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Carolyn Jewel Romance Author

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Writer's Diary

Monday, January 23, 2006

Rant Alert!

There's a thread going on over on one of the RWA lists about whether to query an agent or an editor. Yes, I understand how capricious the publishing world can seem. But here's a few things that are [bad word removed] irritating me about the posts. One published author wrote and said, basically, that an agent is worth it, for all the reasons that writers know. The response from someone was that this particular writer has such a strong voice that she probably found it easy to get an agent. WTF??? Because of that, this person thought she should forget about querying agents and go straight for editors. Think about what that's really saying: There's nothing special, unique or compelling about my story or the way I write.

Get a clue. The bar is high. Really, really high. If you don't feel you have a voice, then go work on developing one. Don't waste postage querying editors and agents about your nothing special story. Don't go crying about how editors and agents are big fat meanies for wanting to take on writers who have done the hard work of developing their writing into something special. If your MS has been rejected a bazillion times, stop sending it out and instead spend some quality time figuring out where you've fallen below that very high bar.

OK, look, it's a cold cruel world out there. It's OK to vent on a list, it's theraputic and all that. But the best cure for rejection is hard work on the story and your writing. Rant over.
Comments:
There's another debate going on another loop because a writer wants to have a servant fall in love with a lord, and vice versa, and most of the loop members say that just isn't possible, or plausible, because of the lack of education, her work hours, poor hygiene, etc. Most of them are recommending she join the Beau Monde, but I can't tell if she will--she also asked if lords can pass their title to someone else if they don't want it.
# posted by Blogger Megan Frampton : Mon Jan 23, 09:51:00 AM PST
 
Hear, hear, Carolyn!

Besides, after having been to two RWA conferences, I can safely say that editors and agents are not big, fat meanies. Most of them are disgustingly slim. *g* And not at all mean. :)

But sadly, quite a number of people don't seem to be aware that authors need to do their homework, too, i.e. educating themselves about the publishing business (no, those people don't await you with open arms) and doing proper research.
# posted by Blogger Sandra Schwab : Mon Jan 23, 10:05:00 AM PST
 
Whoa! I sounded really mean. I didn't mean to. OK, yes I did, but I'm not normally mean. That just got to me. And don't get me started on people who want to write a contemporary romance but place it in a historical. If I were a meanie (which I'm not) I'd say something like someone who doesn't know if a peer can pass off an inconvenient title is TSTL, just like her heroine.

Sandy, you are so right. Agents and editors are not waiting with open arms. Sad but true. Just because you write a book doesn't mean someone is obligated to publish it.
# posted by Blogger Carolyn : Mon Jan 23, 09:14:00 PM PST
 
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