tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post5028815457441362132..comments2024-01-09T03:43:05.103-05:00Comments on Y(A)? Cuz We Write!: An Agent's Wish ListPam Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-19299918168756668602010-04-20T07:34:05.541-04:002010-04-20T07:34:05.541-04:00Thank you so much everyone for your input! I defin...Thank you so much everyone for your input! I definitely feel much better, and I think I have an idea of what my next step will be. I'm going to start something new, but it's going to be a combination of what I want to do as well as what may be a bit more "commercial." You guys are the best! :)Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-7843129572196014612010-04-20T00:11:11.221-04:002010-04-20T00:11:11.221-04:00Pam--Great post, and I hope you get to feeling bet...Pam--Great post, and I hope you get to feeling better.<br /><br />I would definitely choose option B: write what you want and forget what agents are looking for. <br /><br />There are two reasons why that is my choice: 1) When you write for someone else, you may not be writing to your own strengths, and I definitely feel this affects the final product and 2) due to the long lead-time required to prepare a MS for the querying process (2-3 years), I think it's impossible to match agent needs to MS idea. What's hot today will be old news tomorrow, so I say go with your gut.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Jon Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07824815967445843124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-385606794197034852010-04-19T23:36:44.103-04:002010-04-19T23:36:44.103-04:00i can understand your predicament, bestie. this is...i can understand your predicament, bestie. this is tough. non-stop rejections can put a damper on your spirit, but i don't think you should stop writing what you love. make sure that what you love is marketable, but don't cater your writing to one specific person. this industry is SO SO SO subjective. hang in there -- you want an agent who will love your work the way it is. <br /><br />plus, you might be able to churn out one MS that's not true to your wants, but could you do that for the rest of your life? best to stick to your guns at the early stage, i think.<br /><br />i swear, i was thinking all of these things, ready to call it quits and call myself crazy when i got my offer of rep. you just never know.<br /><br />besides, i have no doubt you'll be amazing. just keep trucking.<br /><br />don't doubt your potential!! <br /><br /><3333Taherehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111022596822176769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-63095475670326986172010-04-19T21:18:26.802-04:002010-04-19T21:18:26.802-04:00I write what's in my heart. Since the chance o...I write what's in my heart. Since the chance of being published is slim, I might as well write what is meaningful to me. Of course I make sure I'm not writing something that's already been done, unless I can do it in a different way. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-13179500779577147252010-04-19T19:52:06.721-04:002010-04-19T19:52:06.721-04:00Hello Ann Marie! So glad you've joined me! :) ...Hello Ann Marie! So glad you've joined me! :) And I juggle a busy schedule as well: I work full-time AND part-time, and I'm also returning to school for creative writing. I commend everyone who has kids and keeps up a writing schedule. To answer your question, no matter how hard I try, it's hard for me to juggle two projects at once. Right now, I'm finally putting aside my "baby" (just for a little bit) to have fun with a new project. Maybe when I'm halfway done on my new WIP, I can dive back in for more revisions. Good question!Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-9655773516828875952010-04-19T19:33:16.483-04:002010-04-19T19:33:16.483-04:00Hi Pam - hope you're feeling MUCH BETTER now. ...Hi Pam - hope you're feeling MUCH BETTER now. I've been suffering the allergy blues myself a bit lately. <br /><br />Keep seeing you around the blogosphere and thought it high time to pop on over and join up. Have just read some of your older posts and really enjoyed what I saw.<br /><br />Jaime Reed echoed my thoughts exactly on what you were asking today. Of course, personally I have a full-time teaching schedule and a couple of kids who keep me busy....so, I think that a lot depends on the time restraints you have, too. Would you work on 2 projects at the same time? The commercial and the 'personal' - or would you give the personal a backseat ride and pay more attention to the possible 'seller?'<br /><br />Interesting question. THANKS!Ann Marie Wraighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524746255813452836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-49227999803528204232010-04-19T19:20:48.477-04:002010-04-19T19:20:48.477-04:00That was, indeed, an epic comment Samurai--filled ...That was, indeed, an epic comment Samurai--filled with many tidbits that I've taken to heart. I LOVED the dating analogy. I'm still looking for "the one" in that department, too! :)Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-73636543506578112292010-04-19T15:44:18.224-04:002010-04-19T15:44:18.224-04:00It's scary how much querying is like dating. J...It's scary how much querying is like dating. Just like in dating, you are most likely (unless people are very lucky- and you may join be in wishing foot boils upon those lucky people) going to go through a BUNCH of people before you find someone who you can work with long term, and the keyword there is work. There will always be compromise, but just like in dating, I advise everyone to not change their whole self for the sake of a relationship, or an agent.<br /><br />Of course, don't let that stop you from testing the waters. If it feels right to send it out, send it out. The awesome part is, sometimes people find out what they thought they wanted isn't what they want- and what the get, serendipitously, is. Allow for that serendipity! Take chances! Send queries! <br /><br />And, finally, does it always come down to genre? You might find that someone who usually represents, say, middle grade blind boys fighting crime, might do so because those are all similar length, or tone, mood, etc. There are a lot more factors than genre, right?<br /><br />So there's my epic comment. (:Glenna https://www.blogger.com/profile/07291697775716513457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-60083574859093841132010-04-19T15:10:57.429-04:002010-04-19T15:10:57.429-04:00Great post.
I have to admit that I started workin...Great post.<br /><br />I have to admit that I started working on my current WIP--a paranormal romance involving (cough) a merman--in part because Ginger Clark keeps tweeting that she wants mermaid stuff. That being said, it's been an idea that's been germinating since I was 16 or so--I recently found some notes on the story in a high school notebook; weird feeling!--and I needed a project to keep me busy while querying. It really only works for me because I was already feeling somewhat enthusiastic about the idea. For example, plenty of agents seem to be grabbing angel/demon/reaper stuff right now. I draw a complete creative blank on that one, and it's just not my own tastes, so I don't know if I'd be able to twist my own arm about it.Phoebe Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08922801801009495791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-65495482496995426322010-04-19T14:27:05.468-04:002010-04-19T14:27:05.468-04:00Jaime, you really hit the nail on the head with th...Jaime, you really hit the nail on the head with that one. I feel motivated to start my new idea now (based on an agent's wish list). Thanks! :)Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-67873306638894535102010-04-19T14:16:37.799-04:002010-04-19T14:16:37.799-04:00Great post! Researching for the right agent is imp...Great post! Researching for the right agent is important and a pain in the butt. Agents request different thing based on their interests and their publishing CONNECTIONS. If they can’t pitch a SF books, why submit a SF manuscript? There are times as a new writer you have to set your masterpiece aside and do something a little more commercial just to get you foot in the door. That’s how I got picked up.Jaime Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473809115329540200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-73952013067980142872010-04-19T12:58:45.120-04:002010-04-19T12:58:45.120-04:00Thanks ladies, I think you have both answered my q...Thanks ladies, I think you have both answered my questions very well--even though I'm not even sure myself what I was asking exactly! :) But I do agree that quality writing comes from both passion and discipline--you need to write what you love, but be able to pull yourself away from it enough to be aware of its flaws.Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-21393549582947282012010-04-19T12:00:47.276-04:002010-04-19T12:00:47.276-04:00I think it's a difficult choice to make, it wo...I think it's a difficult choice to make, it would be great if agents wanted EXACTLY what you write and find nothing wrong with it, but I guess that would make things too easy. However, I feel like as writers we should never feel compromised. We should write what we feel passionate about- but, I do think at some point we may have to write things to cater to agents every now and then- especially if we want to be represented and if we want to have some kind of success. I don't really know what I'm talking about but I hope I sound educated :)Marquita Hockadayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931541485018513281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442355297625438730.post-70024228070134807772010-04-19T11:49:14.661-04:002010-04-19T11:49:14.661-04:00I write what I am interested in just because I can...I write what I am interested in just because I can't imagine that writing what someone else wants would garner much quality from me. It would almost be like doing assigned work in school - not fun! <br /><br />But it might be something to look into seeing as how I am not doing very well finishing a second manuscript. I always did well on assigned writing projects in school. <br /><br />Uh, I have confused myself, what was the question???Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11785387670667198873noreply@blogger.com