tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post6286446458101811693..comments2024-03-29T05:54:33.136-04:00Comments on Authoress: OuchAuthoresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-7661803592386353372012-04-26T13:45:42.948-04:002012-04-26T13:45:42.948-04:00This was my first encounter with Miss Snark's ...This was my first encounter with Miss Snark's First Victim. It was by no means my first encounter with literary agents, and I would second every comment made here on the fact that one has to get used to negative reactions. Daniele's were on the whole mild. More useful however were the detailed comments by some of the blog's readers. I am extremely impressed by them. I look forward to meeting these readers again in the pages of this most useful blog -- useful and fun to read!! Thank you.Dorothy Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199627468549426478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-42565101965245708692012-04-24T20:20:06.224-04:002012-04-24T20:20:06.224-04:00Hey people, I've shelled-out good money for a ...Hey people, I've shelled-out good money for a partial MS assessment - and ouch! - the assessor didn't pull her punches.<br /><br />So overall, it was good value!Jo-Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705983780352542190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-917824916889207312012-04-24T03:27:16.841-04:002012-04-24T03:27:16.841-04:00I was stunned by the diversity of mysteries that w...I was stunned by the diversity of mysteries that were posted. There are many more shades of genre then I ever dreamed of. That alone was the biggest take away lesson for me.<br /><br />I, too, was a little disappointed in the comments by the agent not only for myself but for several others as well. I would have liked a more detailed critique than 'you lost me at...' which several entries received. I read the agent's comments trying to see each entry through her eyes. I'll be honest, I had a really difficult time. She didn't like some of the things I loved about an entry and seemed fine with things that made me cringe. At the end I just scratched my head and chalked it up to a difference in taste, which I already knew I was up against. <br /><br />I noticed there were a few entries that were well received by critiquers. Those same entries didn't seem to appeal to the agent at all. Another head scratcher. I'm dying to find out which ones she'll ask for more pages from.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and critique my work. And thank you to Authoress for this opportunity. I believe there is something to be gained from putting yourself out there. Best of luck to everyone on their journey to publication.Glad I Didnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-22654448000148018842012-04-23T23:32:29.640-04:002012-04-23T23:32:29.640-04:00Thanks for reminding me that there is so much more...Thanks for reminding me that there is so much more to writing than writing. Feedback, helps me grow.<br /><br />:-)emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-19313232282863959622012-04-23T22:19:27.647-04:002012-04-23T22:19:27.647-04:00oooo. I'm empowered. I have a fluff pony. B...oooo. I'm empowered. I have a fluff pony. Begone, bad people, here I come!<br /><br />THANK YOU JODI!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-13784763156219308932012-04-23T22:06:30.359-04:002012-04-23T22:06:30.359-04:00I ordered my FLUFF-PONY and received a FLUFF-UNICO...I ordered my FLUFF-PONY and received a FLUFF-UNICORN. Love you Jodi Meadows! :-)<br /><br /><br />Now that I look again, I see the fluff-pony within the fluff-unicorn How cool....Mr Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-78222121697717288302012-04-23T21:15:44.999-04:002012-04-23T21:15:44.999-04:00Yay for fluff-ponies and acceptance of who we are ...Yay for fluff-ponies and acceptance of who we are (writers and lovers of fluff-ponies)! Thanks, Jodi!DJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359760998871484565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-31929886468783226502012-04-23T21:06:01.136-04:002012-04-23T21:06:01.136-04:00I think the entrants (and the rest of us who watch...I think the entrants (and the rest of us who watched from afar) gained a valuable insight into how an agent reads the slush pile. They often have hundreds of submissions to read through and are thus quick to know what does and doesn't grab them. Yes, they might like it if they read a bit further but most of them do not have that time. You have been given a peek into the confusing world of literary agents through the eyes of just one of its members. Use that insight when looking at your own work, even the "I would stop reading at..." comments have value if you ask yourself "why?" and "how could I make it better?" Afterall, isn't that why we are all here on Authoress's magnificent blog?PCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-84463951055080294222012-04-23T20:32:01.455-04:002012-04-23T20:32:01.455-04:00:: blink blink ::
Um... gotcha.:: blink blink ::<br /><br />Um... gotcha.Elsewherenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-12752073483956713422012-04-23T20:30:15.347-04:002012-04-23T20:30:15.347-04:00I told Jodi that people were asking for fluff-poni...I told Jodi that people were asking for fluff-ponies (re: my post today), so she offered to draw one for whomever wants one. :DAuthoresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-59332267842344889822012-04-23T20:28:35.647-04:002012-04-23T20:28:35.647-04:00For those of us new folk, would anyone care to int...For those of us new folk, would anyone care to interpret the above comment?? <br /><br />HAHAA!!Elsewherenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-18929324363635483102012-04-23T20:26:52.676-04:002012-04-23T20:26:52.676-04:00Okay, guys -- Jodi has drawn a FLUFF PONY for whom...Okay, guys -- Jodi has drawn a FLUFF PONY for whomever wants one! Just email her at jodi.meadows(at)gmail.com. She will send you the fluff pony AND she will not reject you. :DAuthoresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-51751391534176419902012-04-23T19:27:20.125-04:002012-04-23T19:27:20.125-04:00I have a question. If Danielle didn't throw u...I have a question. If Danielle didn't throw up on an entry - but didn't pick it either - would Danielle take a query?<br /><br />Or better to leave Danielle alone and ask Jodi M for a fluff pony instead? I like blue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-46726141147922969842012-04-23T18:28:32.876-04:002012-04-23T18:28:32.876-04:00I was one of the people fortunate enough to get in...I was one of the people fortunate enough to get into this critique.<br /><br />While initially I was unclear as to whether Danielle actually liked what I wrote, I know she didn't hate it, and I know I accomplished some good things within that first 250 words. Based on critique I got and the critiques I read of other's work, I will keep Ms Svetcov on my query list as my style seems to match with hers.<br /><br />If, ultimately, I'm not her cup of tea or didn't hook her enough to garner a request for pages, I'll survive. I will take her invaluable advice and keep plugging away. <br /><br />I appreciate everyone who took the time to read and review my pieceElsewherenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-14212376002720175272012-04-23T17:45:35.500-04:002012-04-23T17:45:35.500-04:00DJ -- I'm sure Jodi Meadows would knit you a f...DJ -- I'm sure Jodi Meadows would knit you a fluff-pony if you really needed one. ;)Authoresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-8871893610593343262012-04-23T17:21:05.680-04:002012-04-23T17:21:05.680-04:00I know what I like to get in a critique, and I bas...I know what I like to get in a critique, and I base how I give critiques on that, unless the critiquee has something else, specific, in mind. I suspect that if I wasn't a writer, if I was, say, an agent, I'd critique from a very different standpoint. <br /><br />There is not ONE way to critique; there are many. Sometimes you just have to take what you can get, and run with it. For example, the 'I stopped at pizza' crit, could potentially be very helpful, IMO. Obviously the critter felt strongly about that particular aspect of the work. So then you can analyze: what is that aspect? Perhaps it was a piece of misplaced characterization? (that'd be my guess – and, author of that piece, I'm sorry to drag it up here). You could then look for instances of this in your work, and try to find better places/ways to get characterization in. Alternatively, if you are on the fence about the pizza, but enough people have mentioned it, you could choose to simply take it out of your opening, and thus have a better chance (perhaps) of hooking another agent.<br />Or, you can ignore the critique. <br /><br />There are many different ways of critiquing, and there is not only one way of accepting a critique, either.<br /><br />Thanks again, Authoress and Danielle.Deahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01508587413774254390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-63156463573913780582012-04-23T17:16:02.454-04:002012-04-23T17:16:02.454-04:00I have no objection to harsh- as long as it's ...I have no objection to harsh- as long as it's relevant and somewhat helpful. (It does bother me if someone says "This all sucks.") Don't worry if one person doesn't like it- it might just not be their cup of tea! (That being said, there's always things to improve too.)<br /><br />Zia<br />http://singing-blue.blogspot.ca/Tatianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10677482793943331701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-38963947201239751482012-04-23T17:15:59.583-04:002012-04-23T17:15:59.583-04:00Some aspiring writers may prefer blunt crits, but ...Some aspiring writers may prefer blunt crits, but clearly not all writers. And I'm a bit skeptical of anyone who claims they don't need positive critiques, and we should all "grow thick skin" already. Even if you tell me "give it to me straight," I'm still going to look for positives when I crit, even if it's hard to find them. <br /><br />We are aspiring writers who need helpful, constructive crits at this stage in the process. Reviews on Goodreads are not crits on WIP manuscripts. At this point, we CAN make changes based on crit. Preparing our thin skin for negative reviews we may get on Goodreads in the future (when we can't do anything to change the finished product) is getting a little ahead of ourselves, IMHO. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-56458844477611459472012-04-23T17:08:22.134-04:002012-04-23T17:08:22.134-04:00So we don't get a free fluff-pony every time w...So we don't get a free fluff-pony every time we enter something on here? Dang~ I wanted a purple one!DJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359760998871484565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-32398939882701929492012-04-23T16:56:25.875-04:002012-04-23T16:56:25.875-04:00Pineapple. :)Pineapple. :)Authoresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-37656952908118108802012-04-23T16:56:22.475-04:002012-04-23T16:56:22.475-04:00Hey Anonymous,
Bring that bowl of salt over here ...Hey Anonymous,<br /><br />Bring that bowl of salt over here and let's make some margaritas! <br /><br />And yes, everyone, keep writing!Lucky #13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-6193537454717130352012-04-23T16:48:34.927-04:002012-04-23T16:48:34.927-04:00I have to say, I'm frequently surprised when I...I have to say, I'm frequently surprised when I read the picks the guest agent likes best. I know it all comes down to personal taste, and I understand and appreciate that, because you want your dream agent to be on the same page as you. <br /><br />My surprise here was that because of her bio, I expected our agent to prefer humorous mysteries, when, in fact, she is a fan of the dark and creepy variety. After reading her bio, I had put her on my query list, but after reading her comments (which were brief but helpful), I know I'm not her type. Which was helpful for me to find out. <br /><br />My other surprise with guest agents has to do with my inner salesman. When I see a clear fan favorite and even though it may not be my personal fave, my inner salesman screams "ka-ching!" Yet agents often seem to prefer entries that didn't receive much reading interest from the peanut gallery. While we may be writers, we are also voracious readers, which means: we buy books. <br /><br />Agenting is obviously different than other types of sales, yet the ultimate goal is to sell, sell, sell. So sometimes I have to scratch my head and wonder why.<br /><br />That said, I'm not an agent, nor have I ever played one on TV, so I have no idea what goes on in AgentLand. But I am almost always the top salesperson wherever I work, so my intuition can't be that far off. <br /><br />But I learn something from every single agent who takes time out of their busy day to appear on MSFV, so thanks to all of you!<br /><br />And thanks always to The Divine Miss A!<br /><br />PS- So, what flavor did we choose?Clark W. Griswoldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-47257581135928970342012-04-23T16:23:28.112-04:002012-04-23T16:23:28.112-04:00I agree with some previous sentiments, that not gi...I agree with some previous sentiments, that not giving (valid) reasons for why something didn't work or didn't appeal isn't helpful. But then, these contests are free and run out of the kindness of Authoress's and agents' hearts. <br /><br />I didn't enter this content, but I've been in some previous ones, and one in which Danielle commented/critiqued. Her comments on my writing seemed rushed and gave me nothing to go on. To top it off, she claimed my grammar was incorrect and that was what turned her off, but it actually turned out to be *correct*. So...obviously not a good fit for either of us! I honestly don't think she read beyond that line. I'm glad I entered, though; I had fantastic, helpful, critical feedback from others (and not the happy-clappy kind, either, but actual useful stuff!)<br /><br />All that to say, I still think these contests are great and the community is largely helpful and awesome. Writers, keep it up. Don't let what one agent says become the be-all and end-all. Take it with an entire bowl of salt if need be, and move on. Use it as a way to see which agents are your cup of tea. If you get a response from an agent that's productive, that you can learn from, fantastic. But not all feedback will be like that, unfortunately! Don't give up!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-69599596775619235402012-04-23T16:17:24.927-04:002012-04-23T16:17:24.927-04:00Many thanks to Danielle for doing this. I'll b...Many thanks to Danielle for doing this. I'll be the first to admit that I really suck at writing blurbs. And queries. And pretty much anything that has to be short and to the point. :) <br /><br />I think I've got the thick-skin thing down pat, so I love when someone can come right out and say, "Hey, this doesn't work," or whatever. Some of the best (and most helpful) advice I've ever received on my writing has been from agents who weren't afraid to say it like it is.<br /><br />So again, thank you, Ms. Svetcov!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924194998560921694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-80195181188368718592012-04-23T16:07:50.359-04:002012-04-23T16:07:50.359-04:00Luckily, I've already developed tough skin. Al...Luckily, I've already developed tough skin. Although I did have to laugh, because I originally had my intro starting with the action and I was told by someone else to do otherwise! <br /><br />It's all subjective, I know, and I've already been reworking the intro out in my mind, my first step towards revising. It just feels like I've spent more time working on the first couple pages than I have with my entire MS, kind of like I spend more time taming my bangs into submission than the rest of my hair. Oh well, if I can get my bangs to look good, I can certainly whip out a decent intro!<br /><br />But I appreciate Danielle's advice, Authoress giving me this great opportunity and the comments from the other writers. Thank you one and all!<br /><br />PS~ I still love #21 as is!Lucky #13noreply@blogger.com