This just in: I am not a seer.
No, really.
Long story short, some anonymous hecklers and some apparently published authors submitted their first pages in the contest, and since they were not chosen as finalists, they feel that this means that either a) I’m an idiot, b) the publishing process is broken, and/or c) well, I’m sure there may have been a c but I deleted their comments because I loathe anonymous snark (as opposed to the anonymous Miss Snark, whom I love).
First of all, don’t you know that Spencer is the enemy? Why are you targeting me?
Second of all, welcome to publishing. Pull up a chair. I hope you’ll stay awhile. It’s an interesting place.
For the people who apparently believe agents should divine the publishing prospects of a work based solely on the first page of said work: uh, that’s not really how it works actually. Over 20 publishers passed on A WRINKLE IN TIME when they had the whole manuscript in their hands, let alone just the few words that came after “It was a dark and stormy night.” Publishers passed on [insert any bestseller and/or classic book here] a bunch of times. This is a subjective process in which many wonderful books are passed on. Publishing is all about matching up the right book with the right agent and the right editor at the right time. Even if an agent or editor passed up on the next huge book, it doesn’t mean they’re stupid — they might just not have been the right fit. Enthusiasm and fit are everything.
But wait, you might say: don’t agents try and divine the publishing prospects of queries all the time? Yes! We do — but this is why the (admittedly imperfect) query process is in place. A query should give a sense of the overall work, whereas judging a book based on the first page is like trying to determine how awesome the Statue of Liberty is just by looking at her toenail. This is why it’s necessary to write a good query and query widely. Subjectivity is the name of the game.
So for the people who are getting worked up about a for-fun contest on an agent blog: simmer down there, hot rod. This all goes with the territory. The purpose of this contest was to find some good first pages and have fun in the process. Aren’t we having fun?
And oh by the way — how about those six finalists? Aren’t they good?
Some people requested that I speak a bit more on how I chose my finalists, so here goes. There were many awesome first pages, but I found myself drawn to a particular group, and frankly I’m very happy with the choices.
A first page really can do (basically) four things: reveal the setting, reveal the characters, reveal the plot, and/or reveal the style. There were many first pages (just as there are many wonderful books) that started off with a wonderfully evocative setting, there were many that started off with wonderful characters, an intriguing plot and/or an interesting style. You could find all sorts of wonderful books that start with a combination of one, two, three, or four of these elements (ATONENMENT, for instance, begins with a fascinating character, Briony, organizing a play with McEwan’s intricate style).
For the purposes of this contest, perhaps because we’re judging the first page and ONLY the first page, I, personally, found myself drawn to works that revealed all four elements.
I also found myself drawn to works with a high degree of difficulty. As I mentioned in the comments of the voting thread, at first blush, some of these finalists might seem very straightforward, but it is VERY difficult to capture a pitch perfect voice and a historical setting like Heather!Anne! did (she even used the word reckon well, which is nearly impossible to do), it’s VERY difficult to ease the reader into a world while building some spine-tingling suspense like terryd, VERY difficult to simultaneously introduce a strange futuristic world while at the same time eliciting a response like “yup, I know this family” like luc, VERY difficult to master the impeccable flow of kari’s first page and then bring a smile to the reader’s face with that dialogue, VERY difficult to elicit a sense of place like Charlotte, and such an impeccable and precisely-constructed mood like Julianne.
While I can rule out some works objectively because they’re far away from publishable quality — ultimately it’s subjective. I picked four out of 675. There were many more that were good, more that I want to see more of, and apparently a few by some excitable authors taking this contest just a tad too seriously.
I went with the ones that really struck me and that I was most enthusiastic about. And at the end of the day, that’s the way the publishing process works.
Allen B. Ogey says
Nathan,
Surely you have too firm a grasp of the realities of authors/agents/publishing to be bothered by the nitwits?*
Thanks for the contest.
Allen
* (another Miss Snark fan here)
pamela hammonds says
Sorry to hear your generous contest became the target of those who made it into a personal battle of wits or witlessness, as the case may be. I was planning to enter but declined after seeing some of the snarky comments circulating on writing blogs as of late–yours and others. I know it takes a thick skin to put your work out there for all to read and critique, but for me, just not into it right now. The analogy of the Statue of Liberty and her toenail was perfect. What you offered up was a free pedicure. Not the whole body massage.
Linnea says
Glad to hear you deleted the hecklers. They really need to learn to suck it up. As you said this is a very subjective business. I’ve had some scathing reviews and some embarrassingly enthusiastic reviews. Writers must learn to take it all in stride. I thought your choice of finalists was superb. There wasn’t one false note among them. They all read beautifully.
pjd says
You know, I have to say I don’t feel that disappointed that I came in seventh out of 675. Tied for 7th, sure, but still 7th.
Hey, are you going to do one of those Oprah/Ellen things and give everyone in the audience a free prize now? That’d be cool.
Thank you for running this contest. And thanks also to the intrepid bloggers who offered critiques. Anyone who takes the time to read even a dozen of the first pages and then re-read his or her own first page is bound to learn something. If they’re paying attention to something other than their own ego.
Laurel Amberdine says
What I noticed about the entries is that they’re a lot… denser and slower than I expected.
I know you said that novels didn’t have to start with shock and awe, but still. These are very different than the openings I’ve seen picked in other contests.
I don’t mean to put anyone’s writing down — it’s largely a matter of taste, after all — but these choices were refreshing after seeing so many cute/snarky/grabby openings always get all the attention.
Thanks again. I hope the anonymous jerks don’t detract too much. There are a lot more appreciative people out here, even if they don’t put quite the energy into expressing their thanks.
(Very cute, pjd.)
Usman says
Nathan you are awesome for even having undergone the exercise.
The finalists were great. And the whole process was instructional.
amanda h says
Nathan,
I thought this was a great contest.
As a writer, it was amazing to see the variety of the entries. Sort of like spending my day at the bookstore, picking up one book after another, trying to choose which book to buy.
Thanks,
Amanda
PS Have you seen the new Heidi video for “Higher”? That might cheer you up. Everything I know about the Hills, I learned from you.
joey says
Nathan,
I don’t want to get too mushy here, but thank you very much for this contest. I’m sure I’m not alone in my tiny and somewhat insignificant praise but having a chance like this, to put myself out there was liberating. After a few deep breaths and tightly squeezing my eyes shut before I hit the enter key, I did it. Sure, it got the heart pumping a bit, but I did it. And, I’m still here.
Everything is new to me, and you are a great teacher. Thanks for putting yourself and your experience out there for me and anyone else who happens along.
Oh, and your runners up are all very good. I’m having a hard time picking one.
John G. Goetrich says
Nathan is a total tool. I thought with him being ostensibly a male, and not in NY, that he may be one to have broken out of the current chick-fluff domination of the publishing industry.
Put away your scarf and penny loafers, put down that latte, and regrow some stones, do something involving sweat, and (re)read some Hemingway or something.
Julie Weathers says
Nathan, I’m sorry you and Holly had to become targets. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s hard to accept being passed over, but that’s no reason to be ungracious.
Most authors were passed by numerous agents and publishers before hitting their stride. It doesn’t mean the writing is bad, sometimes things just don’t click. I am guessing that those same authors probably did some changing during the submission process.
People need to keep this in mind.
Am I disappointed Paladin wasn’t a finalist? Sure. Am I surprised? Not at all. It was a learning process. I’ve seen some really good first pages here and the ones who made the final cut earned their places.
Nathan Bransford says
john g. goetrich-
Normally I delete these sorts of things, but that one was just too funny.
And for the record, you can say anything you’d like about me, but DON’T DIS THE PENNY LOAFERS. They’re stylish AND comfortable.
Anonymous says
These selections were all very very well written, and I congratulate the writers. There is a market for each of them, assuming they can carry all the pages through.
They are smart, smooth, poignant, and two are rather clever, but they all fall into the same “feel” which I’m not a good enough writer to explain other than to say they are all “Sex in the City” while I was hoping for at least one “Sopranos.”
You know what I mean? Something compelling, something that makes me think, something that makes my breathing slow with tension.
Its just a different taste and market.
Sumit says
It is sad to know that some authors are taking it personally. It was fun, really, and more than that, it was a great learning experience for many of us. That said, I have not yet reached at the end of the third chapter of my first ever book so I don’t have the authority to judge anyone. My choice for the winner is based solely on my reader’s instinct. I read a lot more than I write, nearly 100 books a year.
Thanks again to Nathan and everyone involved. Have fun 🙂
jgg says
Thanks Nathan, That was a ballsy retort, I respect that, perhaps you are on the way to recovery.
Now your next assignment is to go call up some badly dressed Giants fans (know any?), pick up a case of cheap beer, and imbibe until you run out of WWF DVDs.
Other Lisa says
WOW!
And, uh, wow.
The beauty of these here intertubes is that some anonymous schmoe can say he/she has a six book, multi-gajillion dollar deal, and of course that means it’s absolutely true!
/snark.
There is a mantra I’ve found myself repeating quite a lot lately – not every book is for everybody. If this were not the case, we wouldn’t need nearly as many bookshelves in stores and libraries to keep all us readers happy.
Diana says
A query should give a sense of the overall work, whereas judging a book based on the first page is like trying to determine how awesome the Statue of Liberty is just by looking at her toenail.
I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to start looking for reasons to quote this in conversation!
What I enjoyed about this contest was that we had the opportunity to see snippets of so many different writing styles in such a small place. While I tend to lean towards “light” and “fun” (though not without intellectual stimulation) in my own reading at the end of a long day, it doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate the beauty of some of the writing showcased in this contest. Even if they didn’t fit in to the types of books I generally go for.
If you find yourself without enough to do, Nathan, I would love to know, contest aside, which first pages sparkled enough to make you want to read more (even if they didn’t exhibit all of the amazing qualities of the Fantastic Six).
Thank you again for this contest, for judging, and putting up with the aftermath.
Nadine says
Nathan,
Thank you for having this contest. It was great fun to enter and wonderful to see all of the first pages!
Sorry a few humbugs had to dampen it (I won’t call them snarks because in no way will I put them in the same category as Miss Snark).
Thanks for handling everything so well. You are definitely a class act!
ChristineEldin says
I haven’t read those comments.
Pity some people will spoil an otherwise fun and educational outing.
Even though I don’t read your blog every day, I’ve read enough to know that you are drawn to works such as Moby Dick and Atonement. My particular style of writing is not to your taste. So I sat this one out because I would not have known if you passed on my page because of stylistic preference or because it was flawed.
That said, I really like all of the pages you picked. I didn’t read through six hundred first pages to compare, but I felt those six deserved a special place.
Ahhh…what’s that I hear?
Stilettos coming up the steps.
A tap on the door, and the brief sound of paper being pushed under the door.
It’s a note, Nathan. It’s addressed to you. Are you going to read it?
Maybe it’s Miss Snark’s first page.
What’s that I hear? Laughter?
😉
ChristineEldin says
PJD=
LOL!!! hahahahaha
midnight oil says
Nathan,
You know I lurk more than I write, but I must tell you that I learned so much from this endeavor. I learned a great deal and therefore I have already won. Thank you to you and Holy, and to the other writers who put it out there. Wow…what a great job to everyone. I’m not disappointed in you for not picking me, quite the contrary. Now I know what needs to be done with my own MS. (rewrite 486) but I have a better idea now why I need this. And I can’t agree more with who you picked for finalists. Ignore the dolts please, don’t let this sour you, any of you.
JKB says
I’m sorry that you had to deal with this after being such an absolute great sport.
Thank you so much for the contest.
Anonymous says
Dear Nathan,
I am just a little unknown author.
My writing group thinks I am wonderful. (sigh, I think they are wonderful to say so.)
But I am still in the closet and I may stay here. After all, it is comfy and safe. I am still scared to hear my own voice, let alone let too many others hear it. It may have nothing whatsoever to offer others either. I realize this. I mean, it might, but again, maybe not.
So I entered as a “for-fun” thing.
Unluckily, I got criticized and had my feelings hurt. Whoops, this wasn’t quite so safe. But you, Mr. nice, made it ok, dusted me off and reassured me and others that this was indeed a just for-fun intended experience. So I wore a hat, put on some sunglasses (to simulate I was living in California too, soo hip) and a wig, and I made it through and learned lots about everything! Thank you! What a FUN experience!
I REALLY DID learn a lot!
I think you and Holly are wonderful.
Someday, if I ever do come out of the closet with anything that someone else might benefit from reading (besides my very nice writers group),
I will always think fondly of you and this contest for showing me so much (including how to delete and rise above the big bad mean people) about writing.
In the meantime, I have learned to appreciate much better writing AND
I am hoping for some kind of skin graft breakthrough in the near future.
I vote for nice over snark as a professional style, though, and YOU have my vote.
Jenny says
Every so often I come across an article about some genius who sent in the first five pages of classic works to agents and editors and got them back rejected. And the genius is waving this around like it’s proof that the publishing industry is flawed.
Being a “classic” or being already published doesn’t automatically mean everyone will like it. I’ve read a lot of books I didn’t like, but someone out there liked them enough to publish them.
kissmequick says
“Every so often I come across an article about some genius who sent in the first five pages of classic works to agents and editors and got them back rejected. And the genius is waving this around like it’s proof that the publishing industry is flawed.”
Makes me wonder – do they never stop to think the agent / publisher took one look and went ‘Oh great, another copy cat, into the bin with you!’
Anyway, well done Nathan for the stiff upper lip. Bloody good show!
Be thankful I didn’t win – I’d have taken the ten minute call and spent the entire thing saying ‘please be my agent, please be my agent, please’
And thanks for the contest, it was a test of nerve if nothing else.( and I got a few useful crits too) Have a free snuggle.
*snuggle*
theartgirl says
Cheers to Nathan and Holly!
This is my favorite blog — for learning and a bit humor.
Thanks again,
coll
Amy Nathan says
I didn’t feel bad not winning out of so many entries. We losers are in good company.
I also realized that the entries chosen had a lot in common (to me) and showed me the subjective nature of submitting material to an agent.
It was great, no matter what.
Aimless Writer says
Oh, I didn’t know this was a find the published page-test the agent contest! I would have entered something by Mark Twain.
There were 675 entries for crying out loud! And you picked 6…more finalists then I thought there would be and I it was great that you gave these six the showcase. I did start to read them all in the beginning but after awhile my eyes started crossing and I was having trouble propping them open.
Kudo’s to you and Holly for plowing through them as quickly as you did. For the complainers? Sounds like sour grapes.
Not every agent will love every book. That’s life.
Please know most of us appreciated all your hard work and enjoyed the contest.
Thanks!
Now for the next contest???
Conduit says
Just a couple of points to make…
As our host points out, this was just a fun contest. I was a finalist in a previous one, and recently one a New York editor’s ‘cover copy’ contest. Did either of those get me any closer to a big fat publishing deal?
Not one inch. At best, the first line contest might have meant Nathan knew who I was when I queried him, but I still got rejected (in the nicest possible way, of course).
I remember Miss Snark admonishing entrants to her last Crap-O-Meter for taking it too seriously, as if some agent or editor would see the entered pitch and come running to the author’s door.
I had an experiment recently where I pitched the four or five WIP ideas I had to various trusted blogging friends in hopes that they would steer me to the project with the best chance of succeeding. And the result? Each one liked a different pitch, and I was none the wiser.
Nathan stresses the subjectivity of all this, and we’d do well to pay heed.
original bran fan says
Did you know that the agent for A WRINKLE IN TIME (whose initals are TR) is 82 years old and still agenting? He also sold FORREST GUMP and DELIVERANCE and the book that became the movie DIE HARD.
Quite a diverse group of books, and none of them an easy sell! All of them passed over numerous times. But somehow, he knew.
Sometimes agents do know! They really do.
(and I am quite the lucky duck because TR is my agent now!)
Conduit says
Damn, you’d think I’d know the difference between ‘one’ and ‘won!’
Grrr
Jay Montville says
Hee! You said “simmer down”! I’m totally using that the next time someone gets all worked about something they shouldn’t be all worked up about. “Simmer down there, hot rod!”
At any rate, it was very kind of you to hold this contest*, and people who make public their annoyance at not being chosen should reconsider their choice to be writers. If they get this het up about what’s supposed to be a fun contest, I can only imagine how they react when the actual rejection letters start pouring in.
*Full disclosure – I didn’t enter, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. But I do appreciate you taking the time to do this, nevertheless.
Jay
Bonnie says
Wait, you mean I was supposed to take this seriously?
Oh dear. Too late now, I guess. I’ll have to settle for having fun, enjoying a lot of cool pages, and finally getting off my duff and starting to think about submitting something. I got some great feedback (thanks Kari!) and feel much better about my writing and the publishing world. Even if it does mean more rewriting in the near future.
So thank you again for running the contest. I can’t believe how generous and gracious you manage to remain under considerable provocation.
Anonymous says
Oh, crud. I’m published but I didn’t enter a published first page in the contest only a WIP, was I not supposed to enter having had a book published?
If so, I’m sorry.
I love Nathan’s contests because by reading others’ works it helps me define what I would’ve done differently, or could improve on. It’s fun.
Steve says
I went with the ones that really struck me and that I was most enthusiastic about. And at the end of the day, that’s the way the publishing process works – Nathan
Amen to that. Anyone who does not recognize the subjective element had best move on to another endeavor.
Nathan, thanks so much for sponsoring, for your hard work and for sharing. Anyone paying attention learned a great deal. Keep up the good work.
Steve
A Writers Mom says
Nathan,
You are a saint! I say to those of you who are puting all this time into negative energy, it is a waste of time – try possitive throughts for a change! It will take you a whole lot farther in life.
AND, why haven’t all of you who entered this contest voted?!? Come on, Nathan has given you an amazing amount of free advise and info and spent alot of his time on this. It is your turn!
AND,I’m with pjd – congratulations to all of the 7th place runner ups -keep writing, I need more books to read!!!
Cher Gorman says
Hey, I’m not complaining. At all. I heard about the contest through the on-line newsletter from a friend, Cindi Myers just a few hours before the contest was supposed to end. I didn’t even know your blog existed until a couple of days ago.
I thought it might be fun to enter and it was. So I posted the first page of my first pubbed novel simply because I have all the rights back and it’s not available anymore. I didn’t final but I didn’t expect to. I posted it on a lark, just for fun.
I’ve been around long enough and received at least 100 or more rejections through the years so I know how “subjective” this business is. I’ve grown teflon skin so rejections just bounce off me now.
Thank you for having the contest and I hope you’ll do one again soon.
Cher
Ulysses says
Funny. I’ve always read that, in order to become a published writer, you must develop a thick skin. “Sorry, Ma’am, but it’s not that your baby’s ugly. It’s just that she ain’t as pretty as all these other ‘uns.”
How can anyone have become published without hearing that at least once? How can anyone have become published without having heard that and learned to think, “Oh well, there’s always the County Fair.” (read: next market/agent/contest).
You win some. You lose a lot. Get used to it. Don’t shoot the judges because those particular people don’t find braided ear-hair attractive on an infant. Suck up the disappointment and call the Guinness Book people. They love that stuff.
Maya Reynolds says
Nathan: I reacted to BobAgain’s emails yesterday, offering a comment that responding unprofessionally and emotionally is one of the reasons that agents don’t offer personalized feedback with their rejections.
Shortly afterward, I got an email, telling me I had received a postcard from “a friend” and giving me a link where I could read the postcard.
Because I’m a naturally suspicious soul and because the email looked incredibly amateurish, I took appropriate precautions. That email was a nasty piece of work.
Keep up the good work and ignore the sick and bitter people out there.
Michael Reynolds says
Second of all, welcome to publishing. Pull up a chair. I hope you’ll stay awhile. It’s an interesting place.
Thanks. I will.
I was not trying to start trouble. I was trying to start a conversation on a topic of importance to all of us in the business. I apologize for hijacking the thread. (I posted anonymously precisely because I didn’t want to look like I was trying to poach your readership.)
I don’t apologize for suggesting that there may be something rather inefficient about the current system, or for suggesting a way to fix the system. With all due respect, Mr. Branford, I have some standing for offering criticism.
heather! anne! says
I wonder how different the presidential campaigning leading up to Super Tuesday would have been if the candidates would have united under the banner declaring Spencer the enemy. Number One Threat To National Security: Spencer Pratt.
Heidi the Hick says
Nathan, this is an excellent post. I really appreciate your fairness!
This has been an excellent opportunity for learning. I can totally see what attracted you to your selections, but it still helped to have it spelled out.
Thank you, and Holly, for putting this together!
(I mean it, thank you so much, because I really can’t afford to go to university for this and I’m learning SO MUCH!)
Heidi the Hick says
One more thing- thanks for silencing the anonymous hecklers.
I say this despite refusing to divulge my surname and hiding my face behind my hand…
Anonymous says
Nathan,
Another “lurker” here with a quick question: I’ve recently sent you a query, but I seem to be having problems with receiving email. I would hate to miss out on a partial request or helpful rejection letter just because my email went on the blink. I have an alternate address, but hesitate to resend my query. Any suggestions on how I can find out without “spamming” my query to you?
I also just wanted to say “congrats” on running a great contest and for your blog in general – learned a lot.
To those that give you flack because of the finalists – pfft! I’ve given several chapter reviews to different authors and it all comes down to one thing: either they want to learn or they want to be told that their work is perfect.
Ulysses:
“Sorry, Ma’am, but it’s not that your baby’s ugly. It’s just that she ain’t as pretty as all these other ‘uns.” – lol Definitely agree with that entire post of yours. Right on, and write on!
Oooo – as soon as I push the button, I’ll be a published commenter! Yay!
Nathan Bransford says
Michael Reynolds-
Thanks for posting non-anymously. But which anon were you? There were so many.
And if you’re the published writer (or even if you weren’t) — even with all that I said in the OP, you really should know that you were on both Holly’s and my short list and were one of the last two or three left off.
rogue gardener says
Still Life With Flowers—-
For such a short bit to be so intense, really draws the reader in!!! It feels like you in the room with them!Loved it!
Anonymous says
Nathan –
Thank you for your quick response to my query question.
As for your “vacation”, I’ve seen how you’ve relaxed the past couple of days. You’ve been busier than a one-legged man in butt-kickin’ contest! What was it, some 675 entries? The story beginnings would all be one big blur to me!
mlh says
Nathan,
Sorry you’re getting lambasted for having a contest that was supposed to be fun. I know I got quite a frank comment about my first page on another site and was able to take it calmly –I only went through one box of tissues, yay me.
I hope this won’t sour you in having another contest, all in the name of fun.
As for the hecklers, Nathan, just don’t taze anyone, Bro.
Adaora A. says
Aww Nathan I’m sorry to hear about the immaturity and disgusting nature of people.
People just need to develop a thicker skin Nathan. Everyone has their own tastes and you said it yourself it would be a hard choice to make. The chances were slim for everyone with that many entries. People should be grateful you – a real agent- actually got a look at their first page and for a second considered it. At least, I know I was, and am. Thanks for the chance by the way. It was a major feat, and I appreciate it, you, and Holly.
I was on the blueboards and someone said they’d gotten an e-jection from you. All I could think was. you’re running this contest, AND still replying faster then agents without these sorts of contest? What are you made of? What are you drinking? Can I have some since I work, and go to school, write, and am damn tired at the end of everyday?
I am however happy to see your humour still intact. Oh yes, I am aware that Spencer is the enemy I mean, who decorates a flat without the imput of girlfriend/fiancee?
Michael Eckert says
Nathan said: 675 beautiful first pages stand before me.
675 first pages who were fierce and who made it work and who cried whenever I asked them tough questions, because that is the best way of advancing in America’s Next Top Model I mean Surprisingly Essential First Page. But only six can continue on in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Surprisingly Essential First Page.
***
I don’t remember seeing Nathan say “A lot of these suck.”
Nathan is an agent. Agents choose what they like and what they believe they can sell to a publisher. This is, after all, their job. Another agent would have picked differently. It is speculation on each individual agent’s perspective.
This is why you query different agents, to find an agent that fits your particular style and voice.
Oh, and Nathan? I had lunch with John Grisham yesterday. He was so distraught that you didn’t choose his entry he went directly home to roll around in his vault to reassure himself. 😉
Erik says
People, I’m as disappointed as anyone else, and I’d rather not go into the details. That just doesn’t seem important here.
I come here to learn about the industry, and my big issue here is that I don’t understand enough to be able to learn.
Would I like to be a published author someday? Sure, it seems like a great way to earn an income, nice work if ya can get it. But I’m also working on a “Plan B” to pursue that route while I wade through what happens here and try to gain insite into the publishing world. I certainly don’t plan to pay my mortgage off of it in the near future, however
While I don’t understand what’s happened well enough to have that insite in hand, I’m still thankful that we had the contest and I really do appreciate the hard work that went into it. I guess I didn’t say it directly before, since it sounded too toady, but now that I’m out I should:
Thanks, Nathan, I do appreciate it. I just can’t understand it yet.