I like book publishing contracts. I am very weird. They are a strange animal. Unique to the industry, hard for outsiders to understand. When I was at NYU, I took a course with Jan Constantine (General Counsel at the Authors Guild) and one of my favorite parts was learning about the cases that shaped the book contract as we know it.
I still have my notebook and folder from that class because I am a dork.
Anyway, back to the point. I was asked at a conference if there is a book to learn that sort of thing. And, yes, there are several. Jan used Negotiating the Book Contract by Mark Levine. (Mr. Levine also has a book for self-publishing authors called The Fine Print of Self Publishing which I'd recommend for all of you who DON'T want an agent.)
Sadly, I don't remember who asked me this originally.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
See? I knew I would run out of things to post about. Does anyone have any questions or brilliant ideas?
Today has mostly been about the war of the inbox. There is no hope of winning the war of the inbox. You just have to keep it from strangling you. I think I am through all queries from more than a month ago. I say think because, who knows what is lurking in the folders. I shudder to think of it.
That could be a horror movie. Someone thinks their work email is all up to date only to discover there are things s/he was supposed to be doing all along, s/he just didn't see them. Don't laugh. I find my stress dreams much more frightening than the run-for-your-life dreams.
Today has mostly been about the war of the inbox. There is no hope of winning the war of the inbox. You just have to keep it from strangling you. I think I am through all queries from more than a month ago. I say think because, who knows what is lurking in the folders. I shudder to think of it.
That could be a horror movie. Someone thinks their work email is all up to date only to discover there are things s/he was supposed to be doing all along, s/he just didn't see them. Don't laugh. I find my stress dreams much more frightening than the run-for-your-life dreams.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Comic Con Episode IV
I just saw Comic Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope. It's a documentary (by Morgan Spurlock) about, duh, Comic Con in San Diego*. The film follows a bunch of fans but I was most interested in the two artists who were trying to break into penciling for comic book companies.
They'd go to portfolio reviews and the reviewers would say the art wasn't right for them. Then the artists would be all sad. And I was sad for them.
... Except that's probably EXACTLY how people who query me feel when I say that their writing isn't for me. It made me feel guilty. I didn't get into this business to crush dreams. I'm not waking up with a goal to make people cry.
But I can't represent everyone, and it's true that some stuff "isn't right for me." Because there were two artists in the documentary, and one got hired and the other didn't. Except I couldn't really see what made one better. Obviously I'm not the world's foremost authority on everything.
*I've never been to SDCC but the New York Comic Con is my sacred weekend.
They'd go to portfolio reviews and the reviewers would say the art wasn't right for them. Then the artists would be all sad. And I was sad for them.
... Except that's probably EXACTLY how people who query me feel when I say that their writing isn't for me. It made me feel guilty. I didn't get into this business to crush dreams. I'm not waking up with a goal to make people cry.
But I can't represent everyone, and it's true that some stuff "isn't right for me." Because there were two artists in the documentary, and one got hired and the other didn't. Except I couldn't really see what made one better. Obviously I'm not the world's foremost authority on everything.
*I've never been to SDCC but the New York Comic Con is my sacred weekend.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Mystery Agent
Monday, March 5, 2012
Covers
I've got several books out on submission. The waiting is killing me, so I need to blog to distract myself. I'm never really sure what to blog about. If you have suggestions or questions, please comment with them because I am at a loss. A lot.
Anyway, today I got a query with attached cover image. It was actually rather nice looking for a homemade cover. I'd almost rather it be the ugliest thing in the world (which does happen occasionally with queries). See, unless you are a very powerful famous author, you aren't going to have any approval over your cover image. I can't think of any debut authors who've even had cover consultation (meaning input but not the final say) in their contract.
You might think this is is mean and terrible. How dare publishers not consult you? But the truth is that they have very talented, and lovely people who make covers for a living. Sometimes these people miss the mark and that is always unfortunate when a cover is bad. But it's never an author's fault that a cover is bad, because--again--author's don't have control over that.
Sending me a cover image with your query only shows me that you don't know how the industry works. Which means I'd have to explain it to you (downside) and that you have wasted your time (downside x2).
Anyway, today I got a query with attached cover image. It was actually rather nice looking for a homemade cover. I'd almost rather it be the ugliest thing in the world (which does happen occasionally with queries). See, unless you are a very powerful famous author, you aren't going to have any approval over your cover image. I can't think of any debut authors who've even had cover consultation (meaning input but not the final say) in their contract.
You might think this is is mean and terrible. How dare publishers not consult you? But the truth is that they have very talented, and lovely people who make covers for a living. Sometimes these people miss the mark and that is always unfortunate when a cover is bad. But it's never an author's fault that a cover is bad, because--again--author's don't have control over that.
Sending me a cover image with your query only shows me that you don't know how the industry works. Which means I'd have to explain it to you (downside) and that you have wasted your time (downside x2).
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Geek Girl Con
Tickets have gone on sale for Geek Girl Con 2012! It's in August this year. I missed the initial announcement; I feel like a bad geek girl. Buy your tickets here!
Sadly, I'm not going to attend for the second year in a row. Sob. But I still want to promote it to anyone out there reading this in the Seattle area. I think it's a really good thing. I'm one of those people who has been quizzed on knowledge of fantasy books and comic books by guys who don't believe that I could possibly know this stuff.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Queries
I read queries this afternoon. If you sent me anything before this morning (March 1) then you should've received a response. If not, then I probably didn't get it. Please send again!
I know I don't get nearly as many queries as some of the bigger agents out there. Probably not even a 1/10th. I'm not sure how they do it. After a little while reading through all the new names and ideas, my eyes start to cross and I can't read anymore.
Unfortunately, I feel like I am kinder to the queries that I happen to read at the beginning of day than I am those toward the end. Taking breaks is the only way to keep me sane. I probably won't read any more for another few days.
I know I don't get nearly as many queries as some of the bigger agents out there. Probably not even a 1/10th. I'm not sure how they do it. After a little while reading through all the new names and ideas, my eyes start to cross and I can't read anymore.
Unfortunately, I feel like I am kinder to the queries that I happen to read at the beginning of day than I am those toward the end. Taking breaks is the only way to keep me sane. I probably won't read any more for another few days.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Molly Contest
Molly Contest for Unpublished Writers is held by the Heart of Denver Romance Writers every year. (Above is the information from their Facebook.) It seems that this year I will be involved as a judge.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Crucible of Gold preview
For fantasy fans, there is a 50-page preview of Naomi Novik's CRUCIBLE OF GOLD now available from the publisher.
Love this series so much. Really wish I were the agent on these but I'm just a fan. I want a dragon of my own. The first in the series is HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON if you haven't read it. I highly recommend!
Love this series so much. Really wish I were the agent on these but I'm just a fan. I want a dragon of my own. The first in the series is HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON if you haven't read it. I highly recommend!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Writing is rewriting
Writing is rewriting. Does anyone know who originated that phrase? Because it's so true.
I'm doing revisions with a couple different authors right now. It can be very hard for some people. But other people love it. Certainly, if you work with me, you're going to have to learn to love it. Although I don't think I could ever be an editor, I do rather enjoy the creative aspect of this business. I want things I send out to be as polished as possible before a real editor sees them.
I'm doing revisions with a couple different authors right now. It can be very hard for some people. But other people love it. Certainly, if you work with me, you're going to have to learn to love it. Although I don't think I could ever be an editor, I do rather enjoy the creative aspect of this business. I want things I send out to be as polished as possible before a real editor sees them.
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