I Got Google Babe
by on February 26th, 2010
filed under On Writing
Adventures in Query Land continue…
It’s a numbers game.
Writers hear that all the time when it comes to querying. Yet I’ve read agent’s blogs and interviews where they talk about being offended when a writer pulls their name off a list & blindly queries them.
I can see their point.
Everyone wants to feel special like they’ve been chosen. I get that. But the fact is, I have met in person only a handful of agents (and even less editors-ya’ll are slippery eels), so if I can’t query you based on a happenstance meeting, how else am I to query you?
I’ll tell you how.
The list of acquiring agents my writer’s group lists (in my case Romance Writers of America). Absolute Write’s Water Cooler. Predators & Editors. AgentQuery.com. I could go on & on….
But. My most important tool in vetting out an agent is Google. Crimenelli but you can find out anything about anyone on Google! There’s no hiding from Google. So let me tell you my wonderful, intelligent, chosen, potential agent… I Googled you (oh yes it’s a verb now!) and I’ve read every blog you’ve guest blogged on, every interview you sat through, every mention of your name, agency name & client names, I follow you on Twitter, Facebook & Myspace. I know what you had for lunch, what your favorite ice cream flavor is (or if you’re lactose intolerant), I even know what color underwear you put on this morning (okay, maybe not that).
In other words, I spent a good deal of time choosing you to query. So when you get my letter or email know that I chose you. I chose you because I thought we would work well together, you would appreciate my work and you could be the one to guide my career to soaring heights of Best Seller-dome.
Feel special.
Stay tuned for more adventures in Query Land.
Queries sent-60
Requests for a partial-2
Requests for a full-1
No’s-19
Make Love Not War
by on June 22nd, 2009
filed under Undecided
There has been much discussion online lately regarding the benefits of authors being published traditionally (in hardback or paperback) or being e-published (full length novels & novellas available for download in various formats for various devices). From what I understand either choice has its advantages and disadvantages.
Now before I continue, I want to make it clear that I know absolutely nothing about the publishing business. I am not published in either format. I am not affiliated with any publisher. But I have been watching and listening to both sides of the debate between RWA’s (Romance Writers of America-one of the largest writers organizations in the US) President Diane Pershing and the many e-pub’d members of RWA. And it’s getting heated.
Oh, boy is it ever.
RWA has set rules and guidelines about how the organization grants PAN (Published Authors Network) status and the qualifications to enter their prestigious contests- The Golden Heart for un-pub’d authors and the Rita for published authors. Unfortunately those rules and guidelines have left some e-pub’d authors unable to qualify for any of these RWA benefits and they are crying foul. In a big way.
Earlier this week Literary Agent and author Deidre Knight wrote a letter addressed to Diane Pershing the president of RWA (linked here)on The Electronic & Small Press Author’s Network (an RWA special interest chapter) calling for a change in the rules and guidelines thus allowing e-pub’d authors to take advantage of the full range of benefits offered by RWA. She goes on further to say that RWA’s stance on this subject creates a feeling of elitism and alienation and that the rules and guidelines were designed by RWA to exclude a growing sector of their membership (I’m paraphrasing here, please forgive me if I’ve misinterpreted).
Diane Pershing responded a few days later (linked here) restating RWA’s position and reasoning that RWA’s rules and guidelines were designed to benefit the majority of the organization’s 10,000 plus membership. She went on to explain how RWA protects its members similar to the way SAG protects actors and their potential earnings by setting standards for RWA approved publishers based on how those publishers pay advances and royalties to their authors.
I wanted to also include an article written by Kassia Krozser (linked here)on Quartet Press (an upstart romance e-publisher) in which she offers suggestions and solutions on how RWA & its e-pub’d authors can walk hand and hand into the sunset and live happily ever after (okay not really but she does have some excellent suggestions!).
The articles I’ve listed are just a few of the many, hundreds, maybe even thousands of opinions on the subject. I hope you take the time and read them and any others you can get your hot little hands on.
As always, and since this is my blog, I get to give my opinion which you can either take or leave especially in light of my admitted lack of knowledge and experience in this area.
I have been a member of RWA for a year and a half. I am a PRO (an unpub’d author who has completed a novel and been granted this RWA distinction) most of what I have learned about the industry I have learned from RWA. Last year I attended the national convention and the PRO retreat at the convention, but didn’t stay for the session on e-publishing. Maybe I should have, but e-publishing hasn’t been my goal.
I have friends who are traditionally published and friends who are e-published. Both seem pleased with their individual publishing choices. I have always seen RWA as both educator and protector, looking out for the interest of their membership whether published or not. I understand their stance on this issue and I appreciate it.
I also understand the points the e-published authors are trying to make and I imagine if I were them or e-publishing was my goal, I would be standing with them on these issues.
What I don’t understand are those who are willing to quit RWA over these issues. Change is made from within, not from without. And I am reminded of Ghandi’s quote- ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ I was pleased to see that Ms. Knight sent out a message asking for cooler heads to prevail and for those who have said they would quit RWA to not do so but to stay and take part in bringing about change.
And I would ask the same, please stay and lend your knowledge, experience and insight. RWA needs you, I need you to teach, to guide and to enlighten. Just because e-publishing isn’t my goal now, doesn’t mean it won’t ever be.
I would also ask RWA to continue to educate and protect your members especially us neophytes. Protect us from unscrupulous publishers & agents. Educate us on every aspect of the publishing industry so that we may make the best, most knowledgeable decisions about our careers. And please find some way to include every one of your members in either the Golden Heart contest or the Rita contest as this seems to be, in my humble opinion, the simplest way to bridge one of the gaps between the two sides. Can you give a little on this one point, please?
Let me know your thoughts on these issues and most importantly of all, if you are a member of RWA, let them know your thoughts as well. An organization is only as strong as its membership.
it's in the bag
by on July 10th, 2008
filed under Undecided
Do you ever see something and know you were meant to have it?
I did when I saw this vintage magazine clutch bag on ebay. It will be perfect for the Chick Lit Writers’ party I’m going to at the RWA (Romance Writers of America) national convention in San Francisco later this month. Look, it says ‘How to Write’ right on it. Could it be any more perfect? I’m hoping it will be a conversation starter with my future agent or editor. Do you think it will work?
