Hi everyone, I did my first-ever podcast with the good people over at Bleak House Books, so if you have a spare 10-15 minutes… here it is.
We talked about the challenges of becoming an agent, the future of the business, the author/editor relationship, and much more. Enjoy!
It’s Saturday. Didn’t expect a post. I’d love to listen to your podcast.
Coll
Thanks, Nathan, that was great. Always appreciate everything you do for us struggling authors.
Have a great weekend.
I really enjoyed the podcast, Nathan, especially liked hearing about how you got into the publishing business. Somehow it was encouraging to actually hear you audibly saying how difficult it is for you and most agents/editors to reject people’s life work and to be reminded that it’s equally tough on the heart for both sides of the equation. I think it comes down to the perspective that a story is only a story, it is not the sum total of who I am, and so rejection of a story is not personal. I have a quote tacked up on the wall of my writing space that reads, “Rejection is temporary, publication is forever — chin up and submit again.” I have no idea who originated the wisdom, but it’s a keeper.
Thanks for sharing that!
Wow, it’s cool to actually hear what you agents do instead of just having to read it. It really sounds like you love your job!
And you have a very pleasant voice :3
Wonderful interview, Nathan!
And now I miss San Francisco even more…
Hi, Nathan,
I thoroughly enjoyed your podcast, finding it both motivating and full of hope for writers. Sometimes it’s difficult not to lose motivation as a writer because, as you mentioned, the publishing business really does appear opaque at times. Rejections arrive without any explanation about why a project’s being rejected, and that makes it very difficult for a writer to know how to change what they’re doing or to decide whether or not to just give up writing.
I thoroughly enjoyed your discussion about the Internet and the Kindle. Several of my own books are now available on the Kindle, and I find it a remarkable device for reading books on long airplane trips.
I also appreciated hearing your opinion that, because of the ease in which electronic submissions take place today, expectations for writing have risen higher. I’ve heard other agents mention that many writers published in earlier times wouldn’t be published today, and I think that’s true. It would have been a real loss if we had missed out on those books in which the stories were wonderful but the writing itself wasn’t the best of the best, including several from which fantastic movies were made.
Great interview, Nathan. And nice to put a voice to the name, as it were 🙂
You did CB proud
Have a good w/e
–Jules
Very interesting broadcast. I hadn’t heard of Bleak House before–nice to learn about them and their list, too, and how they manage it.
Whoa!
A Saturday post? Is that allowed for you, Nathan? You don’t, like, turn to dust now or something, do you?
That’s awesome. If possible, I’m going to add it to my ipod. I tunes had a former agent talking about her job last year. It will be awesome to have your words on save.
I’m downloading it as I write this, and I fully expect you to be informative, witty, and urbane, and to discuss Franz Kafka and his lust for cheerleaders.
You give good interview, Nathan! You sound just like you blog. Very friendly, very approachable.
I am familiar with Bleak House–a friend, editor and author, Mary Logue, published her Claire Watkins Mystery Series with them.
Anyone interested can find her books at http://www.marylogue.com
That was really great, Nathan! You were cool and relaxed, and I learned a lot. It’s to your credit that you’ve been able to work so successfully in publishing in San Francisco. Good for you!
Delightful interview, Nathan! Loved hearing how you got into the business. And, whoa– you sound precisely as I imagined…
You got a very sexy voice!
Loved your podcast. It was your blog come to life. And, BTW, I’m sure your karma account is overflowing. Hamba Kahle, and have a great weekend.
Ann Victor
South Africa
Wonderful! 🙂
The interview was lovely Nathan. Thanks for sharing it. I really enjoyed all of the insight and it was nice that you talked about the challenges of taking on new clients and saying no when everything is just so subjective.
Let us know once you podcast again.
That was interesting, especially learning how you got into the business and why you blog. I’ve seen your name come up on other sites as a result of your posts so blogging is working for you.
Your voice sounds just like I had imagined. That surprised me because I’m usually wrong. 🙂
Great podcast – think you have humanised the whole agent/writer experience by making yourself open and available online. Your karma is good, rest easy!
Is it OK to say I found it pretty awesome to hear you talking and explaining everything which you’ve touched upon on this blog? We’ve all read your posts, but it’s something else to hear you say it -in terms of you talk about building your career – and I just found it really lovely.
That was a lovely interview, really inspiring and helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to do it.
It was a great podcast. Thanks for the link!
I enjoyed hearing your voice, and I have a whole different perspective of you now, you silver-tongued devil. Well done.
Enjoyed it!
I liked the words, too: opaque, disparity. It made me realize how rarely I hear anything uncommon on the news or radio.
Great info on the podcast…and you sound exactly like I’d imagined you would. Thanks!
Dear Mr. Bransford:
You are so obviously a very nice person. As if I was not already, after listening to your podcast I could not feel more contrite for the comment I left to your hypothetical quetion some weeks ago. I think it was because I had already thought you were kindness personified that I was so miffed at the idea that you, as a Guardian of the Literary Keep, would mock the poor masons. Especially as you clearly have a builder’s abilities yourself. I realize now (I was new to the blog at that time), you were mocking no one, and I should have known better than to seriously consider anything associated with steroids.
Please accept my apolgy.
Sincerely,
Sara L. Card
I loved your voice. It’s not at all how I imagined you would sound. You sounded nicer than I thought you would, or maybe more lighthearted? And you say the word “absolutely” with a Kennedy-esque verve.
Hello Nathan,
I was just wondering. If you’re really interested in an agency and you see that they represent a local author that you like, Is it rude to contact the author to ask about their experience with the agency? I don’t want to do anything that is considered rude or unprofessional, but I’d love to hear more if possible.
I enjoyed listening, but I have to say that I was really disappointed. How can I blame you (agents in general, not you personally)for rejecting my queries if I cannot perceive you as heartless, evil creatures sitting in the darkness and laughing at us authors? This means I may have to take the responsibility on myself! If I can’t have you (again, not personally) as an agent, why can’t I hate you? I am kidding, of course?
This was a good interview. I almost didn’t listen to it as I was a bit pressed for time, but I’m glad I did. It is definitely reassuring to know agents and publishers take to heart what is being submitted.
I know that only makes sense that they do, but it was good to hear it put into words.
Thanks,
JW
Very good interview, Nathan. Thank you for all of the feedback on the industry.
It’s nice to connect a voice with the face.
shannon-
I don’t know if it’s necessarily rude to ask an author what they think of their agency, but it may be overly time consuming for both you and the author given that you don’t know if that agency will want to work with you. There’s plenty of time to ask questions like that once an agent has shown interest in your work, so I’d wait until the stage when you’re offered representation to begin to do that level of research.
Well done, Nathan. Not only are you doing a great service to aspiring authors with your blog and things such as this podcast, but you are blazing the virtual trail for your less intraweb savvy or reluctant contemporaries.
Maybe the future’s not so bleak.
Great interview, Nathan!