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I don't know if this will help, but here's an excerpt of Kahlil Gibran's poem On Children from The Prophet which I find fitting:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

I'm in my third year of college and I have never been closer to my parents :)

I have no books to suggest, but I definitely recommend opening a Facebook account if you don't already have one. You can find your kids on Facebook even when they seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

My kids have friended me. Bet they wish they hadn't, but it's too late now.

He's charming and witty, and how come he didn't make sure the post had the name of his book in it, and a book cover? He only shows the cover of a book that isn't his?

Nancy

OMG, I thought it was just me who changed their reading/buying habits once published! Now, I always buy books put out by friends/acquaintances and I never say anything even slightly negative about another writer's work. I mean, no matter what my opinion is, it is hard to get published and there are positive aspects to any book. And Facebook? I love each and every one of my FB friends--whether I know them or not!
I totally believe in literary karma.

"road-to-Damascus moment" - I love it.

I'm not published yet, but I've been working at this a while and have met a lot of other writers along the way. I do believe there is such a thing as literary karma (and plain old be-nice-to-other-people karma) and I do support my friends and other writers in buying their books and doing my best to spread the word about them.

Once I decided to seriously pursue getting published, wrote my first novel, and began blogging, my literary habits definitely changed, similar to the way Matt's did.

My book-buying habits have shifted to debut authors and authors who interview/guest post/provide ARCs for my blog. I leave book criticism to reviewers who aren't aspiring writers. And I'm willing to promote and support authors like crazy -- purchasing copies for giveaway, attending signings, and spreading the word about amazing books. Am I hoping the good karma comes back to me one day? Sure.

But most of this has sprung from my newfound understanding of just how hard this aspiring writer thing is -- so when someone has made it through all the sweat/blood/tears/rejection (like I aim to one day), I want to shout it from the rooftops with them. As cheesy as this sounds, I've found that, especially within the YA blogging community, a victory for one is a victory for all, and it's worth celebrating.

Really good points. I'm feeling the love for his karma! Since I've been published I try to buy my friend's books and support events in the local literary community.

Ick.

What about bad karma resulting from the harm done to literature itself by purchasing and playing up books you don't genuinely believe are good? When you buy a book for any other reason than wanting to read it, you're lying to the rest of the literary community and to the marketplace. Does karma only count when you do something harmful to some individual's selfish career designs, out of honesty?

Tolkien's fellow Inkling Hugo Dyson used to groan, out loud, "Oh my God -- no more elves!" during readings of the Lord of the Rings. It may sound counter-intuitive, but this is how mature writers should show their respect for one another: through brazen honesty that honors the writer by assuming they're tough enough to take it.

I would much prefer a friend who openly suggests my writing only to readers whose tastes they consider as awful as my writing, than to surround myself with yeah-sayers in whose opinions I could never invest an ounce of trust or respect. Give me one griping Dyson over a crowd of flattering liars any day.

How stifling and downright oppressive to expect nothing but happy thoughts and boosterism from fellow adults. When did the literary community become such a foe of the freedom of sincere expression?

Yes! It depends what you're into, but my recommendations are: for beautiful, almost poetic literary fiction, "Let the Great World Spin"; for a realistic but somewhat romantic page-turner, "One Day", and a book that just simply must be read, fresh, original and full of characters you fall in love with: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".

I left my wife sitting in a B&N chair the other day starving as I went through the stacks looking at all the different books that were in the areas I was researching. Don't have their card, but also don't have any independent book stores around anymore.

I have a hefty stacks of free books for review that I'm supposed to be reading. This means that I put off the stacks of books that I bought--books I was desperate to read--which means that if the first page of the ARC doesn't wow me, I immediately move into a grumpy state of mind because I'm wasting my time with this book instead of the one I actually want to be reading. Nvermind the list of classics I want to get around to reading at some point before I die.

I think my current tally of books I own that I haven't read yet is 25 ish, with 4 books I'm supposed to review and more always on the way. It doesn't help that my bike route home takes me past two Barnes & Noble stores. Argh!

Yep, I've got all the cards and we have an indie we love near us. My idea of a hot date is dinner followed by bookstore browsing. :) (Luckily, hubby is really nice about it.) I have a huge stack of to-be-reads, both nook and "real." Can't wait to get on an airplane with three quiet hours to do nothing but read. :)

Have a great vacation! Enjoy all that reading.

I went to Barnes & Noble a few days ago to kill time while waiting for a car repair...and left with 3 books :) One of them I ended up finishing that day: "Broken Glass Park" by Alina Bronsky. There weren't any chapter breaks in the whole book, which I found fascinating (and which probably contributed to my inability to put it down).

I ABSOLUTELY have this problem!

I buy books like a crazy book buying thing, and the last couple years I've even tracked how many I buy; I just recently topped 200 for this year. I buy way more books in any given year than I actually have time to read, so I have things that have been on my To Read list for many years! I buy from B&N, I buy from Fictionwise, I buy from our tasty local indie bookstore Third Place Books, I buy from the University Bookstore and its awesome SF&F section--and I buy DRM-free ebooks directly from publishers whenever I have the opportunity.

Right now I'm on a new book buying hiatus until the end of August, partly due to brief income shortage and partly due to simply wanting to knock more things off the To Read list. But this hasn't stopped me from downloading tasty free ebooks either. *^_^*;;

TROPIC OF NIGHT by Michael Gruber is brilliant. Shamans, anthropology, violence, smart, smart horror -- it will kick your brain sideways, in a good way.

Today had to go shopping for work clothes and ended up on Oxford Street in H&M and meeting up with a friend. I eventually had to get home, and she had to get to the British Museum so I ended up walking with her in the general direction of the BM intending to get on the tube at Tottenham Court Road. Somewhere between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road tube stops we passed a Waterstone's, my book radar Beeped loudly but I did my best to ignore it, and kept walking with her. We got to Tottenham Court Road, she walked me down into the tube station I hugged her goodbye and she went back up street level. I then proceeded to double back just to go browse through the Waterstone's for 30 minutes and eventually succumb to weakness and buy a book even through I have 2 currently going at once and at least 2 more bought within the last little while that I haven't even cracked open yet (I know this doesn't seem like an exorbitant number of books, but I am a broke recent graduate and the majority of my book stash is in the parents' house). And then naturally had to walk back to Bond Street Tube station because Oxford Circus was too slammed to even get into, it being rush hour by this point and all. You know you're a bookaholic when you're hiding your habit from your friend and doing extra walking while carrying bags full of work clothes, and spend more money when you've already spent too much on said clothes, and are aware your rent is due today and you're not being paid for the new job until the end of the month.

I know that feeling of purchasing new books only to realize how much on your shelves still needs to be read. The call of new books proves irresistible though; if I try to abstain, I find myself developing a distaste for everything currently on my shelf, and feel I will only be sated by the new book...

Libraries help, though, especially if the book I would have purchased isn't a brand-new release with a miles-long hold list. At least, they help me save space on occasion. I had both the Borders and B&N cards at one point, but I've made myself go less frequently to the bookstore over these last few months because I needed to save the money and space. Tis an addiction of the best kind.

Hello, my name is Jo, and I'm an addict.

When a previous blog post requested pictures of our bookshelves, I opted out, because it would have taken me all day to cut and paste images of the eight bookshelves into one piece, and I would feel terribly guilty seeing all the books that are waiting to be read.

And, it would have taken away from the time I would have to read. One used book store and a Books A Million are my only book shopping options locally, so I'm a frequent flier at the local library.

Thank you for letting us know we are not alone, and for seemingly single-handedly keeping the publishing industry afloat.

Enjoy your vacation!

Yeah, I have about 40 books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read (that's not counting the ever growing list on my Nook!) I read fast, but nowhere near as fast as I tend to think I can.

Until I got my Nook I would buy the hardcover of my fav authors new release (even though I pretty much despise hardcovers) and then I'd buy them again for keeping in my collection when they're released in trade paperback, because that's how I roll.

I may or may not have also purchased a duplicate set of one of my favorite series, because I liked the movie version of the covers better than the originals.

Yep, that's me, too.

I shipped over 100 lbs of ARCs home from BEA. And as soon as BEA ended, what did I do?

Went to The Strand and bought more books :/

Recently, I'm loving SUPER SAD TRUE LOVE STORY (Shteyngart) and LINGER (Stiefvater). You?

I would say I have around twenty books that are duplicates of books I've already owned and three or four that are 3 of a kind! I definitely need to carry a list of the thousands of books that I own to stop this nonsense! Then again I always have a ready gift on hand to give away when the need arises!

I forgot to mention that I just finished reading Guillaume Musso's Seras-Tu Là? It was literally a page turner. When you thought the story couldn't possibly get any more interesting or exciting, he kept coming up with another twist! I havent' read the English translation, Will You Be There, so I don't know if the translation is as good as it is in French.

Hearing that you also have this problem makes me feel better about myself! I worked in a bookstore for three years and continued to get use out of two corporate member cards (that were not my employer's).

I'm finally getting around to Kingsolver's The Lacuna. It's a beautiful, beautiful novel. Also, Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude is still one of my favorite summer reads!

Every time I enter a bookstore, I give myself a limit. One book, maybe two. And before I know it, I'm heading home with four or five because I just couldn't put them down.

Not only that - I am constantly rearranging my bookshelves and complaining how I don't have enough space. You know how some girls love shoes and would love a walk-in closet? I'm like that with my books. My living room is slowly turning into a library.

I own, I guess, a few hundred books -- not an impressive collection by booklover standards, but large enough. I have probably only read half of those books. Since I thoroughly intend to read most of the rest, I don't allow myself to buy new books. Except when, oh, there's a book coming out that I really must support. Or when I'm in an independent bookstore. Or when I'm in a chain bookstore. Or...

Yes, I too have a problem.

I can heartily recommend Meljean Brook's steampunk novella Here There Be Monsters in the anthology Burning Up.

Read it. It's wonderful.

If you haven't already stocked up:
THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake (If you liked Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society)
ALL OTHER NIGHTS by Dara Horn (Genius Civil War spy drama)
Both with vivid, flawed characters.

Have a great vacation!

I just binged on 9 books at B&N. It's the smell. I'm glad there are others like me.

My personal quirk: If I attend a book signing or reading, I buy the book. Or, at the very least, I buy another of the author's books that are sitting on the table. This should be good news to all of you authors out there: It does pay to appear at events in person! I bring home stacks of library books, determined not to be lured by the pretty covers in the B&N and Borders (yes, I frequent both, as well as the most fantastic indie, Rainy Day Books in the Kansas City metro area). But somehow, even if I just stop in at one of the above for a cup of coffee, something ends up in my purse. (I buy it, not steal it.) And I have a shelf and a half full of books waiting to be read.

The past two books I bought have been from recommendations of people I don't know. I bought The Knife of Never Letting Go a couple weeks ago because a New Yorker article said it was better than The Hunger Games. Usually I love dystopian YA, but I still haven't read it.

The second one (The Year of Secret Assignments) I bought because someone I follow on Youtube said it was her favorite book. I read that one right away, even though that is not the type of book I'm typically interested in. Apparently I really trusted this Youtube person to give me a good book recommendation. (Small aside: it was awesome. I have now forced all of my friends to get it.)

The most respected author, in my book, is the one who takes time to connect with his/her readers. I'll be more likely to read (even buy!) their books, and I'll take their endorsements very seriously.

The best promotion is actively interacting with fans and treating them well. :)

I would have to say:

1) Friends
2) NYT
3) NPR
4) Blogs I read
5) Books of friends who are writers
6) New books by authors I've read and liked
7) Recs from friends on Facebook
8) My book club
9) Literary prizes
10) Books by short story authors I like (e.g., New Yorker)

I read about 200 books per year, and don't read the NYT or watch Opera or the Today Show. And I actually find the blurbs on the back of books really annoying, I don't care if someone from the Chicago Times liked the book, I just want a three paragraph synopsis so I can decided if I think I'll like it.

So how do I pick which books to read? Word of mouth from people I know is definitely #1.

Second is probably the Amazon feature when they say "People who bought this book also bought these other books." I am a kindle reader, and do find a lot of good books via that service.

Third is probably co-op space in bookstores. If there is a book I've heard of from a friend or is by an author I like and it has a big display, I'm more likely to get it than if I have to hunt for it.

* books by authors I know
* suggestions from friends
* going through the new releases of publishers I like and looking for new books

Hate to admit how low-brow I am, but #1 is friend referral, and after that is visibility within the bookstore or on Amazon, whether that means the front table display or Amazon suggestions. After that - the cover art. Ridiculous but true. I buy books with pretty covers.

Mainly, I listen to the literary critics, and a few critics in particular. And I also keep track of literary prizes. And I browse a lot.

I think I'm a minority, however. It's a real shame that the idea of a cultural authority has become so debased in our society.

lol, I was going to post then saw that Jenn Marie beat me to it... For me:

#1 books by authors I've read & liked
#2 suggestions from friends or bloggers
#3 covers that grab the eye, and then, FIT THE STORY. It's a bit disconcerting to pick up a book based on the cover, read the blurb, then realize that the cover & blurb don't quite mesh

I don't listen to literary critics, neither do I know what book won which awards. I don't listen to npr (though I do wish I did) or read the NYT. And I ignore all best-seller lists, almost religiously. I guess I'm still trying to rebel against the status-quo...

Jessica, I will join you in your Fresh Air support group. I listen to podcasts to get through all those tedious chores you mention, and I especially like the author interviews. A couple other shows you might enjoy are Bookworm from KCRW and Book Lust with librarian Nancy Pearl.

Several times I've had the experience of hearing or reading a review of a book, or maybe a brief interview, and thinking, "Yeah, that sounds kind of interesting, but not enough to add to my list." Then a week later I'll hear one of these longer interviews and be dying to run out and buy the book. So for me, this kind of author promotion is what hooks me.

None of those things drive me to buy a book: not a blurb, a literary prize, a best seller list, etc., and I say noprah to oprah! More often than not a recommendation is disappointing, latest case in point, The Shack.

If I read a review and the story sounds interesting, I'll go to a bookstore or online looking for that book, but I want to read the first page.

Otherwise, what works for me, besides buying a new book by an author that I love, is browsing a bookstore and picking up a book that catches my eye because of the cover or the title. Of course that's not enough. I'll read the back cover or jacket and if that has my interest I'll read the first page. It's that first page that becomes important because if I don't like the writing style, or I'm not hooked, to want to go on to the next page, back down it goes. If I am, most likely I'll end up buying the book.

Beyond browsing or recommendations from friends, I rely on interviews (usually on agent blogs but mostly on genre sites) and book reviews (to which I am usually linked, or of which I find excerpts on Amazon). I rarely seek out reviews in their source publications; it's almost always looking at Amazon or the cover/first few pages of a book, if reviews are printed there. I know, that must seem strange since I don't care about blurbs, but I trust the book reviewer's authority more than another author's most of the time. (Author blurbs can be a little overwrought, and I know some authors are paid to write blurbs, so I don't know how much to put stock in many of them.)

And of course, I often read books by authors whose other work I've enjoyed. I think that's a given.

Browsing in a bookstore overwhelms me (and the books on display I've normally either read or heard about), I don't watch Oprah (or much TV) or read the NY Times or listen to NPR, and I never read the blurb on the back of a book. When I crack open a book, I want to be surprised. 95% of the books I hear about on goodreads, from friends in real life, or see the buzz on publishing/author websites (and even then, I check them out on goodreads). I do pay attention to awards and best seller lists (and the reader's choice display in the library), but it's not usually where I hear about a book. I rarely buy books (blasphemy, I know). I read so much that I check them out from the library (at least I make a lot of recommendations for purchase to the library) and if I love them enough that I would read them again (rarely) or at least want to share them with friends, then I buy the book. I guess my number one source is word of mouth and I try to pass that along. I'm very conscious of the types of books my friends read and am constantly recommending books to them that fall into their genres of choice.

Interviews, definitely--Fresh Air, in particular. I rarely walk into a bookstore without finding something new to buy. (Those tables at the front all have my name on them and if I find an independent bookstore in a place I'm visiting I never get out for under $100.) I also look for recommendations for sites like Powell's and read the New York Times Book Review, buying maybe 10-12 books based on NYT reviews and those from other publications.

1 - recs from friends (RL or goodreads)
2 - authors whose books I've consistently liked
3 - summary

2 and 3 are interchangeable; 2 is more of a guide when I'm looking for books, and 3 tends to be a little more valuable when I'm debating whether or not to purchase a particular book.

Also, sometimes if I'm waffling I'll go read customer reviews (goodreads, amazon, bn primarily).

This one is simple but quite effective!

Beautiful!

I have discovered that book trailers are effective when they are well done. When they are created like a movie trailer, with actors that give dialogue - even if the actors are obscured in shadow to keep them unrecognizable - and good music. The picture slideshows that I've seen around the internet, sometimes with book quotes on them and sometimes voiced narration, aren't cutting it. They're not interesting to watch, they don't keep me on the edge of my seat, they don't make me want to know 'what happens next'.

Also, I think book trailers can be more effective when made for sequels.

I agree with Melody. As much as I like tigers, and though the song was nice and the pictures were well done, I found myself getting a little bored, just reading praise, looking at animals and not knowing the title of the book.

Book trailers set up like movie trailers, especially well done ones, would be pretty pricey, I would think, unless the author DIY'd the whole shebang. I think the picture slideshows are a nice, potentially cost saving alternative, however, I think they should be kept pretty short--even shorter than this one.

Book trailers, I fear, do not interest me in the slightest. I've watched one only once or twice, and the only really memorable one I've ever seen was the one they whipped up for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.

But I've never bought a book based on a trailer, and even a well-done trailer is not going to make me want to buy a book by an author I don't already know and trust. What sells me on picking up a new book is what has always done that: a look at the words and the story. Give me a well-done blurb, maybe a chapter excerpt, and that's really all I need.

I'm afraid I don't really "get" book trailers. However, I did download a sample chapter of "Stay" to my Kindle, based on the trailer. (I wouldn't have given the book a second look without the trailer.)

So, for me at least, one of them worked.

I have also wondered many times whether book trailers are here for good, or if they're just a trend. I tend to thnk it's the latter, as they have absolutely no effect on me, but I am aware that others respond to them.

This trailer for me was a dud. Not enough actual info as it went, the music was bleugh, and the photos ... not interesting, really. They're just photos. I expected stupendous photos to advertise a zoo book. Stun me. More animals than just the same 3 over and over. If it's a book about just those three, then THAT should have been made clear. As it was I got bored and looked away after a while. I don't know who these people are singing praises, so their praise isn't worth anything to me.

I don't think book trailers work in their current incarnation. At least, not for me!

I love a good trailer that is itself a work of art that complements the book. It should make a person say, "Oh my god. I NEED that book," or "I can't WAIT until that's available." Funny or clever ones are the best, but some books need a darker, edgier approach. As long as it is done well and doesn't look put together by some friend's cousin who knows a guy, I think book trailers can be a great asset, especially if they are posted on an author's page or even the agency or publisher websites.

When a person browses movies online, most theaters have links to watch the trailers. I think the publishing industry would greatly benefit from the same kind of promotion for the books they are most excited to offer.

As someone who graduated from Advertising and Marketing - I am extemely excited to see more and more well done book trailers.
I don't think this trend is going anywhere. It's an excellent way to advertise upcoming titles and I think we are going to see a lot more of them in the future.
I predict ten years from now, book stores will have TVs in them showcasing new and upcoming releases (like video stores do now).

Yes, I watch book trailers and it really helps. Some are not that good though.

Book trailers don't really work for me UNLESS they stand out. For example, Maggie Stiefvater's trailers for Shiver and also Linger are works of art in themselves. She hand cut hundreds of pieces of paper to create stop-motion book trailers. The concept was subtle (in other words, no straight-from-the-book quotes or photo montages banging you over the head) but she managed to capture the tone and essence of her book in under a minute. Another good example -- Steve Brezenoff's Absolute Value of -1, which uses quirky original drawings.
The thing these trailers have in common is an innovative approach. The authors thought out of the box using nothing more than their own creative mind, some paper, ink, background music and a little computer magic. The result? The audience gets a real taste of what to expect when they read the book, not another well-meaning attempt that just didn't go anywhere.

I don't watch book trailers unless they are recommended or come with a posted link to something I'm reading. I'm usually much more impressed by the ones that have actors--I forget the title, but the trailer for a historical novel on Cleopatra's daughter was impressive and emotionally engaging.

I don't think I've yet felt any inspiration to buy a book just from watching the trailer, but it's possible that cumulative exposure which includes print and other media could have an effect. Most advertising works that way.

Likewise, book trailers don't make me buy books either. They're good entertainment and good publicity. If I come across Zoo Story in the bookshop I might now remember it now (I enjoyed the trailer), but the trailer itself has no impact whatsoever on whether or not I decide to buy a book.

What really works for me is author presence and sample chapters. I come across the author somewhere on the internet (many times through blogs or interviews), decide I'd like to know more, pop across to their website, read some sample chapters and before I know it I'm over at Amazon ordering their book. Incidentally, if they have book trailers on that same site, I usually skip them (the trailers, I mean).

Fascinating post and comments. As an author, I don't look at booktrailers as entertainment for someone who has never heard of my book. Some of the good ones work that way, though. :-)

I think of a booktrailer as a digital business card. Mine are always short (less than 30-seconds). While they are up at youtube, they aren't really intended to win over a potential reader who accidentally discovers one of them on a random lurk.

Rather, the book trailers links are sent to people in the business I am otherwise interacting with so they have an idea of what I do as a writer. They also serve as a visual add-on when I am doing an on-line interview and are available to anyone doing an on-line review. In short, their main use is as an attachment to something else, and NOT a stand-alone selling tool.

You might also notice, as I have, that publishers are posting booktrailers at their websites for featured titles. Again, this is in conjunction with other information about the book and not intended as stand-alone entertainment. :-)

Most authors will be limited in funds in producing their 'vook'. Here is our effort for my new novel, Captain Cooked. But what is fun about the production of this, I turned to a young friend of the family who had created his own comedy website, all graphic work created off of his computer. At 14, Hunter is very talented. Of course, his father assisted, but only advisory. And cost? $100 and he gains credit for his future resume. Can be seen at You Tube, search "Captain Cooked" or here below. I am a big believer in the book video to sell, but the true issue you are out there trying to find eyes for your trailer as you are trying to find readers for your book. Where is your time best spent?
S.P. Grogan
www.CaptainCooked.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9g3GglE-Y

I hadn't heard of this book until you posted this trailer. Which was excellent. But I'm a sucker for animals, and also, the title is amazing. Life in the garden of captives? So hooked. Just bought it.

Don't watch them unless they happen to show up. Caught one for Tess Gerritson on TNT last night. Hadn't seen a book commmercial on tv for a very long time so I watched it and thought how it didn't seem as interesting as the cop show I was watching. Truth be told it seemed wanting in comparison. Perhaps that is the downside of placing book ads in shows that are more engaging than what the book ad is promoting?

I do recall many many moons ago a radio ad for Grisham's The Firm. He was an unknown at that time having written the modest seller, A Time To Kill. His publisher really got behind The Firm and this was one of the ways they did it. Until that day I hadn't ever heard any sort of electronic ads for a book. I still remember that because at the time it was so new and unique.

I think that when you already have a love of a series, they are a nice touch. The recently released Chronicles of Vladamir Todd was a great trailer but it gave nothing in the way of plot.
Richelle Mead's series (my absolute favourite) had such a poor trailer that if I hadn't read the books, I probably wouldn't have. That trailer is now deleted from my memory. (Sorry, Jim).
I think trailers are a waste of money. They are more likely to hurt your chances than enhance them.

I wrote a post on this topic a few months back and--my, my, but the response has been interesting. Enough so, that I now periodically post book trailers on my website for my readers to rate. The majority of what I've found? The responses fall somewhere between tolerant and outright hatred. The trailers which go over well all border on parody (Sense and Sea Monsters, Abe Lincoln--Vamp Hunter, Libba Bray's Going Bovine...). The serious ones must to be really well-done and simple (Cronin's The Passage or Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games). My personal thoughts? A book trailer is better left UNDONE if it can't be excellent. Otherwise, you get people like me who write posts just to complain about "the cheeze factor. It’s bad. And frankly, I, as a legitimate reader, am disturbed." http://mchristineweber.com/when-it-comes-to-book-trailers/

Great post. No answer for the conference thing. It's a tough situation and I can see both sides.

I'm an encourager, too, but recently started to reevaluate how enthusiastic I am. Some people aren't cut out to be writers, for a myriad of reasons. (I'll never be a statistician, not because I'm not a really swell gal, but because I don't have the talent or personality for it.)

I do think we can be realistic while still being upbeat.

I don't think that's fair at all. I understand people pay to attend conferences with the hope of landing an agent; however, they also pay to learn, which I feel is very important. Why else would they offer workshops, panels and master's courses?

I was told the same thing, and I've found a happy middle. By nature, I'm a nice person (or so I hope I am!). I'm always very inviting, happy and cheerful when I meet a writer at a conference. I always encourage writers, give advice and hope that they get what they're looking for in terms of learning. I don't request everything - I don't think it's fair to them to have an agent's request that isn't genuine. I also don't think it's fair to those whose material I AM interested in reading to be in a queue because of manuscripts I'm not interested in.

In the end, it's a business and a passion. Treat others with the respect you want and hopefully you'll receive the same. There's the occasional writer who just doesn't want to hear the truth, but by giving the truth, they'll learn that this subjective world of publishing probably isn't the business for them.

Great blog post - and good link :)

Kathleen

Great post, Jim!

First of all, in this business staying upbeat is the key to survival. There are too many other factors to roll over a writer and keep them down in the dumps.

But on the other hand, I think a reality check never hurts. That's where one's writing peers come in before they even reach the agent/editor stage. These are the valuable folks who tell a writer where they need improvement. I believe the craft can be learned. But I also believe there is another factor that should exist like talent. But, and there is a but. As a friend/critique partner I would never tell someone else they couldn't succeed in the business. First of all, my job is to offer feedback--on their current work. By offering that feedback I want them to improve and put out the best work possible so they can succeed.

And finally, well its rude to stomp on someone else's dreams. What goes around comes around. (For all I know they could be working on the next bestseller...)

This make me think of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance tryouts. For years many of these poor souls have been lied to by family, friends, and themselves that they have what it takes. They end up making fools of themselves. I for one would like to be told, "you sing so bad it hurts my eyeballs," or "perhaps you should only dance in the closet." Same with writing, if after years of trying I just don't got it, I want to know.

Upbeat can be good, but there's the danger of coddling, and when that happens, not only does it encourage those who are never going to reach the potential, but many of them think that they don't need to put forth the same amount of work and effort.

Determination is essential in this business, but not just to keep trying, but to keep improving. I'm just getting into the query phase, but I keep going over my writing to figure out how to improve it, my methods of writing, and everything else.

In teaching, I've seen a lot of students who will keep trying, but there are very few who will actually improve. they just put out the same mediocre effort expecting it to get better on its own, or for me to magically give them a better grade. It doesn't fly with me, and I know it won't fly with agents and editors.

So I'm all for a little reality check honesty in telling someone that they need to not just keep trying, but really improve his or her writing in order to make it.

I think it's a stretch to say people will stop going to conferences because they hear the hard truth (# of queries per day x 365, compared to # of new projects taken on each year). First, most of us our delusional and think we'll beat the odds. Second, as Kathleen noted, a lot of people go to conferences simply to learn and to improve their writing (And to meet other delusional . . . (ahem) writers).

Put me in the delusional category. I misspelled "are". HA!

I don't think anyone should be discouraged, but it would help if agents gave more constructive criticism. Many of my rejection letters sound so encouraging and nice and VAGUE and I wonder if everyone hears the exact same niceness that I did from a particular agent. I know it is impractical to give specific criticism in every rejection letter, but it would probably turn away the unliklies and help those who really have potential to take it to the next level.

As with any other issue, I think it's in the delivery. It's not an either/or thing to me. You can be real with people (and honest in your viewpoints), yet do so in a respectful and constructive way. It's the difference between constructive criticism and bashing. I don't pay good money to attend conferences because I want someone to blow smoke up my ass; I go to learn and meet other writers. :)

I think critique--especially negative critique--is the most fundamentally important thing for a writer to a) get and b) listen to. It's not a commentary on the end goal (whether someone "has what it takes" to get pubbed. Negative critique is a commentary on that moment in a work's life.

Taking criticism is a matter of focusing both on the short-term (this sucks and needs revision right-now-this-minute) AND on the long-term (it will get better if you take critique and might ultimately get pubbed).

Anyone that takes a short-term critique as a long-term condemnation is just not going to improve. They're not willing to put in the hours. They're willing to give up. Anyone that actually gives someone a long-term condemnation, ever, is just crappy. The conclusion might be extensive revision or even starting a new project, but it's never "you'll never get published."

Authors: Making sure that you've taken enough critique into account BEFORE going on query is so important. Once you get in front of an agent, the myriad demands on his/her time mean you've only got one shot. This critique/revise thing is your due diligence beforehand.

I guess I get the writers doubts, but it's my determination that keeps me going, along with ego. Not that I think I'm the best writer in the world, but because I know that if I work my butt off, I'll get better. And yeah, the numbers aren't in my favor, but hey, people win the lottery every day. At least with writing, it's not just about luck, but my effort which will eventually pay off.

I think that's the biggest line seperating writers- those who work for it, and those who want to hear it will come to them for free.

So yeah, bee cheerful, but be truthful too, IMO.

I agree with a lot of the comments on here. Writing and publishing is a subjective business and one must remain slightly 'thick-skinned' in order to move past negative comments, let alone succeed. In a perfect world, there would be a happy balance between constructive criticism and glorified acceptance. In our world, one must slough through the sea of detrimental road blocks and hope, somewhere along the way, the road is paved smooth.

Hokey analogy? Sure. But I think literary agents and publishers alike know what they want and know it when they see it. It's a hard blow to get rejected, but I can only assume the acceptance blows it out of the water.

As authors, we need to be savvy and intelligent when it comes to querying and pitching our masterpieces. If I'm not prepared when I have an agent's attention, well there's no one to blame for their criticism but myself. So, deal, move on, get better, smarten the hell up and try again. And never hold the agent/publisher/editor at fault for recognizing my mistakes.

I don't think the conference organizer should have told you that, no matter what their motives. It seems like they wanted you to be dishonest. However, I think we have a duty to be encouraging to other writers new or seasoned, but equally we have a duty to be honest.

I wouldn't want to be a "dream killer" however, I would be completely honest with a touch of kindness and encouragement. It can be done. I know because I did it. No, not as an agent but as a middle school language arts teacher. Adolescents are not that different from your average struggling writer. Unsure of themselves. Cranky at times. In need of authentic encouragement and honest guidance.

It's a lot easier to just go for the negative and reason it out with, "I was just being honest." It takes some serious thought and human decency to package that honesty with just the right amount of reality AND kindness. But I'll say it again, it can be done.

Yes, a thick skin is a must for the aspiring writer, especially when we encounter those who feel the need to rip and shred, but the only way to become a better writer is to listen to the advice of the professionals and fellow writers - no matter how snarky or rude. Remember, it is about the writing and not the person who wrote it. It took me a little time to realize that.

That's silly. If you truly believe someone has absolutely zero talent, by all means stress to them how difficult the business is and their realistic chances (it's not saying, "you suck," it's saying, "make sure you really want this".) This will accomplish one of two things:
1 - They will eat a LOT of chocolate, and then realize that maybe writing isn't for them and move on to computer programing.
OR
2 - They'll say, "Screw that" and work their little bums off until their manuscript is the best it can possibly be because they are aware of how competitive it needs to be and how competitive the market really is.

Don't let conference runners get you down!

Writers conferences are expensive enough! Don’t go discouraging the wannabes, or the cost will just get higher for the rest of us.

I actually posted about this over the weekend. Publication is all good and well, but it shouldn’t be THE reason we write. Writing is its own reward. Publication, success, fame, fortune; those are all nice after the fact. Still, it would be nice to have one’s own park in Universal Studios based on one’s books:)

You guys are brutal? My experience with DGLM was painful for its lack of brutality.

Your agency recently read my full manuscript multiple times. Upon rejecting it, I was told that I'm a talented writer and that my book was very, very entertaining. When I followed up by asking for specific and constructive criticism, I was told that the agency policy is to not criticize because "fiction is so subjective."

I understand that you have to spend your time with your clients, but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some form of critique. You've read the manuscript- you've already formed your critique, why not pass that critique along so it becomes useful?

Gil:

It is unreasonable to ask for a critique. Seriously unreasonable.

(And I'm in no way affiliated with DGLM, not even as a client.)

Gil:

It is unreasonable to ask for a critique. Very unreasonable. (I am not affiliated with DGLM, nor am I their client.)

Heh - I run across this all the time in LA. Here's my two (or four) cents:
I think it's not that you need to be 'upbeat' in order to not scare away potential 'whoevers'- it's about not being whiny or angry at 'x'. (Hey, triple negative!) I know in my (dayjob) business we all find it difficult in various ways and to be with someone who automatically complains about everything just makes your job harder. It's easy to complain and whine. It takes a little more effort to comment in your own voice and take ownership of your words/thoughts, which I think is part of the business side of things for a writer. Think it's best to be honest AND your 'better-but-still-true' self (as in civil, courteous etc). After all, people like your voice in your books. If you're all sweetness and light when your books aren't there's going to be a disconnect. People often mistake sharing their own angst/sore spots with sharing the truth. It's not the same thing. When you focus on presenting the truth/facts, what the listener does with it becomes their responsibility. People who don't already know it's tough to write (esp write pro) aren't paying attention and there are plenty of places that will hand hold people if that's what they want/need. Most going to conferences want to know what's really going on so they can learn (I think someone above said this too). It's not what you say, it's how you say it and that can make all the difference - to yourself too. You can't be responsible for whether people get discouraged but you can give people the option to decide for themselves. It's a hard world and a hard business so it helps if we all do our part to make our own corner a little brighter, but I don't think wrapping people in bubble-wrap is very helpful. They need to be able to think/decide for themselves. If that includes telling them they might want to have a hardhat handy, so be it. Then they have the choice of whether or not to use it. :)

In other words I agree with many of the comments above. :D

A few years ago, I met with an agent at a conference in San Diego. He will remain nameless. He sat down, stated he hadn't had time to read the sample pages I was asked to submit weeks ahead of time, dismissed the fact that I had written 11 nonfiction books because they were small publishing houses. I left feeling totally defeated. Every time I see this guys name anywhere, my teeth clench. Had he read what I submitted and told me it was garbage, I'd be happier. At least, he would have acknowledged my effort.

Say what? *jaw drops to floor* Anyone who knows your reputation, (a conference rep. should have)knows how professional you are. Your rejection of my novel last year was so kind I wanted to be your new BFF. No really, all kidding aside (and stalking), it forced me to take another look at my writing. I realized I needed more education and my novel needed a ton of work. So, I stopped querying it and did what I had to do to make it the best that I could present. Don't squash anyone's dream but do be completely honest.It's a fine art--smiling while you crush someone's hope--better left to politicians.

As far as whether you look like a schmuck, couldn't tell you, haven't met you in person. If you look like Charles Manson or the Unabomber then I can see how the conference rep. might be concerned.

In a sea of not so stellar people, you float to the top. So that being said, I hope you keep rejecting with a kind hand.

Brutality is unnecessary. If someone has hopes that you're 100% will never be met, then what difference does it make if you dash their dreams now, or their dreams are dashed later?

That they try, that they love the art enough to try, is enough. The pursuit of any art is worth the self-growth, self-expression, greater understanding of the art, the enthusiasm they share with others, and the support they give to the writing world (both emotional and financial), whether they meet "success" or not.

We are all on our own journey, the reasons and motivations of which we can hardly fathom ourselves.

Criticism with a kind hand is always possible. Yes, some people just don't hear you unless you're brutal, but my experience as a piano teacher for fifteen years is that even if you're brutal, the ones who won't hear it when you're nice will discount what you say with brutality anyway. So why not be nice?

You can be encouraging while at the same time communicating what needs to be worked on. It's a balance between discouraging and giving false hope.

I think you need to be honest with your opinions. If you feel a writer is hopeless, I wouldn't couch it in exactly those terms but certainly you would be being helpful by saying the writer needs much work to master their craft. Writing, etc. is such a subjective thing. Who is to say the 'hopeless' writer today can't work hard, hone their skills, improve and if they have the fire in their belly to keep going one day write a marketable book? But there is, in my sense of it, a responsibility to give your best take on a writer's work...but don't be brutal about it if it is 'hopeless' in your mind. Of what benefit is it to you to be brutal? And why would anyone want to trample on someone's dream? It's how you say it that counts. I'm not saying to offer false hope. Be true to what you think...but use a velvet glove.

"No one pays to hear they won't make it." Indeed! Thus all of the writing advice books that claim anyone can be a writer by learning the following X number of simple rules. Cha-ching!

But if literary professionals lose focus on selling good writing to readers (which requires encouraging bad writers to leave the playing field) and instead shift to selling false hope to writers... well, are they really "literary" professionals any more?

I live by this rule:
1. Is it kind?
2. Is it honest?
3. Is it necessary?

Pick at least two.

Tricia said exactly what I thought of when I read your post - this is how people get American Idol Syndrome. Everyone needs to know the facts - period. Good decisions are made based on knowing as much as you can about a topic.

So some of us want you to be Paula, while others prefer you to be Simon. I'd say you'd be safer being Randy, Dawg.

This is about scriptwriting but is salient:

http://phillbarron.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/its-not-fair/

Team Billy? Really? Me = Team Alex!!!

Anywaaaaay...I'd love to see you do a breakdown of what works in a query using a real query (you did this for Carrie Ryan's query in GLA...so maybe more examples of this sort of thing?) I'm having a brain block today, too. Oh Monday.

As Cambria said, what grabbed you about a query, but also stats.

How much is in your inbox, what date you're currently responding to, how many rejects vs partials vs full vs "yes!".

What you're looking for (you've been inundated with paranormal and now you're looking for baseball romances, or whatever).

Yes, even if you've posted it before, it can change from day to day and I never get tired of reading it :)

This is exactly why I don't blog. And I mean that in a nice way.

It's hard enough for the people who really enjoy social media to get attention already. Those who blog because "you have to do it these days" are so much better off doing something else, like working on the next book.

That said, I don't see a single thing wrong with asking readers to suggest topics. That's not lame, it's simply opening a dialogue--which the best blogs do anyway.

:-)

Best of luck!

Lucy

Um - Team Kent!!

I get Blogger's Block all the time (and have yet to find a medication that helps). Blogging everyday has its disadvantages, not to mention a blow to the wallet with all the 'medication' I've been trying :)

As Suzi said, we never get tired of reading about the trends, or the stats. And new readers, such as myself, look forward to agents who will offer query gems even when they think they've done them to death. I'm fascinated by 'voice' so anything on that subject would be perfect (so subjective, but so very important for writing, querying, agenting, publishing).

Thanks. Oh, I find turning it over to the readers perfectly acceptable.

I always seem to have something to say which is probably why I haven't struggled with writer's block--yet. I also haven't been blogging or writing as long as most, so it could happen. If you're ever stuck for ideas, I love it when you give book recommendations. I just bought The Passage this weekend and can't wait to start it!

What a timely post! I had blogger's block today as well.

Um, I wouldn't mind at all if you blogged about So You Think You Can Dance. :o) (Team Kent!) Maybe you could tie the show into writing somehow... Haha.

Anyway, I'd be interested to learn more about how your clients have marketed their books. People often talk about the importance of social networking, but what are some other ways that authors can get their names out there?

More than once I will hit that proverbial block, which is why I try to keep a backlog of prescheduled posts. Lately, though,I've been running that schedule pretty tightly, and if the muse didn't arrive in time, my readers would end up with reruns. Somehow, in the end something always shows up. Of course I only post once a week. I'll say this though. I look at the events in my life and in the world through a different filter now. Everything is evaluated as a potential topic for a post. For example, the novel I am reading now I simultaneously read for pleasure and also to mine it for material for another blog post. A cousin will call me and the style of our conversation will become a post in which I explore the use of multiple languages ("Speaking Bilingual" scheduled for this Friday). Etc etc So far this is enjoyable. I hope it stays that way.

I don't update my blog often enough to get blogger's block. Wait, that sounds bad...I've only recently started using my blog and my posts still aren't that frequent. Blogging is a habit I'm building, but I've started making a list of topics I'd like to talk about down the road. That way, if I start feeling like I should post, I have several ideas ready to address. I think it will be more difficult to avoid blogger's block when/if I ever start blogging more regularly (a couple times a week or more).

For writer's block...I usually combat it by revising, or by taking a book or movie I didn't like the ending to and imagining how I would have wanted things to turn out. My brain then usually warps the idea so much that the original inspiration isn't all that obvious.

This happens to me often! Sometimes I'll just start writing until a topic begins to form. Or, I might take a thread that someone else has blogged about and twist it a little bit. I keep a file with notes and articles that might inspire an idea.

By the way, thanks for the shout out to our What Women Write blog--and for blogging there!

First of all, I think blogreaders love it when their opinion is asked!

My blogger's block solution? Whenever a good post topic comes to mind, coinciding with some free time (ha!), I write it and save it in my drafts folder (since I have, of course, already posted that day). Then I save it for, well, a rainy day pouring down blank screens with nothing to say.

I usually go to the movies to fight off writer's block. Or read blogs that have blogger's blog.:)

Oppsss... typo - * blogger's block.

I would like for you and your colleagues to write about what happens when you can't sell a book. What suggestions do you offer to writers when the work you've been trying to sell won't sell? And of the projects you take on, how many don't sell?

What Melody said.

Books that don't sell for reasons no one could anticipate -- that would be a great topic. So would serendipitous or speedy sales (say you happened to know someone who knew someone who was interested in a particular subject and a proposal just popped into your in-box). The fastest sale ever made vs the slowest one would interest me, and so would interesting translation or ghost-writing stories.

Writers are lucky in this respect. We've got rewriting angst and rejection miseries to whine about. Too bad you can't turn to the slush pile for inspiration: oodles of material there, just going to waste.

When in doubt post a funny video about writing! I keep a list and jot down blog post ideas when I get them. My blog is about where writing meets life ... so there is a never ending supply of ideas!

For those looking for blogs on query letters, just go to the bottom of this page and click SLUSH WEEK. These guys have already given a massive amount of useful info there.

Subjects I would like: something defining literary and commercial fiction. Is there an overlap? Is literary fiction just intricate wordplay with little or no story? Is commercial fiction just genre pulp without true and worthy merit?

What are the biggest selling topics; now and an 18 month prediction?

What’s happening in percentage terms of hardback paperback sales?

Why do wanna-be authors get extra notice by agents if they are members of “we like to write societies” when all it really shows is an ability to pay annual subscriptions?

Well, that’s my 5 minutes worth. As for all the people with “Bolger’s block” having nothing to write about is much better than writing about nothing. So don’t worry it’s no more serious than an outgrowing toenail.

Another topic: What is great writing? In comments on rehash stories someone said (this is not verbatim) “so long as the author produces great writing it will win though.” But for me great writing is the author exposing his/her imagination and laying it on the page so the reader can pick it up. It doesn’t have to be full of $50 words when there are 2c that can do the job. Great writing for me is, the telling of a story. What is great writing?

A couple more topics. An agent’s view, on the importance of conflict in a manuscript.
An agents view, on changes of points of view in a manuscript.

I'd never heard of boycotting a certain publisher, so it's nothing I have experience with, but what does bother me is when someone, or a group, tries to censor books from others. For instance, how Harry Potter was targeted by groups wanting to ban it from school libraries. If they don't want their own children reading, that's their right, but don't try to ban stuff from other people's children. They do NOT have that right. (Sorry, got a little carried away there!)

"Boycott" might have worked in Ireland a hundred years ago but has neither purpose nor place these days. It doesn't work internationally, it won't work against publishers, and no decent person would participate.

This seems to say that when a publisher does something wrong we accept it and buy the book anyway to keep from hurting the author? It gives us no recourse to do anything about opinions we disagree with -- about things that many of us feel hurt all of society. Is there a better way to object in a society where money speaks louder than people?

I like this post. I agree that people lashing out and boycotting certain things can be ridiculous. Great to know that some people agree with the thought process I've had upon reading these 'boycott' requests.

This is why I was annoyed with many of the comments about LIAR. The author couldn't have known they would put a white girl on the cover when she signed the contract, and it's only because she was already established that they changed it. I was thankful most of the commenters backed off after learning how little control even well-known authors often have once they've signed the contract, but the few who went as far as to claim she had no ethical principles for, basically, not being psychic really infuriated me.

I do think ClothDragon has a point, though. I suppose one solution would be to write in after buying the book, threatening to boycott future books by that publisher unless it changes its ways. Such a threat would have to be followed through in great numbers to have any effect, though, and most publishers would probably view it as empty since it'd be hard to measure future loss of sales, especially if all authors under that publisher were boycotted. How would you compare expected sales to actual sales and trace the difference to the boycott, especially for debut authors? And it'd still be unfair to authors who were locked into multi-book deals or whose publishers had the right to look at their next book first. So ultimately, there probably isn't a solution that would punish the publishers but not harm authors who don't have the ability or opportunity to switch companies.

I can honestly say that I don't even know who the publisher is when I buy books. That might change if I found out that a publishing house was torturing bunnies or something, but otherwise, I buy books that I want to read. Period.

Nothing good ever comes of blaming the wrong person for something that someone else did.

It's really sad to see these authors getting caught in the middle.

With all the other pitfalls to avoid and stresses that writers have to cope with, it's sad to add to that list of worries the potential damage, intentional or otherwise, that their audience could do.

You asked for our thoughts: I have to tell you I'm shaking my head. One star reviews of a book you haven't read because you can't get it on your Kindle right this instant? Seriously? Until this moment I never imagined anyone would do such a thing.

It's something you never think about when you're up at 4am revising your manuscript(again) with dreams of sharing it with the world and hopes that people will embrace it.

At least I didn't really think of it before today. It's frightening.

Thank you for the thought provoking post.

Usually when I write a review on my blog, it's because I love the book and want other people to know just how good it is. Why waste time telling people how awful something is when you could be telling them how great something else is?

Only once did I compare two books dealing with the same subject and why I liked one, but didn't like the other. Perhaps I should have just stuck with the positive. Thanks for reminding me how powerful the written word is even when commenting on a book.

On the upside of the whole Bloomsbury transgression, I ended up hearing about Magic Under Glass quite a bit. After reading the rave reviews from fellow Verla Kay memebers as well as Goodreads, I purchased the book. It was fantastic and I wonder if I would have been drawn to it without the added controversy.

Well, I'm a huge fan of my own books, of course...

But seriously. Jeanette Clinkunbroomer was the first runner-up in Amazon's inaugural contest a few years ago. She put her book, Life Without Music, up on CreateSpace. It's one I keep coming back to. I remember putting down a book by a best-selling author and picking up this one -- and liking it SO much better. Such a better book (and not just because it's about rock and roll).

Grr...had a long reply, but my internet cut out and I lost it.

I'm thinking of going the self-publishing route and the more I read about it, the more encouraged I am. As part of my research into it, I bought what I'm pretty sure, are three self-pubbed books on Kindle. All were $0.99, but the price was only part of the factor for buying them. I didn't want free, I wanted the author to get something for their hard work, even if it's only a few cents, and I would have spent more, but these three were books that I would have bought if I were browsing at Borders. Or, at least considered them. I might not have bought all three if the price was $6.99/apiece.

I've only read one so far and only 3/4 of it due to time constraints, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's called Never Love a Stranger, by Ellen Fisher (I don't know her, so I'm not trying to plug a fried or anything on your blog. :-)) It's a time travel romance with a nice twist that I've not seen in that genre before. The man comes from 300 years in the future.

The opening paragraphs were a bit clumsy, and I have to admit, I was thinking, 'Oh no.' but I kept reading and it began to flow much better just past those first few paragraphs.

I liked the mc's voice, and that kept me reading too. The male character wasn't as good, but that was part of the story, as far as his voice. Plus, physically, his description of him isn't of *my* dream man, but I can certainly see that others would love him.

Overall, I thought it was about middle of the pack as far as romance books go, which isn't a bad thing for a self-pubbed book.

We design quite a number of books for self-publishers. Some of the books are better reads than others. But a book that I really must recommend for anyone dealing with a terrible illness: Sara Gorman's DESPITE LUPUS: How to Live Well With a Chronic Illness. It's really about much more than just Lupus.

My to-be-read pile is so large, I'm not sure I could pull out a particular title yet. (There are a lot I'm excited about reading, but I haven't got to them.)

I also think that, at the moment, a lot of authors are like me - putting up their "non-commercial" work first to get feel for how it all works. While I know there are some winners out there now, I'll bet there will soon be a lot more.

I have to say I don't think I've ever read a self published title. I'm sure that there are great ones out there but the traditional publishing model means that I know that it's been edited by professionals and chosen by a whole team of people as a good read. With self publishing you could buy something and you don't even know if it's a first draft or not until you've already paid for it.

Sure, there's my own Mansfield Park and Mummies, not to mention all my critically acclaimed small press (not self-published) other titles.

As a two-time Nebula Award Finalist it is extremely frustrating for me to have neither agency representation nor major publisher interest.

With regard to fiction only: There are two types of self-published books. There are the ones that are not as good as the author thinks they are and there are the ones that are quite brilliant, have unique and refreshing plots and venture to places that the too formula publications don't reach.

What both types will have in common is that they will have been refused by a great number of agents before the self-publishing route will have been considered by the author.

Why have the good ones been missed by agents? Because agents will not have liked the authors profile, or the synopsis will not have revealed in two pages just how cleaver the twists of the plot are. Even when a story is showing potential it will be refused because it doesn't fit the business modular requirements.

The publisher who is supporting the author mentioned will find there is a massive sleeping market for what he is offering and from where I'm looking from, she is taking a first bold step to setting right an industry in decline.

Please leave the name of the book and author on the next blog entry, as I would like to buy a good book. something I haven't done for a number of years as there hasn't been one available.

When I read recently that Roddy Doyle self-pub'd his first novel THE COMMITMENTS, I swallowed my tongue. Yeah, the good ones are out there... somewhere.

The only self-published stuff I've ever read is poetry by a few local authors. I've recently self-published my own book and have gotten amazing feedback, nothing bad from it yet. I get a little scared every time I see that an agent has posted something about self-publishing, it almost all seems to be so negative. I was suprised to see a little sunshine in this post. Thanks for not putting a dark cloud over my head!

Bill Deasey's Ransome Seaborn is an amazing book. Really, really, really good. I would love to see him go mainstream with his writing.

It was the PODdy Mouth Needle in the Haystack winner some years back. He's since self-published a second novel Traveling Clothes, which I haven't yet read. He's a musician by vocation.

I really wish I could help! I understand very well how maddening it is to recall a few elusive details of a plot or a bar of music, but no more, meaning that you can never remember the title and read the whole book or buy the CD and hear the whole song.

When I was a kid, I loved defacing the photographs in Good Housekeeping magazines with a magic marker. That book would have been right up my street.

Oh, I do wish I could help. I know exactly how this feels. I've never heard of or read this story, but I've done some Googling, and still, nothing. I hope someone can find the answer!

Yeah... I got nothing.

Wow, that sounds vaguely familiar, and it's right in my era. Hmm...now it's going to drive me nuts too!

Well, me and my husband (we're more curious than cats) googled it upside down. The closest we've got was this book - Mr Brown and his Magic Moustache, by Monica Tap, & Martha Jablonski-Jones. It has 39p, and was published in 1979.
Unfortunately there's no review of the book available anywhere, so we can't ensure that's the one. We weren't born in those years, so this is the closest we can get. Hope it helps!

Elda & Ricardo Veyller.

If no one come ups with an answer, go to http://www.chacha.com/

You can ask them just about anything and they'll research it until they find and answer for you. I'm not sure it's free anymore, but I've heard you can get the answer to just about any question, including if you should get married or have a child, who starred in you favorite childhood movie or what kind of underwear to buy. I'll bet they can handle a long lost favorite book so fully described.

Unfortunately, I don't know the book. Sounds like a fun one, though!

Did anyone else click over to the BoyKrazy video? Wow, walk down memory lane! Also, I totally didn't remember that Uma Thurman was in that band! (Seriously, one of the singers is a dead ringer. It's bizarre.)

I don't think this is it, but it brings to mind a children's series from Belgium written in French. The young girl's name is Martine. Her dog, Patapouf, and her cat, Moustache, are her loyal companions, as well as Jean, her older brother. One of the books is entitled 'La leçon de dessin" (The lesson in drawing). There are 59 titles that began in 1954, about one a year. A new one is scheduled for 2010. Hope that helps, but I can't guarantee it!

Reminds me of Harold and the Purple Crayon or something I saw on Sesame Street.

I'm sorry, I don't know it. But the theme and story sounds like a foreign book translated into English. Good Luck

if i go to an authors website i want to see a few things:

1. FAQ section
2. Bio
3. Bibliography- including the order if it's a series. There's a few series i read and it does my head in when i go to the authors site to find out the next book in a series and the order isn't clearly set out!

other than that i don't look at anything else, including book extracts, usually i'd only go to an author's website if i've already read one of their books and liked it.

I sort of think that the coolest author sites are like the specials features on dvds. I tend to be interested in the authors of the books I really, really like, so I tend to like author sites that tell me about the person as well as information about their books. I regularly read the Robin McKinley blog, both because I like her books and find her interesting. I bought a book from John Scalzi because I read part of the first chapter on his website and had to read the rest. Things like authors who do podcasts and blog and post interviews tend to make me frequent their sites because I'm interested. Right now the internet, blogs and twitter are where I get the bulk of my reading suggestions.

As a reader I like the bios. I like to know what led them to write the things they do. I also like to know if they have any projects in the works or exciting news about current books (signings, movies, etc.)

As a writer I like to learn a little about their writing process and their journey to publication.

I don't visit many author sites on a regular basis.

I agree with WriterGirl. If an author has a series it's important for him/her to have the order in which they should be read.

I like to see tour dates of where the author might be signing, or speaking. Even blog tour info is nice to add, or what website or newspaper/magazine the author might be interviewed at.

Bio and FAQ site as well as Contact Me info for devoted fans who want to write to the author.

Any links to a blog or other website the author recently contributes to. Links to a Twitter or Facebook (fan) page.

Perhaps a few personal pics where the author shows herself (or family, pets) off. A fan likes a brief glance into the world of the author whose books they buy.

Perhaps a page devoted to their fans who aspire to become a writer themselves, offering tips and maybe their own story of how they came find an agent and become published.

Ooh, bookmarking that for the day I (hope I) need an author website.

The most important things for me are are the bio section (which hopefully will have some random and interesting tidbits instead of just detailing birthplace, education, and where they live now), a bibliography, and some sort of FAQ or interactive section where authors answer questions about inspirations, etc. (This could be done on a blog as well, and if it is, I hope there is some sort of roster or tagging system so it's easy to find those posts.) I also like a "recent updates" section where they can list new stories, upcoming appearances, etc.

EDIT: My word verification was "imbibes", and I always feel a need to point it out when the verification forms an actual word.

Also book trailers are so sweet. Even if it's just a scan of book covers from their collection to some music that reflects the mood of the stories is cool. Teresa Medeiros has a trailer like that and it put a smile on my face.

I'm a sucker for biographies. It's nice to know where a person came from, or how that might have influenced their writing.

Also, excerpts from books are always good. I've purchased many a book based on excerpts I found on author websites.

I've noticed a lot of people have been posting playlists for their stories lately. As I do this myself, and am a notorious music whore, I enjoy seeing what others feel suit their books.

Also, I agree with WriterGirl - it's nice when an entire series is listed in publication order, so I don't miss anything.

As a reader, I like to read bios, faqs and author blogs. I don't often go look at much more than that. I also like when they have their books listed, then I can see what ones I've missed.

I've never seen playlists, but have one of my 'writing tunes' on my blog. That's cool. I'm not crazy about personal information such as what they cooked for dinner last night or how cute their dog is when he does this or that.

Information about writing and publishing, tips and stuff like that is always interesting to me too.

In my experience, a fancy site doesn't make or break how I feel about the author - except when it bogs me down.

A landing page that has too many bells and whistles turns me off. It slows the process of reaching the following chunks of info I'm in pursuit of:

Author Bio
FAQs
Overview of Stories
Blog Link
Excerpts

In particular, I like to know the author's story - where they grew up, how they found their calling, details of their first deal, etc.

- Julie Duck

I love when an author's website is unique, yet organized and professional. One example of this is Erynn Mangum's website, www.erynnmangum.com. I like the design of her website and how it expresses herself.

I think an author's website should be that way. I also like it when they have up video interviews, as well as FAQ, their contact information, their journey through publishing, advice, and summaries on their books.

Tessa

I agree with everything that's been posted so far, with the addition that I love seeing extra stuff, fun things like quizzes or games that relate to the author's books.

For instance, Stephenie Meyer's book playlists and extras are fun to look at; Gail Carriger has a really cool link to a place where you can dress up her main character; and Jacqueline Carey has an amazing gallery of fan tattoos, which relate to her books. I think stuff like that is so great, because it gives you more than you're looking for, and entertains you. It makes you keep going back to their website and read about their new projects, etc.

I think it's also a good idea for unpublished authors to have a website. It can make you look professional, and it certainly can't hurt when prospective agents/publishers see it. Also, through facebook etc., you can keep tabs on people who want to read your book (if it ever gets published), so that you can hit them all when your book makes it to the shelves. I even put a sample chapter up to keep people interested.

As an added bonus, it really makes your book feel real. When I finished my book, there was a horrible anticlimax. I think I was expecting champagne corks popping, and Mexican trumpets somewhere in the distance, not to be wandering around the house, kicking furniture. When I put the website up, it felt really good.

It can be done very cheaply too, my friend did mine for me, he said he would have charged about $400 for it to a regular customer. You can see it here as an example of a simple website:

www.davidgaughran.com

I think the number one thing I want to see from an author's website, and I really don't see it often enough, is a printable backlist, with series books in order. That way I can just print it out and take it to my library or bookstore.

I'm not big on long drawn out author bios, but I'd like to see a little something to give me a feel for the author. Blogs are always good, but I don't have enough time to wander author blogs like I'd like to.

Also, I love deleted scenes, snippets, excerpts, ect. Like Rachel Caine has a bunch of free short stories on her website and even lists where in the series the stories are set. Love it. I spent hours reading those stories. They keep me sane between her books.

Another important item on an author website is who to contact to request interviews. I have a part time book blog and it's time consuming to try to surf author websites to find out where to go to request an interview.

I think the thing to consider is the author wants it to look clean and professional and not amateurish. It's an online business card.

Thanks for the comments, folks. They are really interesting and very helpful. Keep up the good work!

Apparently we all have comment block.

How timely. :) I have a question about publishing and blogs that came up over the weekend.

If I post a short story or poem onto my blog, is it considered "published?"

The reason I ask is I have been entering different literary magazine contests and oftentimes, one of the stipulations is that the submission is unpublished. I am assuming that this means the submission shouldn't have been published in another literary magazine or similar. I am just unsure if this "unpublished" rule encompasses the internet as well.

Thanks for any insight!

PS: I haven't been posting them on my blog...just in case!

LOL! I just started my own blog, and while I am off to a very enthusiastic start, I worry about what happens when I find myself staring at that blank page w/nothing to say.

I'll pose a question for you. Since your job revolves around other people's writing, how much of it do you actually do for yourself, besides the obligatory blog posts?

Oooh, excellent, I love asking questions! I have two actually, because I'm greedy like that. One is yours, though. :)

1. What WAS the best pitch you ever heard?
and
2. Right now, what would your wish list for new submissions be? I know you've got 'horror' above in the list, but I was just wondering about other passions, interests, etc. So if you could receive your ideal genres/settings/themes/topics in queries this very instant, what would they be?

I ask because, although I've heard agents don't like to limit themselves to a 'wish list' just in case they miss something else that hooks them, I still love knowing what an agent might be really keen on RIGHT NOW...

Coming up with suitable blog fodder on a regular basis is like always having to think of what to cook for dinner.

Okay, here's my throw-away question: Are there any books you'd be embarrassed to be caught reading and if so, why?

Alrighty, so: Jen, posting things on your blog doesn't really constitute "publishing" them at this point. If you sell or contract pieces to another blog, they may have some ownership, but if it's on a personal blog and can be removed, that shouldn't interfere.

Elizabeth...me? Write? No, I don't do that. :) I think our office is a bit of an anomaly, actually, in that we're a whole bunch of folks in publishing who are almost entirely without our own writerly aspirations. I'll just keep reading, thank you very much.

And the best pitch I ever heard...oh, Sangu, you totally turned that back around on me. Without going into much detail because I actually didn't sign the project, I heard an incredible pitch about a memoir from someone who spent the 70s deeply entangled with the mob in Vegas. He was super charismatic, had incredible stories, and totally left the table with me sitting there wanting more. Sadly, I didn't fall in love with the material itself when I got it.

What do I want to see besides some great upmarket horror? Real stories for the YA market--I love the paranormal so much, but sometimes I do want to see a teenager who is, y'know...human. I always say I want great ghost stories, and that remains true. I'd love to find a good epic drama like Leila Meacham's Roses. And I'm always on the lookout for anything that makes me laugh.

Fun question, Mary! There is little that I'm embarassed to be seen reading. I don't really do shame. So I've read category romance novels and kids books and all sorts of stuff in public. I will say that while I represent some erotica, I probably wouldn't read it in public. But I always admire the people who do and who totally don't care about being spotted!

Question: I have a friend who is changing genres to write in one that is hot. I'm thinking this is a bad idea because that genre may not be hot for long, and because if that genre had been her passion she would have been writing in it all along. Still, I understand why she is doing this. It is a business decision.

Other than the standard, "Do your best, follow all the instructions and hopefully the stars will align properly so you can one day be published--maybe, possibly, but seriously, don't hold your breath," is there something we can do business-wise in terms of genres?

I suspect that literary fiction may be down but not out.

--Felicity

Thanks for the quick and helpful response Jim! :)

Forget all the writing stuff. I'm dying to know the preferred footwear designer. :)

Here's a question for you:
What turns you off when reading a submission? If the first page doesn't grab you do you keep reading or stop at that?
Thanks!

Oo! I know, I know! Do any of your YA authors Skype classroom visits, and is there a charge?

Thanks for opening up a line of questioning! I love this kind of access :)

My question: Is it ever appropriate in a query to mention a second project? I have a memoir, and I'm also working on a narrative nonfiction project--it's unique, marketable, and I had received a significant travel grant for research. Would an agent like to know that a prospective client is forward-thinking and might be more than a "one-hit wonder"? Do two-book deals in nonfiction for a unknown author even occur?

Felicity, I love your question. People often try to switch genres to capitalize on the success of other books, and it can be such a huge, depressing waste of time. The thing is, what's hot right now might not be hot in two years. And if you're writing in a genre you don't love, you might not be able to capture what's so great about it. If you're going to try to do this, then it's best to look at something like Publishers Marketplace to see what's selling now rather than at the bestseller lists. It's a better way to look at where the market is going to be when your book is published than what's working now.

Kim, I wish I could say that I read more than a page if something isn't grabbing me, but it wouldn't be true. Lots of things turn me off: awkward phrasing, poor grammar, bad spelling, etc. But the one thing I'm looking for always is just a reason to turn the page. If I'm not compelled to keep going, I'll probably just stop.

Funny, Jenn. And no competition: Cole Haan.

And Clixx, I'm sure some of my YA authors would be happy to Skype into a classroom. And I'm sure they'd be happy to charge. :) No seriously, though, for this type of thing it's best to go directly to publishers and through the publicity department, but if you have specific requests, email me, and I'll pass along (just this once!). :)

Rachel, I'd say that with nonfiction, it's best to query one project at a time. We assume that most writers don't want to only publish one book, but when considering a memoir, it might be more jarring than anything else to also start thinking about another project. Once someone wants to work with you on the memoir, then it's a great time to bring it up.

Ok, so let's talk Stephen King then...what book do you wish would be turned into a movie? OR what book do you wish the movie industry had just left alone? (I totally wished they had left IT alone...creepy clown guy? Yeah, I didn't need to see that horror come to life. ;)).

Okay, here are two random questions for you:

Which 20th century writer (of any genre) do you admire the most and why?

And which American president (if any) do you admire the most and why?

Hilariously (to me), I was thinking of asking you to write a guest blog, but I couldn't think of a topic for you!

Oh, Cambria, I loved the It miniseries! I also think The Shining and Misery were outstanding.
For the most part, King's books have been so well covered by the film industry that I don't know that there's one I'm waiting to be tackled that hasn't already. But I do wish that The Tommyknockers hadn't happened. And Needful Things should have been a better movie.

Anonymous, picking a most admired writer is insanely hard. I'll go with the first person to come to mind, and that's Toni Morrison. I just don't think there's anyone else who could craft the sentences she does. But that she's an incredible writer isn't enough on its own: she is also a remarkable storyteller and plotter. Even in her lesser efforts (I'm thinking of Love in particular), her writing moves like magic.

I'm probably too apolitical to have a most admired American president. I was thinking FDR, but there was that pesky internment issue. Washington and Lincoln are too obvious. I'm wary of the assassinated ones because their reputations are probably glorified because they didn't live through their terms... I'll just go with Millard Fillmore for having the most awesome name.

Um, why won't you consider middle grade? (You did say ask you anything...)

Hi, Jim! (Just remember you asked for it.) So... if you won a round-trip ticket on a time-travel machine, where would you go? (Travel stipulations: You go as you are now, can take nothing with you and bring nothing back but memories. You will arrive in period clothing and be well versed in the native tongue.) Go!

Nina, enjoying The Marriage Test

I can identify--I'm planning to actually start using my blog for more than commenting this week, and I'm terrified I'll run into blogger's block for stretches of time. Sometimes it feels like there's not much more to say than, "Plugging away at the latest WIP. It's going well/poorly."!

You mentioned loving ghost stories. Do you stick mostly to the traditional western fare--haunted houses, dark and stormy nights, etc.--or are you interested in ghost stories around the world? I've been getting more fascinated over the past few years with foreign haunting legends, especially out of Malaysia and Japan. What are your favorite sorts of ghosts?

This is a lame one but I'll ask anyway: Do you have any query pet peeves/tips for newbies out there? Not that I'm calling myself a newbie or anything...:)

Hum, since you've asked, I have a question that bothers me for long: "How much are agents (you, in particular) willing to work with an writer that loves to be switching genres?"
Imagine she starts with historical romance, and then writes a sci-fi series, and has lots of different (and hopefully good) ideas?

Thank you very much.

Thanks for answering my questions, Jim! The mob pitch sounds like it would have been amazing, though obviously the first thought in my head is 'oooh, is it like The Godfather? Are gangsters that good-looking in real life?'

How effective is scotch tape as an alternative to Botox?

(I kid. But good times!)

Real question: what was the last paranormal YA novel by a non-agency client you read and adored?

And thanks for doing this. These super-interactive posts are awesome.

Yat-Yee, it isn't that I won't consider middle grade at all--it's just a genre that I don't believe I'm well versed in enough to work in confidently as of now. But believe me, I'm reading lots of it, and I do hope to work on it in the future.

Nina, I almost hate to admit that I'm such a local boy at heart that I'd probably stick it out in NY and go back to the late 60s/early 70s. Warhol's Factory, Max's Kansas City, Studio 54...it all sounds so exciting. And I do love a good disco song. For a slightly more adventurous answer, I'd go back to the World's Fair in London in the 1850s to see the Crystal Palace.

Kristin, I'm down for any ghost story that scares me (which is just about ANY ghost story). Whether it's The Haunting or Ringu, I'm in. I do prefer sentient ghosts to the more atmospheric poltergeist-y ones.

Kristi, honestly, my biggest pet peeves are errors made out of laziness. I got a query today from someone who compared their writing to "Mary Clark Higgins." I mean...come on! That's the stuff that makes me cringe and move to reject out of hand. Just get past those errors, and we can actually judge based on content! I also personally hate any letter addressing me as James.

Anonymous, I'm willing to work quite hard with someone who wants to switch genres....if I think they're making the right decision and really believe in them as a writer. I'm supportive of people making smart decisions and branching out but not writers who just can't focus. There's a difference!

And M, as I've mentioned to you before but will share with our blog readers, scotch tape is a TOTALLY ineffective alternative to Botox, and it will only ruin a perfectly nice Thanksgiving dinner. :) Thanks for asking, Last paranormal YA I read and ADORED by a non-client? Catching Fire. It takes a lot for me to get to adoration. Last YA paranormal I read and really, really liked? Incarceron. Enough to order the sequel from the UK rather than wait for American publication.

Thanks, Jim, for answering my question. Interestingly enough, I used the word "adored" to describe a book today: Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan. As for the Hunger Games trio: already pre-ordered #3.

Thanks so much, Jim! I am totally with you on the Catching Fire love. I liked it even better than The Hunger Games.

Haven't read Incarceron yet but the premise is fantastic.

Oh, I love Ringu! I even liked the American remake. I liked Ju-On even more. Japan's got such a rich and diverse repertoire of ghosts. If you haven't seen The Great Yokai War, I'd recommend it just for the glimpses of all the crazy ghosts and monsters in their mythology. The Haunting is a classic, too. I'll admit to liking ghosts in movies more than in books because it's a lot harder to scare me in text. I should probably read more horror anyway, though.

Millard Fillmore? An "interesting" choice! Here's one more:

Have you ever had an auction backfire? Or, put differently, are there certain situations in which you might avoid an auction even though more than one publisher has expressed interest in making an offer?

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions today -- it's much appreciated. :)

Also, for those who like Japanese horror, A Tale of Two Sisters kept me up for several nights -- and horror movies don't usually scare me!

Jim, this isn't a question, but I did want to let you know that I was one of the ones you recommended a read to, and I finished it. Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, by ZZ Packer.

I liked it. The first story may have been my favorite, but all of them were enjoyable. It's probably not one I would have picked up and bought in the bookstore, and if I'd happened upon it at the library, I may or may not have checked out. Maybe, and if I had, I probably would have finished without the responsibility of the recommendation, though possibly not. The first story, Brownies, definitely hooked me, though the subsequent ones not quite as much. So in this book, at least for me, the order of the stories was very good. Packer writes really well, some great prose, and I enjoyed it. So chalk this one up to a ding! ding! ding!

And thanks.

Jim said... "I'm such a local boy at heart that I'd probably stick it out in NY" Don't blame you there, Jim. I loved the show New Amsterdam, especially the intro, watching the great city grow and change. Shame the show's writers didn't better manage the main character’s primary conflict. So much more could have been done with concept. (Or maybe it would have made a better book series.)

"For a slightly more adventurous answer, I'd go back to the World's Fair in London in the 1850s to see the Crystal Palace." See you there! (in 1851 to be exact) ;-)

I think it was a great exercise and I can certainly say I enjoyed watching the comments roll in! Thank you for my recommendation, I've promised myself I'll buy it once I finish writing a) a first draft of my new novel and b) my dissertation for university. A treat for all my hard work, so to speak. Not long to go now...

I thought something really cool happened as the result of your post and I think you've hit it on the head: it has to do with booklovers, who engage in their (our) pursuits privately, for the most part, entering a community. I hope you'll keep updating us on the book recs and peoples' responses.

A neighbor loaned my Prague but I was--okay this is a lame excuse--but the print was so small on so hard on my multi-troubled eyes that I didn't continue. Maybe I'll get a copy with larger print.

Thanks again for doing this -- and for quoting me in your post! I haven't read Soulless yet but heard Kristin (Nelson) read Gail's opening at a first pages workshop and it's definitely on my TBR list. :)

Well, you recommended Drinking Coffee Elsewhere to me, a book of short stories by ZZ Packer, and I started last night and am a story and a half in so far. The first one was quite good--plus it used my daughter's (fairly unusual) name, so that was fun. I will definitely update you when I am done to let you know my thoughts.

By the way, did you ever read When We Were Romans? A good read, a story that evolves (I won't say how) without the reader seeing it coming. Really authentic voice, too.

Thanks for the mention Jim! I'll try Prague and let you know. I cheated and looked at the opening on BN.com --interesting!

I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth (and the sequel), but I thought that The Maze Runner didn't live up to the hype that I had been hearing about it online. When someone compares your book to the movie Cube -- you have ton to live up to and Maze Runner didn't deliver the level of intensity you find in Cube.

I will admit that I enjoyed The Hunger Games, but it does irk me that it is a dumbed down (Americanized?) version of Battle Royale.

This was a great exercise.

I am behind on my blog reading so I missed your first post, but I wanted to chime in to say, I loved SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO ME (or whatever it's called). The librarian gave it to me last week and I blazed through it, but I'm still thinking about it too.

Awesome observations. Thanks for the recap and for doing this in the first place. It's amazing to be able to chat about books with someone in the industry AND find out your tastes. I'm sure that's valuable to a lot of people wanting to query you. What a unique opportunity.
I just got a notice that the book you recommended, Purple Hibiscus, is in from the library. I will pick it up tomorrow. I love talking books so I'll certainly be in touch with my thoughts. :-)

Well, I haven't read the one you recced to me (our library doesn't have it! gah!) although I did mark it over on Goodreads (do you keep track of your books there too?) and I also checked out a couple of books that you recced to others who listed books I also liked (Perfect Chemistry and The Marriage Test, IIRC).

This is similar to the way I rec books to my students; I ask them to name a movie or TV show that they like & tell me what they like about it. Then I (try to) choose a book that has those elements in it.

So why do agents even bother with these novices and ignore the mss. they requested? That's what assistants are for! Why do agents continue to let requested mss. pile up, knowing they're circulating with other competitors? I still don't get it...

I think there are many out there who can relate to your feelings on this issue and have sighed that same exact sigh. So many professions have to deal with similar issues.

I was a classroom teacher for ten years. You think writers are bad when their baby (manuscript) gets feedback? I could fill your comment section with stories of parents' reactions to feedback for their real babies!

Suffice it to say, there were several times I wish I could have declined to represent their little cherubs and been done with it! ;)

Vent away! We all deserve some venting time now and then. And if that doesn't do it, take chocolate in liberal doses!

I am sorry the author you dealt with was inconsiderate and so unwilling to work with you. I have noticed a disconnect between the way some writers perceive quires and agents perceive the same. Many agents appear to see the query as their window into the book as well as a taste of the author’s voice. Many writers appear to see the query as apart from the book; it’s the flaming hoop they have to leap through before their writing can speak for itself.

When I read agent blogs, I find many have an overemphasis on the query letter. It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing the query as the writer’s GRE when presented with an agent’s twelve pages of query minutia.

The writer you dealt with might be of that mindset. If their query was good enough for a number of other agents (though it’s possible the writer made those agents up), he or she may find it hard to understand why it wasn’t good enough for you.

Re: the various comments to this blog posting,

I think a number of you are being too harsh. Yes, the writer made a mistake. This does not make them a ‘noob’ or a bad person. It means they made a mistake.

Who of us hasn't misread another online?, or had a bad day?, or managed to aggravate another?

I have to admit that I hate stories like this. The snippiness and the attitude make agents that much less likely to respond the next time. And there are a lot of writers who would love to know that their query isn't working for whatever reason.

*headdesk*

Sorry you had to deal with that.

Hi Jessica,

I'm a children's author who's been writing for over a decade, and I have to concur with you that if a writer at the earliest stages cannot take a bit of (constructive) criticism, he or she will not have what it takes to stay the course of a writing career. This business is not for the faint-hearted.

I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing! I hope other authors you hear from are kinder to you.

All the best,

Deborah Hodge
www.deborahhodge.com

Honestly, what is wrong with people? Do they act this unprofessionally in all aspects of their lives, or just in regard to their novels? AN AGENT asked a writer to SEND MORE, PLEASE. How could that possibly be a bad thing?

Maria said "I imagine that author will get educated soon enough with that attitude." Personally, I think that someone with an attitude like that may be impervious to education.

Wow. I would love it if you asked me for a blurb!

Hi, I'm a newbie to queries.
How do you define a blurb?
Like a quick synopsis?
I read so many different opinions on what makes a good query that my head spins.

There are a lot of us out here including yours truly who are professional, serious writers with careers in mind and would not, in the business communication of a query, respond in that manner.

We understand what it takes to build a business relationship, and we look forward to it. You do yourself a service with this blog by telling us this story. Those of us out here who know how to play the game will delight in querying you.

AMEN! I teach journalism, so I critique (and am critiqued, as I write press releases and other things on a regular basis) students a lot. I mean...I'm just trying to help! And I know those who critique me are just assisting my writing as well.

I'm confused too, what's a blurb?

I find it amazing that any writer would turn down a request for anything from an agent such as yourself. (Bookends has a very good rep.) Isn't that like cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Who knows where we'll be a few months/years from now? That person may still be searching and then wish they sent that blurb.
So, do you keep a black list a annoying people? I think if I were an agent I'd be tempted to do so.
Vent on...we're learning. And please know there are writers out there who think any comments from an agent are like words from God.

Wait, you asked for more information about hte book and they said that left a bad taste in their mouth about working with you?

Yes, I want my agents to sell my books with as LITTLE info as possible about what it is they are selling. That's the ONLY way to do business. Heaven forfend they get that kind of dangerous information in their deadly little hands.

lapetus and anonymous, a blurb is a short description of the work -- maybe a few sentences or a paragraph. think of the descriptions you see on the back cover of a published book. That sort of thing.

Sounds like this writer is an idiot. Plain and simple. Nuff said.

Well, please don't let the bad banana in the bunch ruin it for the rest of us! I so appreciate your blog and advice, and think its great you take the time to send feedback to writers. Keep doing what you're doing!

You have my sympathy. I know that there are days when your honest attempts to help and encourage are percieved as slaps in the face. Unfortunately, I don't know how to prevent that. I doubt anyone does.

However, you are only responsible for the effort, not the outcome. If there is one person out there who will take your suggestions as an insult, I assure you that there is at least one who will take them as a welcomed second chance. You saw something sufficiently promising that you were moved to request more information. You overlooked a shortcoming in a query and gave the author a chance to remedy that shortcoming. I don't imagine that happens very often, and I like to think that most prospective authors are smart enough to recognize that.

Some of us love the critique, comments and advice. At the Pikes Peak Writers Conference my first page was read out loud and an author, agent, and publisher all agreed it was too descriptive. My first page (and the rest of the book) is now 50 times better because I made amazing improvements thanks to those 3 honest professionals. I am forever grateful because of it. So please don't stop because of the panty-bunched folks.

Wow. People complain when they get no response, complain when they get a form response AND complain when they get comments??? I don't understand.

Don't let it get to you. It's a GOOD deed to give comments.

I just got home from work to find a rejection in my inbox. I would have been falling all over myself to provide whatever you asked for to get you to take a longer look. Can I have his blurb-space?

Wow...

That's unbelievable. Especially for others, like me, who WANT to receive any help by way of constructive criticism from potential agents.

I'd be THRILLED to receive a rejection letter, or any form of communication from a potential agent, if it had any advice on what to do to make it better.

This writer should have taken the negative and made it positive. Even if it didn't turn out for the writer THAT time, it would have left it on a positive note and who knows what next time would have brought?

(*Hell has frozen over because this publishing cynic is consoling an agent.*)

It's not you- rather it's the relationship of the author to the work. You ever seen those overprotective parents who utter the following:

"You see Taylor over there, why yes he's doing very well at his trilingual immersion program. Where he's really taking a liking to is Mandarin!" (*God love those chettos commercials...*)

See what I mean? Authors LOVE their work. We're all evil narcissists, blah blah blah.

(Insert random banter about the nature of intellectual inquire and its relationship to snobbery.)

My personal story- it took over a year to paint, edit and illustrate a story that barrels down to three pages of script.(Spread out into a 15 page book.) I'm defensive about my work just like anyone. Pitch letters are not my strong suit. ( I didn't major in marketing.*)

So what you're asking is for better descriptions, which from a practical standpoint is reasonable. Authors do need to describe their work.
However, a small one page example would do wonders for your stress level. (*In my opinion.*) That way the author can't say, "well gee you didn't look at my work!" AND you're not reduced to guessing as to what the hell the book is about. It's what they call in the marketing world: "Win-Win." Why one page, because the average reader might glance at one page in the bookstore and THAT's inevitably where your client is either going to sink or swim.

-C

Color me confused. What is a blurb?

my first editor told me we authors are in love with our own words. That first round of edits, I'll admit I cried. Then I pulled up my big girl panties and deal with it. I am not my work, but I think many authors can forget that--usually it's the newer authors. Now, I look forward to professional feedback. It helps me grow as an author.

Jessica,
I'm with one of the Anonymi, I'll send you anything you want. Spouse too! I can't believe this person's attitude. Though I've made your reject list, it was a pleasant experience with a positive word that still sets me atwitter! I'm sure most of us would love as much feedback, including constructive criticism, as possible but of course it's not possible. You're probably lucky to have "missed out" on this writer if that's his/her attitude. Thanks for a great blog site.

I lot of people I know think is "blurb" is that single-sentence line of praise you see on the front cover or inside flap of a book, that was written by someone well-known other than the author.

If the writer you were interacting with was thinking the same way, this person might have gone into a panic, thinking it an impossible request. How to get a famous person to read their book and send you a sentence of praise right away?

I'm not saying this did happen, just that it's one possible way of interpreting this exchange.

Some people are happy and some people just want to be angry - nothing you can do about it. But, I love reading your advice, it's like a free class I can take on-line, late at night in my pj's. Now, all I need is a big bowl of popcorn.

Unless I'm mistaken, in this context a blurb in the query letter is like what's on the back of a paperback describing the story without too much detail. It's the "hook" in the query letter that interests the agent and "reels them in" so they want to see more.

Ay! Vanity thy name is "humans."

Whenever I come across stories like this I think of a verbal exchange from Seinfeld:

ELAINE: I will never understand people.
JERRY: [Totally understated tone of voice] They're the worst.

I agree with Anon 11:56 -- perphaps the writer thought you were asking her to send quotes from other authors.

No one uses the word blurb -- was her novel not explained in the query?

Hey - I just had a hunk of one of my lawsuits dismissed today. The judge dismissed it for all the wrong reasons. I am now back at square one.

Do I write a snarky note to the judge telling him just 'doesn't get it and my husband thought my pleadings were just wonderful.' Ummm, not if I ever want to set foot in the courthouse again.

No, I have to accept the fact that my written documents were not compelling enough to tell the judge the whole story and encourage him to rule my way.

The ultimate rejection of a partial manuscript (think of it as narrative non-fiction).

I have to write a better lawsuit and file it again . . .

Verify word: 'laylers' [bizarrely appropriate for how I see this morning cuz this lawyer just wants to lay down and sulk]