Okay...I have to say it
My wonderful, talented, beautiful agent, Kristin Nelson, is in New York for a few days doing lunch and winning friends and blogging about the experience--more specifically, what interesting tidbits editors are sharing over cobb salads.
What's hot? What's not? What are their dream submissions at the moment?
I think this is a lot of fun; and the economist in me is all about market trends and the supply and demand of great books. But the writer in me knows to take this in the way that Kristin intends: as something interesting and possibly helpful but not as a guaranteed roadmap to a six figure deal.
Kristin does this a couple of times of year, and every time I read her blog with interest, and then I sit back and watch the general panic/euphoria/craziness that happens among writers in the wake of this insider scoop.
Which leads me to say again--one more time. For the record.
There is no secret handshake, magic bullet, pink paper method to instant success.
An agent had lunch with an editor. They talked about a certain type of book. You write that type of book. Does that mean you should hop on a plane, fly to New York, put on your best suit and stroll into the publishing house with your future bestseller under your arm? No.
Does that mean you should carefully hone your manuscript and actively pursue publication? Maybe. When the manuscript is ready.
And if the editor didn't mention your type of book over lunch, does that mean you should ceremoniously burn it in the barbecue grill? No. I seriously doubt JK Rowling's editor and agent ever had lunch and said, "gee, I wish we could find a 700 page book about an orphan where a lot of the words are made up and hard to pronounce."
Folks, success in this business isn't about knowing what editors and agents talk about over lunch--that's interesting; or thought-provoking; or maybe even fascinating. But that will neither make nor break you.
I've gotten in trouble before by saying that if you want a better writing career, write a better book. (And amazingly, the only time I ever take greif is for saying it among writers.) But I'm going to say it again. Don't worry about lunch talk or trends or what color paper to print your query letter on.
Because, ultimately, what does a writer control? The book.
I'm bracing for the outrage and irate comments; but still, I had to say it....
Ally
What's hot? What's not? What are their dream submissions at the moment?
I think this is a lot of fun; and the economist in me is all about market trends and the supply and demand of great books. But the writer in me knows to take this in the way that Kristin intends: as something interesting and possibly helpful but not as a guaranteed roadmap to a six figure deal.
Kristin does this a couple of times of year, and every time I read her blog with interest, and then I sit back and watch the general panic/euphoria/craziness that happens among writers in the wake of this insider scoop.
Which leads me to say again--one more time. For the record.
There is no secret handshake, magic bullet, pink paper method to instant success.
An agent had lunch with an editor. They talked about a certain type of book. You write that type of book. Does that mean you should hop on a plane, fly to New York, put on your best suit and stroll into the publishing house with your future bestseller under your arm? No.
Does that mean you should carefully hone your manuscript and actively pursue publication? Maybe. When the manuscript is ready.
And if the editor didn't mention your type of book over lunch, does that mean you should ceremoniously burn it in the barbecue grill? No. I seriously doubt JK Rowling's editor and agent ever had lunch and said, "gee, I wish we could find a 700 page book about an orphan where a lot of the words are made up and hard to pronounce."
Folks, success in this business isn't about knowing what editors and agents talk about over lunch--that's interesting; or thought-provoking; or maybe even fascinating. But that will neither make nor break you.
I've gotten in trouble before by saying that if you want a better writing career, write a better book. (And amazingly, the only time I ever take greif is for saying it among writers.) But I'm going to say it again. Don't worry about lunch talk or trends or what color paper to print your query letter on.
Because, ultimately, what does a writer control? The book.
I'm bracing for the outrage and irate comments; but still, I had to say it....
Ally
posted by Ally Carter at Friday, March 30, 2007
7 Comments:
I don't understand why that is so bad to say...please explain more!
I'm with you, girl. Say it again....and again....and maybe, just maybe, someone will get it.
I think telling authors who want a better writing career to concentrate on making their next book better than the last is good advice, because, as you said, that's the only thing you control, and- more importantly- because writers should ALWAYS be improving and challenging themselves. I don't care whether you've already reached the pinnacle of success or not- you should always try to make the next book better than your last. So, in a way, the "write a better book" advice goes for everyone, not just someone who's dissatisfied with their career.
The corollary to "want a better career, write a better book," however, is that writing a better book won't guarantee you a better writing career- there's nothing you can do that comes with a success guarantee in this business. It's a lot like the "real" world, I think- the most qualified candidate isn't always the one that gets the job; the most deserving employee doesn't always get the promotion. Life is often, but not always fair. All anyone can do is the absolute best they can, and if you're doing that (in writing, in revising, in being an easy person to work with, in helping to promote your books in whatever small ways you can without taking away from the first two), that's all you can do, and for me, the best thing to do at that point is sit back and enjoy the journey and the process for what it is, because everything else is out of your hands.
Just my take. :)
thanks jennifer, that really clears that up for me!
Great post, Jen.
-Ally
ally- is your email working yet???
A. Men.
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