Comments on: On Agents

By: Robert Buettner

Robert Buettner — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:05:23 +0000

One reason you have read this far down in this post may be that you think Stephen King or the like is going to fly into a rage and write a riposte to Lily, because she hid the truth that only The Published know: there is a secret handshake that guarantees publication!

Fuggedabout it. I’m an author who receives the same sort of requests that Lily does. I share with Lily a publisher and editor (though, alas, not Lily’s talent or success) and every blunt word she has written above is true. Of the alternatives Lily lists, I didn’t go the small press route to New York publication, but rather the agent query-rejection route. So, testimonial, that really does work, too.

But the first thing to do is learn to write well. The second thing to do is write lots. The third thing to do is persevere when one and two don’t work immediately. “Immediately” in this context means within the first couple of years/first million words.

By: TS

TS — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:08:55 +0000

Ha! I used to work in publishing for a major house and everything the author says is true — but people always want the easy way out.

By: Sassee

Sassee — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:03:23 +0000

Hi Lily, I love your work! And since I smooched your behind just then, I need some favors from you. I have this novel you see, “Stuff Like Such As”, and I think maybe if I had your editor’s name and address I could send it to her and become rich, but if you could proof it for me beforehand that would be awesome sauce and I could totally put your name in the acknowledgements and we could be the bestest BFFs ever. Does that work for you? Good, yes, I thought so. Please call me at 555-555-OHAI so we can talk, k?

By: Kay

Kay — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:25:40 +0000

Hee hee hee!! You are a breathe of fresh air! So much so that I, a notorious lurker, feel the need to post in support.

I’m in the visual arts and we get the same crap from our youngsters/wannabe’s. “Who carries your work? How’d YOU get into that gallery (implication: their stuff is so much better) Who do YOU know on the selection committee? I’m the next Picasso. How do I get thirty mistresses and a villa in Spain?”

The truth applies across all creative disciplines. You learn the basics, you work, you work more and you work harder than you ever thought possible. You make a lot of mistakes and you learn from them and improve. Then maybe, with a combination of hard work, talent and a little luck someone likes your stuff enough to take a chance on it.

So, don’t feel alone with the world wanting to skate on your coat tails. Take it as a compliment that you have worked hard and achieved success in your own right.

And kids (yes, you… the ones writing in and wanting her agent’s private line) back off and let her write!! Go google or something…

By: E.A. Knight

E.A. Knight — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:54:00 +0000

I recently moved half way across the country, and was forced to cut my what turned out to be 8 meat packing boxes full of books down to one.

Eight to one box made it very clear to me which authors I valued most for enjoyment. Will I pick some of the others back up eventually? Sure. Will I keep buying the six to seven authors I kept? Most deffinately.

You made that pile automatically… even if I had to dig Working for the Devil out from under the pile of pillows on the bed.

Dante is a great character, so is Japh. Jill is a whole new ball game, and I’ve read passages aloud to my guy from your books, and he’s cracked up laughing at some of your more — unique phrasing of events.

The sense of humor and gritty writing keeps drawing me in…. any advice on how to actually get my guy to read you? Cause I really think he’d get a kick out of the experience.

Thanks From Emily.

By: Kira

Kira — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:46:51 +0000

Dear Ms Saintcrow,

I just like your work. It was an unexpected delight to find that you had been so generous to post this story on the internet - thank you.

I like your work because -

the back story is so interesting
and
they guy’s helpless obsessions with the girls makes my bones melt (although I came around to Dante’s POV by the last book and hated Japhrimel along with her)

Looking forward to the conclusion. Thanks, Kira.
( in Australia)