And so another Baker's Dozen draws to a close.
The one-week exclusive for winning agents began yesterday. Next Thursday, I will begin sending out agent requests for the Things They Didn't Win. I will also send out requests from Skulking Agents. (That is, agents who poked around the contest, saw things they liked, and asked me to send requests.)
So even though it SEEMS like it's over, the Baker's Dozen keeps zipping along behind the scenes.
I can't thank everyone enough--truly. Everyone who entered, everyone who critiqued, everyone who cheered. And, of course, I appreciate the bravery of the 60 winners. (Yes, bravery. It's like standing in the grocery store naked. Or something.)
Agents...editors...published authors. Thank you all.
Yes, I'm planning on doing this again next year. Absolutely. Beyond that, though, I can't say. For the last two years, blog hits on the day of the auction have DECREASED. This means that, although I'm getting the same amount of interest in actually entering the contest, the auction itself is losing its audience.
It might be this: "Well, I didn't enter, and I'm not really interested."
It might be this: "Well, I entered, but I didn't get chosen, so I'm outta here. This is too painful."
It might be this: "Well, I entered, but I didn't get chosen, so I'm on to the next exciting online event."
Here's the thing. When I started this blog, there was almost nothing like it out there. Now, five years later, there are all sorts of author contests. So many, in fact, that agents have complained about it. Overkill. Same-entries-everywhere-on-the-web.
I hear that. And I lament it.
I don't lament that there are lots of exciting choices for writers out there. WRITERS NEED THINGS TO HELP THEM CONNECT TO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. But I do lament that there's so much hoopla that it's wearying the agents and spreading the writers thin.
There's a certain "high" about being in an online contest (you know it's true). And my concern is that some aspiring authors are jumping from high to high instead of buckling down to the important-but-hated task of querying. YES, people win contests and go on to receive representation--and even book deals. But QUERYING IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO GET AN AGENT.
My initial vision for this blog was to create a place where authors could critique each other's work. A place to work on quality of writing. In short order, I conceived the Secret Agent concept, and it took off with great gusto. I kept it simple, though, and still do--one agent, 50 entries, focus on critique. Many of the contests out there are so convoluted that I can't even understand how they work. (Yeah, okay--that might just be me. If I have to read too many instructions, I lose interest. It's the whole divergent brain thing.)
For most writers, though, the "high" remains. And regardless of how great the contests are and how many success stories they ultimately lead to, I fear that, for some writers, it's like eating too much candy.
Not so good for you.
(And think about it: If you're jumping from contest to contest with your novel, then when, exactly, are you sitting down and seriously revising it?)
So, yes, I'm cutting down on the number of Secret Agent contests I do next year. I will publish the schedule at the end of this month, so you will know what to expect. I want to continue to offer high quality contests and critique on this blog, and I'm confident that we will continue to have success stories here. But I don't want to be a part of the too-much-noise problem online.
As for the Baker's Dozen? Like I said, I'm planning to do it again next year. But it's disheartening, to say the least, to work so hard on something and then lose the audience to the next promise of candy out there. (And, hey. You can eat as much candy as you want--I'm not your mama! But someone's got to do something about the overkill, right?)
Choose your contests carefully. You don't need to hit them all. Give yourself time to JUST SIT THERE AND WORK YOUR BUTT OFF ON YOUR NOVEL. Because that's what's going to sell it. Not feeling all the sparkles from the every-other-month contests you're entering. Not throwing it out there over and over again without making it better first.
Be SMART about how you get your work out there.
(And, for what it's worth, I didn't land my agent through a contest. I, yanno, queried him. And he is one of the best things that's ever happened to my career. Without a single contest sparkle.)
Love you all! May your weekend be refreshing, and may words tumble effortlessly from your fingers.
Miss Snark's First Victim
Friday, December 6, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Pam van Hylckama Vlieg and "No Pitch Left Behind"
Some--probably many--of you have already picked up on the fact that every single entry in this year's Baker's Dozen received at least one bid. This was not an accident.
Later in the day on Tuesday, I received the following email from Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, one of our Baker's Dozen all-stars:
Everything has at least a 10 page request and I plan to critique them.
Being a bit fuzz-headed from the auction, I wasn't quite sure what she meant. So she clarified:
I usually critique as I read through! So I bid 10 pages on the ones that had no bids and I'll leave notes when I email them about it :).
At this point, I realized I was actually talking to an AUCTION FAIRY, and not a real agent at all. I thanked her profusely and told her how much I hate it when entries don't get any bids. Here is her response:
I hate it, too! It shouldn't be that way. The book I sold for the biggest money was a pitch contest and no one bid on it. I knew it was either going to suck or be amazing. You have to check the writing!
So there you have it. Pam van Hylckama Vlieg is going to read and critique each of those 10-page requests. With an eye to the you-never-know-where-a-hidden-gem-lies.
And she has dubbed it the "No Pitch Left Behind Act". (Hee.)
Pam -- here is your VERY PUBLIC THANK YOU! Thank you for the gift of your time. Thank you for joining me in supporting serious aspiring authors on their journeys. Thank you for allowing me to post a winner list that included all 60 of our brave entrants.
Let the celebrating commence!
Later in the day on Tuesday, I received the following email from Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, one of our Baker's Dozen all-stars:
Everything has at least a 10 page request and I plan to critique them.
Being a bit fuzz-headed from the auction, I wasn't quite sure what she meant. So she clarified:
I usually critique as I read through! So I bid 10 pages on the ones that had no bids and I'll leave notes when I email them about it :).
At this point, I realized I was actually talking to an AUCTION FAIRY, and not a real agent at all. I thanked her profusely and told her how much I hate it when entries don't get any bids. Here is her response:
I hate it, too! It shouldn't be that way. The book I sold for the biggest money was a pitch contest and no one bid on it. I knew it was either going to suck or be amazing. You have to check the writing!
So there you have it. Pam van Hylckama Vlieg is going to read and critique each of those 10-page requests. With an eye to the you-never-know-where-a-hidden-gem-lies.
And she has dubbed it the "No Pitch Left Behind Act". (Hee.)
Pam -- here is your VERY PUBLIC THANK YOU! Thank you for the gift of your time. Thank you for joining me in supporting serious aspiring authors on their journeys. Thank you for allowing me to post a winner list that included all 60 of our brave entrants.
Let the celebrating commence!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The 2013 Baker's Dozen Agent Auction WINNERS
Another exciting auction, folks! I'm especially grateful to our illustrious agents, who kept things rolling while I had to be away from my desk for an hour during prime bidding time. (Not only is Michelle Wolfson a fine agent, but also she's very bossy and knows how to set things straight. She's a keeper!)
We've got 23 FULL REQUESTS! And some disgruntled agents, too. (Yanno. The ones who lost the fulls they really wanted.) And TONS of behind-the-scenes and in-the-comment-boxes fun. (Some of these agents could easily moonshine as stand-up comics. Seriously. Scroll through if you haven't had the pleasure yet.)
ANYWAY -- Here's the final list:
We've got 23 FULL REQUESTS! And some disgruntled agents, too. (Yanno. The ones who lost the fulls they really wanted.) And TONS of behind-the-scenes and in-the-comment-boxes fun. (Some of these agents could easily moonshine as stand-up comics. Seriously. Scroll through if you haven't had the pleasure yet.)
ANYWAY -- Here's the final list:
1. A TEMPORARY CONVENIENCE: Josh Getzler -- 20 pages
2. THE NINE: Josh Getzler -- 20 pages
3. FORM AND VOID: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- FULL
4. BREEDING GROUNDS -- Michelle Wolfson -- FULL
5. STARBREAK: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
6. DEMIGOD: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 100 pages
7. TALASSIO: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 50 pages
8. LIKE WATCHING FIREWORKS FROM NANTUCKER HARBOR: Carlie Webber -- 70 pages
9. RETURN TO ME: Tamar Rydzinski -- 15 pages
10. SECOND SUN: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
11. THE LAST RESORT: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
12. PENNY CANDLE: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
13. CLOUDLAND, AND OTHER STORIES: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
14. WITCH WAY DOWN: Victoria Marini -- FULL
15. A BREATH OF SILVER: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 50 pages
16. TO THE SEA: Carlie Webber -- 30 pages
17. PRIME: Michelle Wolfson -- 12 pages
18. WOE TO THE TYRO: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
19. DAY OF THE NIGHTWRAITH: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 5 pages
20. WHITE SKY: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
21. THE BIG UGLY: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
22. THE OBITUIST -- Michelle Wolfson -- FULL
23. MAN MAID -- Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- FULL
24. SPIRIT WEAVER: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
25. CROSS DRESSED TO KILL: Josh Getzler -- 20 pages
26. WHERE DEVILS BREED -- Sarah Negovatich -- FULL
27. RED DIRT, WHITE NOISE: Joan Paquette -- 25 pages
28. THIS IS NOT A LOVE STORY: Carlie Webber -- 100 pages
29. SLAM -- Michelle Wolfson -- FULL
30. THIS ISN'T SHAKESPEARE: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
31. STARTRIPPED: Tamar Rydzinski -- FULL
32. BECOMING HERO -- Michelle Wolfson -- FULL
33. FORTUNATA -- Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- FULL
34. THROUGH THE WALLED CITY: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
35. JAWAHAR: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
36. STREAMWALKERS: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
37. WHERE THERE IS DARK: Victoria Marini -- FULL
38. LYNCHPIN: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
39. MAGICK 7.0 -- Joan Paquette -- FULL
40. THE CRIMSON CROWN -- Caryn Wiseman -- FULL
41. LIMITLESS: Tricia Lawrence -- FULL
42. THE DRAGON'S PEARL: Joan Paquette -- 10 pages
43. CHICK MAGNET: Michelle Wolfson -- 34 pages
44. APPRENTICE: Joan Paquette -- FULL
45. SHADOWCATCHERS: Danielle Chiotti -- FULL
46. THE FIDDLER KING: Danielle Chiotti -- FULL
47. SAVAGE JUNGLE: Tricia Lawrence -- 5 pages
48. BLANK CANVAS -- Michelle Wolfson -- FULL
49. THUNDERSTRUCK: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
50. ALL THAT REMAINS -- Victoria Marini -- FULL
51. HEART OF SPARKS: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 50 pages
52. ENERGY BENDER: Sarah Negovatich -- 75 pages
53. CLEMENTINE: Caryn Wiseman -- FULL
54. SAY MY NAME: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- FULL
55. REVISING THE CATCH-UP PLAN -- Lauren MacLeod -- FULL
56. THE MILLINER'S SON -- Josh Getzler -- FULL
57. THE DYSLEXIC SPELL READER: Michelle Wolfson -- 12 pages
58. CROWDED: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
59. TREE ROPER: Josh Getzler -- 20 pages
60. THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg -- 10 pages
Once the week has expired, other agents who placed bids--but didn't win--will have the opportunity to email me to request material from the auction. SO SIT TIGHT. I'll be contacting you if you've got more requests.
(And, yes. There MIGHT be an agent or editor here and there who have been snooping around and drooling into my email box in addition to the winning bids. I will be busy for a few days!)
CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE! And to the agents--your participation is, as always, deeply appreciated. May GOOD THINGS HAPPEN!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Baker's Dozen Agent Auction -- BIDDING IS LIVE!
Welcome to the 4th Annual Baker's Dozen Agent Auction!
Please STOP CRITIQUING at this time. Bidding is now LIVE.
*slams gavel*
HOW IT WORKS:
* Agents will open bidding with a minimum bid of 5 pages.
* A total of 5 bids must be made on an item before agents are allowed to bid the full.
* The full bid trumps all. Once an item receives a full bid, bidding for that item is closed, and the agent who bid the full wins it.
*At the close of the auction tomorrow (at 11:00 am), all high bids win the items.
TO THE ENTRANTS:
Dear Ones:
Not everyone will receive bids. I know you know this, but I wanted to point it out again. Because IT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR WORK STINKS. These are 14 agents out of hundreds. Literally. Keep querying widely.
Okay, here we go! DON'T STAND TOO CLOSE--YOU WON'T WANT TO GET BLOOD-SPRAYED!
Please STOP CRITIQUING at this time. Bidding is now LIVE.
*slams gavel*
HOW IT WORKS:
* Agents will open bidding with a minimum bid of 5 pages.
* A total of 5 bids must be made on an item before agents are allowed to bid the full.
* The full bid trumps all. Once an item receives a full bid, bidding for that item is closed, and the agent who bid the full wins it.
*At the close of the auction tomorrow (at 11:00 am), all high bids win the items.
TO THE ENTRANTS:
Dear Ones:
Not everyone will receive bids. I know you know this, but I wanted to point it out again. Because IT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR WORK STINKS. These are 14 agents out of hundreds. Literally. Keep querying widely.
Okay, here we go! DON'T STAND TOO CLOSE--YOU WON'T WANT TO GET BLOOD-SPRAYED!
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