Dismal. Very. Dismal.
I've been writing for a long time now. My track record is damn good. I've never been rejected for a piece (though I haven't always gotten my first choice publisher.) It's been smooth sailing. Pretty much I write something, send out a query or pitch and then it goes away. A check comes in the mail to replace it. Yay.
Now, I've never attempted something as big as a book before. Frankly, the prospect of writing one was pretty terrifying. I've gotten over it. Book is written and now in the final stages of editing. Under very trusted advice, I've decided to break a deal with a publisher in Thailand and instead pitch it to the U.S or U.K distributors.
What the hell is this agent crap?
Yes, I've heard of this 'literary agent' beast, but never encountered one first hand. I thought they were like the yeti or Sasquatch...some mythical animal that appears out of the mist of fame.
Um. No.
I'm sitting on a bed in Scotland, wearing a fuzzy robe at three in the afternoon, staring at my laptop like it's just grown a second head. (Because even a first head wouldn't be all that bad.)
As a former model, the very word 'agent' is up the same alley as 'predator' to me. Isn't that the fat, greasy guy that tries to trick you into doing porn?
Being in over my head is nothing new. I'm a professional technical diver, after all. But frankly, I'd rather deal with the oceanic sharks than the human ones.
While I've got a good idea of what to avoid, I sure as hell don't know where to start.
Whose idea was this anyway?
Oh yeah. Mine.
Great.
Maybe I should just publish in Thailand, instead. It might not make much money, but at least I'll have my foot in the door.
Alas, dear T/A. You get to hear the stories of my sorrow. It is cloudy out and my drysuit is leaking in the neck seal. This means everyone else is out diving, and I'm sitting here bitching to you.
~le sigh~
Now, I've never attempted something as big as a book before. Frankly, the prospect of writing one was pretty terrifying. I've gotten over it. Book is written and now in the final stages of editing. Under very trusted advice, I've decided to break a deal with a publisher in Thailand and instead pitch it to the U.S or U.K distributors.
What the hell is this agent crap?
Yes, I've heard of this 'literary agent' beast, but never encountered one first hand. I thought they were like the yeti or Sasquatch...some mythical animal that appears out of the mist of fame.
Um. No.
I'm sitting on a bed in Scotland, wearing a fuzzy robe at three in the afternoon, staring at my laptop like it's just grown a second head. (Because even a first head wouldn't be all that bad.)
As a former model, the very word 'agent' is up the same alley as 'predator' to me. Isn't that the fat, greasy guy that tries to trick you into doing porn?
Being in over my head is nothing new. I'm a professional technical diver, after all. But frankly, I'd rather deal with the oceanic sharks than the human ones.
While I've got a good idea of what to avoid, I sure as hell don't know where to start.
Whose idea was this anyway?
Oh yeah. Mine.
Great.
Maybe I should just publish in Thailand, instead. It might not make much money, but at least I'll have my foot in the door.
Alas, dear T/A. You get to hear the stories of my sorrow. It is cloudy out and my drysuit is leaking in the neck seal. This means everyone else is out diving, and I'm sitting here bitching to you.
~le sigh~
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on June 28, 2009 at 11:14am -
Heya Emz!
I wondered what happened to you. Glad you are still kicking around the site! I'd have been devastated if you would have left, but since I've got your personal email, the option for stalking you is readily available :) Hope life's treating you well.
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Comment by Reggie on June 28, 2009 at 11:36am -
Stories of sorrow? Sounds like you are living the life. What's it like to be good at several things? I've always wondered.
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on June 28, 2009 at 11:38am
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Awesome! You were missed!
And yeah. I can't imagine trying to keep a large crowed of children under control without the benefit of physical activity! Good luck. I know you're great at it, though.
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on June 28, 2009 at 11:45am
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Hahaha.... Reggie.. you flatter me.
Just because I've survived doesn't make me good at it!
I can't even say I'm good at writing. It's just that my niche market is so very absurd there aren't a lot of writers in the field... and those that are generally don't speak English as a first language.
Oh yeah.. I look good on paper!
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Comment by Reggie on June 28, 2009 at 12:06pm
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Sometimes finding one's niche is the most skillful and fortuitous trait of all!
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Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on June 28, 2009 at 12:19pm
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You know, Reg.. it's about the small things. I have lots of little niches.. but for the day to day stuff, it's all about going to bed with a smile on your face.
I looked out the window today, and it's high cloud coverage. Shit weather for Scotland, but at least not freezing.
How did I make something good out of it? Well, this morning I made up a Guinness broth for a pot roast and drank the rest of the Guinness! Ha!
..and then I did a little research on literary agents and got depressed again...so I had another Guinness.
Still not making much progress with an agent, but at least dinner smells good!
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Comment by Dave G on June 28, 2009 at 12:57pm -
I wish I could help on the agent front, Misty, but my experience with such is limited to stories told by writers. Much like acting agents or contractor agents, you can get good ones and bad ones, and most are in the middle, from what I understand.
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Comment by Reggie on June 28, 2009 at 7:47pm
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Misty, I think would have fun hanging out with you!
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