tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post9178480501465633570..comments2023-08-16T07:15:32.801-04:00Comments on BookingIt: Real Life Example of Agent SubjectivityJessica Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-76830786504522305242010-05-02T13:25:40.938-04:002010-05-02T13:25:40.938-04:00First of all, congrats on getting such great rejec...First of all, congrats on getting such great rejections! <br /><br />The responsibility always ultimately rests with us, doesn't it? I think if we listen to all the advice and let it ferment a bit, some clearer truth will always bubble to the surface.Deb Shuckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03439395710731341021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-79910778033179407842010-05-01T20:57:32.332-04:002010-05-01T20:57:32.332-04:00Jennifer, I don't understand! I loved your her...Jennifer, I don't understand! I loved your heroine. She was great. Hmmm.<br /><br />Cindy, are you querying right now? I'm crossing my fingers for you. :)<br /><br />Angie, woohoo! I hope it goes well, or at least productively for you!<br /><br />Susan, i'm sorry about the migraine. Hope it went away....<br /><br />Angela,<br />I can't imagine! I have a friend going through that and it's really tough.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-67842728058330276272010-05-01T20:54:58.634-04:002010-05-01T20:54:58.634-04:00I agree, Susanne. It's a fine balance and I th...I agree, Susanne. It's a fine balance and I think sometimes takes time to learn. Love your metaphor!<br /><br />Karen, Exactly!<br /><br />The other Karen, *grin* that would be Karen Lange, praying is def. something I should do more of when these things happen. Thanks for the reminder!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-70208033822653151112010-05-01T17:45:50.166-04:002010-05-01T17:45:50.166-04:00Great post and comments. I've certainly receiv...Great post and comments. I've certainly received conflicting criticism. It is so important for us as writers to learn how to chew the meat and spit out the bones, be humble and grow, but also learn to trust our guts and keep writing the stories God gave us.Susanne Dietzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710634601407161821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-86526358047074345122010-04-30T21:48:51.151-04:002010-04-30T21:48:51.151-04:00Yup. I hear it's the same with submissions to ...Yup. I hear it's the same with submissions to editors too. One loves your setting and not your MC. Another connects with your MC but ones the setting developed more. <br /><br />It's all about finding the right fit for you and your story.kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-28793381244488487912010-04-30T19:16:00.283-04:002010-04-30T19:16:00.283-04:00Oh my, guess that's the time to pray for the r...Oh my, guess that's the time to pray for the right balance to know how to proceed. Thanks for sharing this:)<br />Happy weekend,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-46242078140269235412010-04-30T17:44:44.163-04:002010-04-30T17:44:44.163-04:00This is probably the most frustrating part of bein...This is probably the most frustrating part of being on submission. I love it when my agent passes on feedback, but I get a case of the crazies when there is a huge variance in why the editor passed.Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-26258156847109332522010-04-30T14:45:25.892-04:002010-04-30T14:45:25.892-04:00Hi Jess -
I can't think of anything off the t...Hi Jess -<br /><br />I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but then again, I'm fighting a migraine. Maybe I should come back tomorrow. :)<br /><br />Blessings,<br />SusanSusan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-61817044381949201782010-04-30T14:07:29.059-04:002010-04-30T14:07:29.059-04:00Very interesting. I am not at that stage yet, but...Very interesting. I am not at that stage yet, but plan to be real soon. We'll see how it goes. <br />Happy weekend to you, Jessica.Angie Muresanhttp://www.angiemuresan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-58975021992185423462010-04-30T13:33:17.497-04:002010-04-30T13:33:17.497-04:00That's an interesting example--thanks for shar...That's an interesting example--thanks for sharing.<br /><br />I haven't gotten much agent feedback to this point but I have gotten complete opposite opinions about my work. I agree that having an agent will really help.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-57693911520924496312010-04-30T12:50:29.290-04:002010-04-30T12:50:29.290-04:00I know it's so funny yet frustrating. I once s...I know it's so funny yet frustrating. I once submitted to writing contest where the judge (although very nice) said I'll never get my book published unless I changed the heroine.<br />Well, I didn't. And it WAS published. LOL!!!Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-21237766843300956052010-04-30T12:07:28.590-04:002010-04-30T12:07:28.590-04:00Patti, I'd say Natasha is def. a trusted advis...Patti, I'd say Natasha is def. a trusted advisor. :-) I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!<br /><br />Exactly Nancy. ;-) Yeah, I think I do plan to send her in to some pubs, even though she needs some tweaking.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-14294665516831464402010-04-30T12:06:16.529-04:002010-04-30T12:06:16.529-04:00Erica, you coordinate? Wow!!! I imagine that takes...Erica, you coordinate? Wow!!! I imagine that takes a ton of time and organization for you. Thank you!<br /><br />T. Anne, you're so right! <br /><br />Keli, Jody always has good info on her blog, right? :-) Thanks for your sweet words. With contest judges I look for agreement too. When querying though, these were the only agents that mentioned my heroine so I'm really glad I didn't change her for the first agent. I like her the way she is, even though she seems to bring out strong reactions. LOLJessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-52948476297854929922010-04-30T11:17:26.957-04:002010-04-30T11:17:26.957-04:00I see it a lot as a coordinator for a writing cont...I see it a lot as a coordinator for a writing contest. Scores, recommended changes, and likes/dislikes are subjective.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-38532883221867162362010-04-30T11:09:02.502-04:002010-04-30T11:09:02.502-04:00It IS subjective! These are just people. I say go ...It IS subjective! These are just people. I say go with your gut! And per your comment on my blog I think it's fine to ask blogger buddies for title advice. ALthough it might change it will be a marketing device to find an agent.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-38606129936451484692010-04-30T10:53:08.953-04:002010-04-30T10:53:08.953-04:00Before I decide to follow someone's advice reg...Before I decide to follow someone's advice regarding my story, I consider the source. Jody Hedlund had a great post last week called <a href="http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-handle-feedback-on-our-writing.html" rel="nofollow">How to Handle Feedback</a> in which she prioritized the people giving us comments on our writing. At this point, I've stopped entering contests and am focused on implementing the suggestions my agent gave me. She knows her stuff, and I trust her.<br /><br />I received a good deal of feedback from contest judges in the past, and I looked for agreement. If several judges said the same thing, I took a serious look at the area they had problems with. If the feedback was varied, I went with what I thought was best for my story.<br /><br />Jessie, I think it's cool that you got the go-ahead to resubmit on your first pass. That shows you've got talent and the agent recognized it. The fact that two agents took time to give you personalized rejections on your first query does too.Keli Gwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236868298400593688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-23784719363040289922010-04-30T10:01:14.535-04:002010-04-30T10:01:14.535-04:00You made the right choice. It would be a shame if...You made the right choice. It would be a shame if the second person were right and you trashed your heroine just to please the first person. Hope you can wake her up some day and finish your book.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-84161900804157239472010-04-30T09:56:13.517-04:002010-04-30T09:56:13.517-04:00Great example of one man's treasure is another...Great example of one man's treasure is another man's trivia.<br /><br />Hmmm. I usually go with my top advisors, Natasha and a couple of soulmate writers, who seem to know what I'm trying to do better than me!! LOL<br /><br />Happy weekend, dear Jessica!!<br />Pattipattihttp://www.pattilacy.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-19335515181989737472010-04-30T09:13:35.386-04:002010-04-30T09:13:35.386-04:00Terri, yep!
Wow, cool story Jeanette! Thanks so m...Terri, yep!<br /><br />Wow, cool story Jeanette! Thanks so much for sharing that!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-40155833030141877462010-04-30T09:09:21.596-04:002010-04-30T09:09:21.596-04:00Oh, yeah. This is the post of the century, my dear...Oh, yeah. This is the post of the century, my dear. All of us have experienced this, unless we've hidden our ms. under the bed. <br /><br />I pitched a book idea to one editor and two agents at a conference last summer. The first agent said, "you need to change this devotional book to a non-fiction; no one is buying devos. Make the chapters longer and widen your audience." The editor said, "Can you make it into a daily devotional? We are interested in buying devotinals. I'd love to see the proposal." The second agent leaned forward, listening attentively while I pitched and read one chapter. She later offered me a contract. <br /><br />Go figure.Jeanette Levelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12898750484193832082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-30478535666286859722010-04-30T08:08:47.563-04:002010-04-30T08:08:47.563-04:00It is so subjective! Hopefully as you all mention...It is so subjective! Hopefully as you all mentioned, when I have an agent, he/she will have enough objectivity to know what works and doesn't work.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-13482882505895358142010-04-30T08:05:22.064-04:002010-04-30T08:05:22.064-04:00Me too Wendy. Once I have an agent, that's who...Me too Wendy. Once I have an agent, that's whose word I'm going to take probably 95% of the time.Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-54501826892764463122010-04-30T07:54:36.383-04:002010-04-30T07:54:36.383-04:00I have had this happen with my work and it can get...I have had this happen with my work and it can get confusing. Time usually helps me sift through it, but I'll be honest...this is why I am excited to get an agent. I want insight from someone who makes a living at this.<br /><br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-26978502545761821742010-04-30T06:36:46.822-04:002010-04-30T06:36:46.822-04:00Oooh, I love that example Katie! Isn't it funn...Oooh, I love that example Katie! Isn't it funny how that goes. And you put so much work into it...but at least you got to change it back to the way you previously liked it. :-) Thanks for sharing that!Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429542410238239360.post-14564066675794946552010-04-30T06:23:27.695-04:002010-04-30T06:23:27.695-04:00I've gotten the EXACT same thing with contest ...I've gotten the EXACT same thing with contest judges. I usually let it sit for awhile and then come back to it. I do go with my gut sometimes, and othertimes, I go against it. <br /><br />Here's an interesting story.<br /><br />I paid for a professional critique. Make some changes that I didn't necessarily agree with. (This was a very well known, reputable critiquing service run by a published author) Took it to the conf and pitched my work to an agent, who gave me feedback that pretty much went against what the critiquer said and asked me to change it before submitting the full to her. So there ya go! It's all so subjective.Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.com