Huh. 956 comments on the contest thread? Waaaaasn’t really expecting that. But that’s ok! Please enter your paragraph in the main thread before tomorrow at 4PM Pacific, and I’m still on track to have finalists on Friday.
Now that I have your attention, I thought I would solicit your opinion on what could/should be done to improve and possibly expand this site. This community has really grown this year. Which is great! Trust me, I’m not in this for the page loads (look Ma, no advertising!), but it’s been great to have more opinions, more participation, more news tips, and more perspectives.
So what now? What should be done, if anything, to expand? New features? Topics? Contests (flinch)?
Oh! And you may have noticed that when you go to https://nathanbransford.com….. it is no longer a bunch of random links! Actually it should lead you right back here. Hello again!
That is because I very recently retrieved my domain from web squatters! So now that I have more than just a blogspot address, it’s possible to expand in the non-bloggy realm. (Forums?)
So you tell me: what would you like to see?
Thank you very very much for your feedback, and thanks even more for stopping by and adding your wisdom and taking the time to add to the site. I really really do appreciate it!
marye.ulrich says
Hi Nathan,
There are a zillion blogs for writers. Your blog is unique because: 1. You interact with your readers; 2. You are a real live agent; 3. You give advice in terms the layperson can understand; and 4. You have a casual style and sense of humor.
I think writer wannabees, like myself, want to know what and how the agent gatekeepers think and act.
What if you did a case study in multiple viewpoints?
Nathan: We would look over your shoulder as you open a query and lead us through the entire process through publication. Let us see the inside view….
Wannabee: The new writer could also let us follow what they are thinking and doing….
Bloggers: We would be the cheerleaders, the fans in the stands, the innocent bystanders….
Don’t know about others, but that sounds fascinating to me. I think I would learn a lot and it would help demystify the process.
TV analogy: Think Magician with the black mask, share the secrets.
clindsay says
It seems to me that those of you calling for a forum or more contests are being somewhat selfish and unrealistic about the demands on Mr. Bransford’s time. I may be mistaken, but I suspect what Nathan was looking for were suggestions on how to make the blog more user-friendly and accessible to his readers.
Nathan, you have a great blog already and I have always found it very user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Thanks for all your effort at educating writers!
🙂
Anonymous says
Burgy61 — I think the webcam idea was a joke. People are kidding.
Anonymous says
Hi Nathan,
I love you blog, visit it almost every day, and recommend it to my writer friends for the open and comfortable atmosphere and wealth of information you provide on what an agent looks for in submissions.
Hosting a contest is very generous of you. As a writer I’ve found reading many of the submissions enlightening. Doing a contest occasionally seems to be a good idea; too often and it might lose its freshness and appeal.
Okay, enough sucking up; here’s my suggestion: One writers’ group I belong to hosts an occasional “the-editors-are-in” pitch session. For a couple of hours, the editors accept pitches for article ideas from group members. The pitches and the editors’ responses are exchanged with all group addressees. As a writer, I find this forum helpful because it gives me an opportunity to see which ideas get accepted (or rejected) by the editors. So, I guess what I’m suggesting is that you hold occasional virtual pitch sessions, with a time limit so you’re not overwhelmed. During the “agent-is-in” pitch sessions, writers would pitch their ideas for books in xxx words, then you would respond to their pitches–kind of like it’s done at conferences, except this would be in an open forum.
Thanks for listening.
DV from Missouri
Adaora A. says
I think a forum would be brilliant! We could post our questions and you could answer them (whenever you happen to have time), we could converse amongst ourselves as well.
But I can’t think of anything else really. I think this blog is great as it is, I love coming here. Going to be chomping at the bit TO read it when I’m in Nigeria for 2 weeks.
Lorelei Armstrong says
You should add advertising, so we won’t have to worry about you running out of eggnog and whisky!
lotusloq says
I come to your blog everyday. It’s generally the first one I check. I wouldn’t change anything unless you just feel like you got nothin’ but time on your hands. Everything is easy to find and very informative.
A forum would be nice in some ways–you know, so we can talk amongst ourselves. But you don’t need more contests. I think it would cheapen the ones there are. Besides, when would you ever sleep?
Of course, there’s always more room for a little Tyra. She’s been lacking from the banter a bit lately. She’s going to start feeling unappreciated.
Anonymous says
nathan, a question for you: If you are offered to have a short story published in an anthology, should you hunt up an agent if you don’t have any novels to shop?
writtenwyrdd says
Over 1100 posts on the first paragraph contest? I think I want stats on the average length of time you spend per paragraph.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Honestly, unless the agent approaches you, you’re going to have a hard time getting an agent to take on a short story collection, let alone just one story.
Nathan Bransford says
writtenwyrd-
Well, I’m all read up through 1,000, but I didn’t keep track of how long it took me to read that far.
that girl says
i just love your blog. keep it up. i like it just the way it is, i barely have enough time to read your posts, let alone comments or anything else.
thx so much.
Anita Saxena says
I’ve been reading for a long time (I’m one of those quite ones that never says much). I can’t possibly imagine what else you could do to make this better. You’re incredibly generous with your time as is.
One thing you could do since you have such a huge “fan” base is that you could utilize it as a way to promote charitable causes (kind of how moonrat had a raffle for her services to help a friend with cancer). Just a thought. I know we would all contribute to a good cause as a way to possibly win your literary attention.
BarbS. says
I love this site the way it is. Forums would be nice, though…
Irene Eng says
Nathan,
What should/could an unpublished writer do when they are offered a contract from a brand-name imprint (new)? The IP lawyer advised No.
Thank you.
Nathan Bransford says
irene-
Try and find an agent.
Shell I says
Hi
I love the site the way it is. I am a bit of a lurker at times, reading daily but don’t post quite that often.
I love the idea of contests and although I agree with timenumber limits don’t make them too strict as I am in Australia so don’t get a chance to read the blog until some time after it is up.
Love the opportunity to debate within the confines of the posts (not like a forum where it usually runs out of control after a while).
In short, just keep up the great, selfless work!
superwench83 says
LOL! I love the query cam idea! And the take-a-blog-reader-to-work day. Pick me! Pick me!
Seriously, I can’t think of anything else to suggest. Anything that will put a huge workload on you I think would be something to avoid. Bad for your sanity. It might burn you out, and then you might go the way of dear Miss Snark and stop blogging. And then I would be sad. And kittens would cry. And there would be no more springtime. Well okay, I’m being melodramatic. That sometimes happens when I post comments after my bedtime.
word verification: ingasms
Hmm….
Vancouver Dame says
Nathan, your blog is one of the best around. One of the things which makes reading easier on your blog, as opposed to others, is the lack of advertising. (Glad you mentioned that.) I get annoyed at all the pop-ups and flashing clutter of some sites. I also don’t like all the requests for money regardless of the good cause – because everyone is fund-raising these days. I don’t think you should change your current blog/site as your uniqueness is what brings all these writers to your site. Another blog that I read states yours is one of her favorites, and as others have said – it’s your different approach, your quality information, your humour, and your knowledge. I love the info links on the right side of the page to the FAQs and other postings, so I don’t have to search your site. I do like the idea of open question day, on occasion. That would provide fodder for future postings as well. The paragraph contest was a great idea, but a lot of work for you. In summary, only minor tweaks may be needed, but don’t redesign a damn good site. You’re a good man, Nathan, to provide us with all this info. Must be that fresh west coast air in Frisco.
Diana says
I found you through a link on BookEnds’ blog and have read you every day since then. My feelings wouldn’t be hurt if you didn’t do a thing. Your blog is fun, informative, and has a great community of writers who participate regularly. You even found us blog-sitters to keep us in line while you were away!
It would be nice to have a place to post or e-mail questions. But seriously, if you did nothing different at all, this would still be one of my favorite blogs.
Jinx says
Well, you did say this:
3. Spreading word about the contest is strongly encouraged.
=p
I think the blog is fine just the way it is. I’ve learned quite a bit from reading it over the last–oh, 6 months or so. I don’t care much for forums, so it wouldn’t benefit me. Your humor is what brings me back every day. =)
Scarlet Page says
Nathan,
No need to change or add anything. Do what you can for us and I think we all appreciate it. Your posts have all been very helpful and best of all, encouraging and informative (always a good combination). Thank you for devoting what I am sure is a lot of your time to this blog and to all of our entries, etc…
Sophie says
Along with everyone else not at all surprised at this blog’s following. We refer to it frequently amongst our writing group by its first name. Love it, especially your writing advice and TWIP.
In an ideal world I would love a post about creating a strong ending to a novel. No one seems to cover this in the books I’ve read.
slcard says
I think this blog has a wonderful balance. My favorites would have to be the humor and the debates, but I’m always satisfied with what I find here. Ah, there you have it… you’re like a Snickers Bar.
I miss some of the commentors who used to post here, but you can’t change that, so I vote for not changing anything.
And congratulations on your marriage. May you and your wife know every happiness.
Thanks for all your great efforts.
–slc
Martin Willoughby says
Speaking from the other side of the pond, I like the blog the way it is. A forum would be a good idea, but only if it doesn’t detract from what you have already.
There is plenty of information about how to contact agents, writing query letters etc which could go on the (planned) site, but don’t change the blog. It’s a great resource for writers as it is.
More contests would be pleasant for us unagented writers, but would it detract from your day job and your marriage.
beth says
I hope this comment doesn’t drown in the sea of other good comments!
One thing I’d like to see is your evaulation of writer websites. I’d like to see this for both pubbed writers and unpubbed writers. For example, I put a bit of time into my own blog, bethrevis.blogspot.com, and I’d love to know whether or not an agent such as yourself would consider the endeavor worthwhile, and what your thoughts might be on this. This might be a good grounding for other writers to develop their own webpages/blogs/etc.
the Amateur Book Blogger says
Possible feature ideas:
1. A “book-in-the-life-of-an-agent” feature as often as appropriate, following the life-cycle of one book from query to publication – pick a manuscript that you like, and without the author’s name/ book title, give us an insight into what you do, how/when the author is involved, meetings /decisions made, how it travels along its path to publication. If it does reach publication date, you could then release the name/title – have a contest to win a copy 🙂
2.Once a fortnight / month blog feature from a Curtis Brown agent in another country? Differences in opinions on markets/ pitching expectations and etiquette / inside publishing politics would be interesting, especially for non-US based readers, and for everyone who may consider pitching agent/publishers outside our home-based country.
Ditto all said on keep as is, there is great value in what is already here, that I wouldn’t want to see lost in changes.
Re: Forum, agree it is time consuming and maintenance heavy. If you proceed with one, suggest you delegate maintenance roles.
WitLiz Today says
Just a suggestion from the seventh wonder of nowhere currently occupying lotsa airspace inside my head.
How ’bout conducting a lottery on occasion, the winning writer receiving some kinda personalized attention from a terrific, lottorary agent, what goes by the initials, NB.
This way, all writer’s, published or no, contest winners or no, have a chance to win and be given much needed encouragement in these rocky times of publishing.
The grand prize would be determined by said lottorary agent, and not known until such time as the winner answers his phone or opens up his email, and a $5,000,000 rubber check pops out at them. (Ok, so maybe you can’t bounce a rubber check without legal and/or tax ramifications, but you probably get the idea by now).
The winning writer, upon receipt of notification, will then pogo-stick themselves to seventh heaven and on the way back down, will solemnly swear to pay it forward at some future date, like when they become rich and famous, or famous, but not rich, or even not rich, nor famous, but still successful due to a lottorary agent, what goes by the initials, NB.
In the likely event this suggestion is not practical, nor doable due to kith, kin and/or his job, then said lottorary agent’s blog in its present form, is already going beyond the call of service, and as such, is much appreciated by moiself, what goes by the initials, WT.
slcard says
Commentor: n. 1 someone who posts comments at a blog site, between a commenter and a commentator, depending on the comment. 2 a spelling error
BarbS. says
Ah, just had an idea: How about a contest for writing comedy, or writing in the Bulwer-Lytton mode? Something fun–and funny. It’s so much more challenging than writing serious fiction, and I generally abhor contests LOL
Heh heh, the word verification is “oniono.”
BarbS. says
–and I just noticed the NEXT word verification is “devilyph.” Sounds like something that belongs in paranormal.
Louise Kuskovski says
I have found your examples to be the most helpful…and I’d wager a guess that is what the ‘more contests’ comment may be getting at as well (sorry to the author if I’m extrapolating too much here )–given the prizes often include receiving very specific feedback from you. After all getting one on one attention from an agent is what its all about…the more it feels like that is what’s happening the better…in my humble opinion.
Anonymous says
There’s so much to ponder on here. I feel like it’s Christmas…Oh, wait. I guess it is!
I’m guessing that you asked our opinions about the other website so you could see what your readers are wanting. Yes?…
I’d say this. Anything you do will keep people coming here. Everyone wants you to be their “next best friend”. How would that be?…(Something else to ponder) I think you should look at how it will benefit yourself as well. It’s a thought that I’m sure you have thought of. Everyone will support you in what you put together. I think the more access to helping people understand the processes and links to important info need to be added in a way it’s easy to find. (Copyright info., query letter info., examples of good and bad book beginings…ect.) A “Q and A” area. Other than that the skys the limit…
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
I like the author’s website critique – could just be another option for contest winners.
I also like the lottery idea, for winning a query critique, etc.
I also like “two-fer” book combo suggestions – for instance, a great combo is H.D. (the US poet who lived in London during WWII) and Winston Churchill. Two books about the same subject matter, time period, etc, but taking vastly different approaches – could be any genre, fiction or nonfiction. Ideas could be from both publishing professionals and writers themselves…
Anonymous says
Hi, Nathan! I love your blog. I read it every day. It’s my first stopping place (well, okay, after my friend’s blogs…).
Maybe on your website, you could have “Nathan’s FAQs” and list all those fabulous questions you’ve answered on the blog except in one handy place. That way, those of us who want to reference it and use Google Reader (raising hand) can just go to your website directly. Okay, so I’m lazy. What can I say. 🙂
Forums are cool but who’s going to monitor them? Just something to keep in mind if you do go that route.
And whatever you do, I’m sure it’ll be great. Glad you got your domain back.
RJM says
I think you should supplement the online community by creating a physical one. We’ll all congregate at a compound in a secret location, probably in the desert or deep woods, and invent passcodes,crazy rules, and make great huge plans. Writing-related, mostly. Also, we’ll need robes…but what color?
jnantz says
Possible Improvement:
A celebratory blog post announcing the twelve-figure deal you and I will be splitting would look really good….
😀
Anonymous says
Nathan,
I just wanted to say thanks. I’m a British writer and found your site incredibly helpful. I’ve now received offers of representation from agents, but I know that without help from you and Miss Snark I would still be wondering what the hell to do to find an agent – look under rocks perhaps…
So, really thanks. This blog is clearly a label of love.
x
Londongirl
Anonymous says
Dear God – when I said ‘label of love’ I obviously meant labour of love’….
Nathan Bransford says
Please remember to enter contest entries in the main contest thread.
John says
oops…wrong place for paragraph contest…duh
Amy K. says
First off: I cracked up at the idea of a query cam. The idea of sending you a query and watching you until I get response is the height of paranoia which, of course, all us writers suffer.
Honestly though, yours is my favorite blog. You have a nice personal way of speaking to your audience and offer fun and useful advice without coming across with that I’m-better-than-you attitude that (a very few) agents haven’t been as fortunate to master.
The only thing I can think of is perhaps a quarterly contest. After seeing over a 1,000 entries for your other I don’t see how you could do it more often.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
(And thanks as always for the quick query responses which are also appreciated.)
R. Daley says
Open Query Forum
It could work like this: an author posts a general query, and it is open for comments by the community at large.
Once a query is posted, it would be open for comments or critique by a fellow writer or an agent. It may even have a potential to snag an agent’s interest, especially if they can be categorized (thriller, literary fiction, romance) and then an agent could scan through them to see if any spark interest, and if so reach out to the author.
I’m trying to put myself in the agent’s shoes, and this seems like it would be an interesting concept to test. I know I would like it as a writer.
RainSplats says
Doh! Isn’t asking for posting ideas the first step towards blogging death? Yikes! Step away from the cliff, Nathan!
You’re not running out of things to say! Tell us about your day…..tell us to write for an hour *before* we read your blog. Tell us how you got started in the biz. um um….just don’t stop!
Marilyn Peake says
Nathan,
Yesterday, for some reason, I was thinking about your blog as your main website. Now that you have your domain name back, you could create a brand new website with a link to this blog. On the main website, you could include your Bio and feature your clients’ books with links to their websites. If your clients were interested, you could invite them to post articles and videos, to call attention to their work. You could also have a section on new book deals you make, like The Knight Agency does. If you had the time, you could also include a News section where you talk about industry meetings and conferences you attend. You could also add something unique to set your website apart from other sites, as you’ve done with your blog here.
Nathan Bransford says
Thanks so much to everyone for the great suggestions! One thing I wanted to respond on is that people want more on the ins and outs of clients, my deals, etc. And I agree it would be fascinating to see a project go from query to published book. But it’s just not me.
Trust me, I understand why the information would be helpful and it seems like it would be good publicity for me to advertise my deals and clients more, but I made a very conscious choice when I started this blog to keep everything relating to clients and deals close to the vest.
So when it comes to clients and deals, I’d rather err on the side of too little information. I can always plug a book when publication time comes, but I would rather that editors and clients never have to worry that I might discuss them on the blog in a way that makes them uncomfortable.
Just wanted to explain that, and thanks again for all the suggestions!
Marilyn Peake says
Hi, Nathan,
I hadn’t thought about the privacy issues involved in book deals, as I see so many book deals announced on the Internet. I admire your approach of keeping things like that close to the vest. It would also be fascinating to see lots of information about your clients’ published books on your main website: book covers, summaries, excerpts, videos, etc.
Zoe Winters says
I really respect that stance, Nathan.
Lea Schizas - Author/Editor says
Hi Nathan. To be honest, the first introduction to your site was this week via a friend’s site. Spotted the call for last minute entries to your contest and you hooked me in.
What I would love to see more of is any info as to what publishers are seeking at any given time. What genres are they in dire need of? Being an agent, you possibly can pass on some info to help us out so we can bombard you with, “Nathan, I have what they’re seeking. Here! Here!”
Anonymous says
Nathan I’ll tell you something I’d like to see. I don’t think there are enough contests for students. Not college…I’m talking young writers. School age kids… I have been trying to put somethings together locally for the students in our area and I find that if you can have a student get something published in anyway, colleges are coming looking for them. I’d love to see something in creative writing for them. These kids always have the best imaginations!