Fine. We don’t call Chuck Palahniuk men’s fiction but whatever.

It’s high octane fiction and here’s your chance to support a house that still has an Old School vision that literary fiction is worth publishing.