First off, thank you once again to everyone who is participating in Be An Agent for a Day, which has been so much fun. The comments on the queries will close Saturday night, and results and stats on Monday!
Now that we have 10,000+ comments I have realized that compiling these stats will not be remotely possible on my own. I am humbly requesting ten volunteers to help me with stat compiling this Sunday. (I’m also happy to barter a query critique for your trouble — first 10 volunteers in the comments section UPDATE: the 10 spots are filled, thanks so much, volunteers)
Now then. Some fantastic news from a familiar name. Terry DeHart (aka terryd), finalist in the Surprisingly Essential First Page Challenge, let me know that he has just received a two-book deal from Orbit for the book he used in the contest!! Congratulations to Terry!
[schadenfreude](Oh. And remember the people who were mad about my choices for the finals of that contest? I sure do!) [/schadenfreude]
Speaking of friends of the blog, Anne & May are giving away copies of their just-released book BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO. Free books = always awesome.
In publishing news, NPR recently did a story on the state of the publishing industry and Pub Lunch (subscription) linked to an accompanying article. Per Pub Lunch, Random House Publishing Group spokesperson Carol Schneider explained the current marketplace thusly: “We’re acquiring fewer books… There are no specific numbers or formula involved here–we’re simply being more selective in all categories–literary, commercial, blockbuster.” And…… there you have it.
Meanwhile, there are rumors afoot that Barnes & Noble may enter the e-reader market with a device that could challenge the Sony Reader, Kindle, and (insert device of the future here). Any bets on what B&N will call it? I hope they go with Barnes. As in, “I read your book on my Barnes, chap!” And yes, it would probably force me to call people “chap”.
You may have heard a great deal about a “glitch” dubbed amazonfail, in which erotica and GLBT books, including some classics, were mysteriously delisted from sales rankings. In case you’re curious about it all, The Millions has a very helpful breakdown of what happened and how the news spread. And I can’t wait until we have failfail. “Fail” needs. to. go.
Via Neil Vogler, the Guardian reports that the guy behind PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES just got a monster (get it? get it?) book deal from Grand Central.
Also in the Guardian… our contest!
Grove editor Jofie Ferrari-Adler has added another excellent entry in his series of agent interviews for Poets and Writers. A must read.
Cynthia Leitich Smith announced that Katherine Paterson, author of BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, Curtis Brown client, and truly wonderful person (seriously she’s so nice), has established a prize for YA and children’s writing at Hunger Mountain, the arts journal of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Click on over for that.
In writing advice news, thanks to John Ochwat for pointing me to Pat Holt’s blog post on ten mistakes writers often make but don’t often notice. It’s not on the list, but you might not have noticed that the first letter of every paragraph spells a bad word. Just thought you should know.
And finally, someone is going to have to explain this Susan Boyle thing to me. What exactly are we supposed to take from it? That it’s surprising that people from a humble background can be wildly talented? That you have to look like Britney Spears in order sing… better than Britney Spears? 20 million YouTube views later and I’m struggling to understand.
Have a great weekend!
Ian says
Nathan, you must put a hell of a lot of hours into your job. I hope they pay you well.
PurpleClover says
Owl Sprite – like your post script. We mut think alike:
Check out number 10:
https://purpleclover-purpleclover.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-award-time.html
Mira says
Try that again. Let’s focus here.
Thanks for the compliment, Nathan. I was going to be all casual, like oh, yeah, sure, agents I respect compliment me all the time, no biggie except I’m beaming too hard to make it work. Even in typing.
PurpleClover says
*sigh* grammar check: MUST
Ink says
Sigh. Am I just a downer? A pessimist? (I do love Eeyore, I admit…)
Part of me agrees entirely with what everyone is saying about Susan Boyle. She did great, she held to her dreams, she persevered… She deserves credit. She had her moment and nailed it. Hopefully we can all be as lucky when (or if) our moment comes along(this would be a good place for a “clutch shooting” metaphor…).
But… I’m sorry, not being kissed by a man is not a tragedy. It’s called chastity. Sometimes, you know, it’s even considered a virtue. And she’s not “overwhelmingly talented”. She’s a very good singer, but there are a lot of very good singers. I don’t mean that to be snarky or unkind in any way. She’s great; but there are a number of equally great singers in every city you’ll every pass through. That’s just a fact.
That show played on the shallowness of our culture, the shallowness of a mass audience – and that shallowness is something they’ve helped create by setting a lot of people up to be humiliated (though at least people like William Hung had the cleverness and chutzpah to make it work to their own ends). They’ve helped build that preconception into the audience. And then they carefully orchestrated this scenario to turn the tables, preying on that shallowness to surprise everyone.
But why is it surprising? What does it say about our culture that it’s so surprising and newsworthy that this woman can sing? We shouldn’t be in this situation to start with, though I can’t say that I’m surprised that we are.
I see it this way, there’s roughly three options in this scenario –
Dumpy older woman can sing and shocks everybody: Big Sensation
Gorgeous young supermodel can sing: Next Hot Thing.
Above average and pleasant thirty year old can sing: Ho Hum.
I dislike the manipulation involved, how it plays to the lowest common denominator. I’m happy for Susan… but she should have had more opportunities before now. We shouldn’t need a moment of manipulated reality for people of talent to find opportunities. I hope Susan does well, as she deserves it – and I hope it’s something more meaningful than fifteen minutes of fame. It would be sad if she’s famous for a week, famous for the novelty of the moment, and then everyone forgets about her and the opportunities dry up. And what of all the other equally talented people who are being denied because of the shallowness of our culture? I just find it a little sad that we are where we are: a culture that can be shocked and delighted by this (though I’m happy she sang well and her singing moved a lot of people – she will, at least, always have that).
I like writing. Our talent is isolated upon the page. It has to stand for itself. I’m sure, when it comes time for publicity photos, that it helps to be beautiful (sadly). But that’s not what kicks open the doors for you. It’s the words on the page, words a writer will disappear behind (unless, you know, the manuscript was written on chocolate leaves and wrapped in edible lingerie).
I hope the Susan Boyle thing opens the eyes of a lot of people and helps to change that preconception, that ridiculous assumption that beauty is somehow a measure of talent. I hope so, but I fear that a lot of people will see the Susan Boyle videos and think that it’s a wonderful exception to the rule. I may be wrong, and I hope I am… but I doubt it.
I did say I was an Eeyore fan, didn’t I? (though only the original A.A. Milne version. He’s a pessimist… but a sarcastic and hiliarious one. The new Eeyore is usually just sort of pathetic.)
I’ll shut up now.
Good words and better stories to each and everyone,
Bryan Russell
valbrussell says
The Susan Boyle hype reminded me of my reaction to a certain pop singer from my childhood. Three hundred years ago when I was eleven, Barry Manilow arrived in my reality via radio. You know, that old transmitter of song we used before video and big hair bands. I recall standing outside in the school yard at recess, discussing ‘Mandy’ and giggling with my friends about how cute Barry must be. Then, we were all dealt a crushing blow: Barry Manilow appeared on a talk show and destroyed the fantasy. I think there is a little of that in the perverse reverse going on here with Miss Susan. Do looks matter? They shouldn’t but they do. 😉 Can she sing? Yeah, better than your average bear but she is nowhere near a professional standard. If Susan Boyle desires longevity she requires the following: A good surgeon, a stylist, more vocal training and a drug habit. How is that for cynical? She is being used a sideshow freak and if she ups her standard of living, more power to her. Hey, Britney Spears has been a sideshow freak for some time and oh we do like to watch that stuff don’t we? You know you do!
Writer from Hell says
ok this blogpost is not about susan boyle nevertheless..
I saw that video, I felt it was a moment in time – now it could touch you or it couldn’t – no marks either way.
If her predicament is considered a virtue or chastity, that is an even bigger tragedy. Bryan Russell (ink) you deserve a break. Eeyore must learn to kiss. But that reminds me there are almost no female characters in that frienship circle – unless u count kanga. pity.
Ink says
Well, what’s her “predicament”? I admit, I haven’t followed up to find her whole history or anything, I’ve just seen the clips, and they don’t really show anything much about her backstory.
But I just think that if you haven’t found the right person and haven’t been kissed… that’s not a tragedy. A tragedy is your child falling into a working combine. There’s nothing wrong with being single (oooh, there’s another cultural foible that burns me a little… everyone has to find someone! Must date! Must marry! Can’t be alone! I think more people should spend a little time alone. It’s healthy. It keeps you from basing your ideas of self on the opinions of others. Being with someone for the sake of being with someone is silly, and often a recipe for disaster. There’s nothing wrong with waiting – not that I’m saying you’re suggesting any of this, writer from hell, but you have inadvertently pushed my rant button). If she has more of a “predicament” than this, I will cheer harder for her (and I am cheering for her). I just find it sad to see where we are, poor punctured little idealist that I am.
Not that I’m against kissing! I kiss all the time! I’m married, so I have to. 😉
My best,
Bryan
Wordver: hatinge. But it’s got me all wrong!
Laura says
The Susan Boyle story is the ultimate underdog. People love to see someone who’s been overlooked and bullied (as she was throughout school, etc.) and she was even being actively laughed at before she began singing.
She turned the audience around from jeers to cheers– we love an underdog story. She showed them all.
Mira says
I believe if a woman or man reaches the age of 47, and has never been kissed in today’s permissive culture, that’s by choice. That’s even if the person is – by whatever current standards of cultural beauty – considered ‘terribly ugly’ and I think Susan Boyle doesn’t fit that discription.
By choice, I don’t mean a mature, conscious choice, necessarily. It may be a choice through low self-esteem. Or, if someone has experience abuse, they may be frightened of getting too close.
I suspect Susan has gone through a hard time in life. I am happy for her. Audience manipulation or not, this should change her life – hopefully in many wonderful ways that give her validation.
If she wants to be kissed, I’m sure she’ll have plenty of options very soon.
I just hope they don’t do a reality show on it. Sort of a Bachelorette – Susan picks the man who will finally kiss her.
Oh god. Awful.
Oh god. I totally patent that idea. It’s mine. Or copyright it. Or whatever I need to do to make money off this. That is the idea, right?
Ian says
I totally agree with you Laura. Something VERY special happened in that performance. I was moved to tears. Her photo has been on the front page of all the British newspapers and, of course, she is the number one topic on the net. She is even on the news in China.
It’s going to be hard for her to match that next time, but I’m rooting for her.
2readornot says
This was a great contest — thanks! I found it interesting how few queries really did stand out — but then, I’m a very picky reader too. I better understand how passion plays such a role in this business (as I think I could sell every one of the books I requested, assuming their writing lived up to the query).
Nathan Bransford says
colleen-
Just the basic numbers.
And Ariel — I think the difference is that attractiveness adds to the marketability of the author, say, on the level of having a popular blog. But that doesn’t mean that anyone would be surprised that someone unattractive could write. I wouldn’t look at someone unattractive, then look at their pages and be surprised in the least if it were good.
Nathan Bransford says
first carol-
Please e-mail them to me. No need to have a special subject line, just something that makes sense.
Thanks again, everyone!
Jen P says
Mira – OK, then I claim her book title – ‘I dreamed a dream’. Or ‘I did it my way’? What’s the betting she gets a deal somewhere to tell the whole story from past to present including whatever will come in the next 6 months (winning the show, Royal Variety Performance, Record deal, surely at least.) Is there a market for rags to riches stories in times of economic trouble – any takers?
Mira says
Jen P.
You win. Your idea is better.
But I want the movie rights.
Mira says
Oh. Time for my weekly promotion.
If you’re reading this blog today, you should come over to my place.
We’re playing a forum game called: Get The Cookie
You come in a character voice and try to get the cookie.
So far, that poor cookie has been politely asked for, beamed up, locked up, stolen, made to feel terribly guilty, seduced, threatened, manipulated and traded for. There have been mentions of fairy dust and memory wipes.
Think you can top that?
Best thing about the site is it can be completely anonymous, if you want.
No one has to know you’re there. Sneak in, get the cookie, sneak out.
Check it out: Come In Character: Get the cookie
Mira says
Thanks to Marilyn who told me how to post a link!
Marilyn Peake says
Mira,
I love your Come in Character blog. I’m writing like crazy today, determined to finish my novel in nine more days. I’m on a roll; think I’m gonna make it. But…cookie? You said cookie? I’m so into that. I’ll send some of my characters over there later today. Cookie? Oh, they so want that cookie.
Mira says
Marilyn,
I’ve missed you! I wondered where you got to.
Oh. So you’ve been writing. Hmmm.
Is finishing your novel more important than coming to my blog?
Wow. This is a hard one.
I’ll have to think about this.
I will say, that’s amazing that you’re almost done with your new novel!!!
Kudos, kudos, many kudos to you!
Mira says
And yes, you deserve a cookie break.
Maybe even a real one. Nine days. Wow. Gotta keep your strength up.
Central Content Publisher says
Susan Boyle Explained
Martin Amis called writing a war against cliche. Apparently, the same is true of performance.
Jen C says
It’s the words on the page, words a writer will disappear behind (unless, you know, the manuscript was written on chocolate leaves and wrapped in edible lingerie).
I’m so stealing this idea when I start querying. Nathan, watch your letterbox…
Kristi says
The links this week have been the best ever. The agent interviews and tips for new writers were priceless and I have them bookmarked. Thanks so much, Nathan!
Writer from Hell says
Susan Boyle was uncomely was standing was shifting in uncomeliness and when she started singing audience was actually surprised and wowed by the comeliness of her voice.
’nuff said. really.
‘Writers mistakes’ was the best link in the blogpost. Though I actually never ever make those mistakes. Actually really!
jil says
For me,Susan Boyle was beautiful when she sang; such grace and dignity. Some “beautiful” people become less and less attractive the more you see them. Some unattractive people become more and more beautiful.
We all love the beast in the fairy tale. We learned from stories when we were children, perhaps some will learn from this one as adults.
After all. Pavorotti was not so glamorous off stage.
Anyone who makes me cry from their first note must be very beautiful!!
Annie Reynolds says
Msay be too late, but i would be HAPPY TO HELP!!!
sign me up.
Annie Reynolds says
Ok lets try that again with out the typos so you know i can speak english instead of gobildigook. YES PLEASE SIGN ME UP . I would love to help out.
Nathan Bransford says
Contest is closed!!!
hippokrene says
Thank you for the link to Holt
Nixy Valentine says
RE: Susan Boyle
I found Susan Boyle inspirational not because of her talent and not because of her age and appearance, but because she strutted onto that stage and sang her heart out fully aware of of the jeers and eyerolling.
I love her because she’s so much like me… ordinary and real. So I identify with her situation, an am awed by her courage. I could never walk out there knowing that kind of reception was waiting for me.
Now that I think of it, it’s the same thing I want in books: a character I can identify with doing the things I secretly wish I could do.
Susan would be lovely to me even if she couldn’t sing well. =)
Nixy Valentine says
Oh, and I forgot to add this: about the blogger who is convinced you’re responsible for the downfall of literature…
Nathan, my dear, DON’T FEED THE TROLLS.
I appreciate the desire to reply when someone is publicly negative about you, but really, DON’T FEED THE TROLLS.
Trust me. ♥ They go away faster when they don’t get the attention they so desperately crave.
Anonymous says
The “ten mistakes” article was mostly straw-man crap. The person couldn’t even format paras properly.
Writer from Hell says
anon 4:07 am. – right above.
yea I went back and checked – u r bang on. Why do I get impressed so easily?
Writer from Hell says
But some good points in there actually!! absolutely.
Mira says
Oh, I overlooked this – sorry I was distracted.
Terry D. Congratulations!! Not one, but two books deals.
Wow. Outstanding! Best of luck to you!
terryd says
Thanks for the mention, Nathan and fine people! The first book will be published in summer 2010.
Wonder how many rejections Susan Boyle received.
jimnduncan says
That was a cool interview at Poets and Writers. Lots of good info for folks to peruse. Certainly recommend it for those who haven’t looked at it yet. If you have read it Nathan, I’m curious if your take is pretty similar to theirs. They seemed to all be literary and non-fiction agents (at least that’s all they spoke of), so I’m curious if anything is different for agents who rep genre fiction.
One thing they spoke of, and I’m not sure how tongue-in-cheek it was or if they were serious, but they spoke about Revolutionary Road and how nice it was to see such a bleak book hit the best seller list (tied into how movies can make a nothing book into something). They said it was cool to read depressing books. Is this seriously how lit fiction is looked at? The bleaker the better? Is there some weird, unwritten rule in writing that serious, artistic writing has to delve into the darkness of the human psyche and society? I don’t read much literary fiction because of this perception. I’ll admit as much.
This might make for an interesting post sometime, because I’m sure I’m not the only one who wonders about this.
Mira says
terryd – that’s a really good point about Susan Boyle.
You should let us know when they’re out. You must be so excited.
Anonymous says
Too bad Hillary Clinton couldn’t sing like Susan Boyle during the last democratic primary.
mythicagirl says
Susan Boyle was a woman many had overlooked and underestimated. Though she’d sung all her life, for whatever reason she never got far with her dream. However from what I’ve read she’s now fulfilling a promise to her mother. Mom (and Susan’s friends) knew how talented she was. After her mother died, Susan decided to go for her dream with a one in a million shot at success, because reality shows can be brutal.
It’s a feel good, inspirational story that shows its never too late to go for your dreams.
I’m reminded of the baseball player Satchel Page, who went from the Negro leagues in his 40’s to success in Major league baseball.
I believe his quote was “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”
Another example is Elizabeth Cotton, a self taught blues guitarist who won a grammy when she was in her 70’s, after going back to doing what she loved.
Annalee says
Stats for 21-25 have been emailed. Thanks for running this!
EmilyR says
Stats for #36-40 sent this a.m. Thanks for the great contest!
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
I emailed my stats for #41-45 today too! (Sunday)
Anonymous says
Nathan Bransford said…
“Look at me being all cynical. I guess I just thought 1) the judges seemed in on it even if they feigned surprise and”
No, Nathan, you were right. Simon knew. The way these shows are put together, they know what they’re getting. And this one – the unassuming older lady with the killer voice – was not something to be kept under wraps. It was brilliant theater.
The audience was surprised.
Simon is the creator of the show.
Janny says
My “take” from the Susan Boyle video was heartening, in more ways than one.
First, of course, the fact that she sang beautifully…even though she didn’t have a “beautiful” appearance. But she had a radiant smile all the way through, and by the time she was done, quite honestly, who didn’t think the woman was beautiful in all the ways that counted? 🙂
But the second impression I got, and the one I think is more to the point, is what happened to the audience…and all of us who watched along with it, cheered and wept and fist-pumped on her behalf.
“Reality” shows are set up to cater to the worst in us–let’s face it, many of us watch these things for the same reason we watch car racing: for the wrecks. They’re set up to allow us to watch other people being taken apart…which, while it can be a quick shot of emotional adrenaline, is like any other sinister drug: it doesn’t satisfy for long.
On the other hand, how quickly that snotty veneer many of us carry around with us nowadays can be broken through by someone who simply is herself, genuine and unapologetic about it–and that’s what Susan did. And that breakthrough releases “good” adrenaline, positive adrenaline. And that’s why that image, of that saucy woman and her beautiful voice (and her oh-so-polite revenge!) has stayed with us.
Think about it. Lots of these “shock the world” performances we’ve seen of late on YouTube are not really all that shocking, and they wouldn’t be all that surprising, if we weren’t already in the nasty, artificial framework of “cool” and “hip” and sarcastic that reality shows create in us and baptize as healthy. But in our hearts, I truly believe, we WANT people to succeed. We WANT to be “surprised” by someone who’s wonderful. We WANT, in a way, not to see the “train wreck” contestant–but to see the reality show’s artificial snobbism collapse upon itself. When it does, as in this instance and many others, we cheer and we weep not because this is such an unbelievable thing…but because, in the end, it confirms our true, core, HUMAN belief in, and the desire to wish well to, each other. It negates the little minds and colossal egos that take pleasure in humiliating other people, and it is “one in the eye” for all those people who ever put any of us down and destroyed any of our dreams.
Maybe the “take away” from this isn’t an indictment of how “shallow” we are to think that someone who’s not glamorous can sound so beautiful. Maybe the “take away” actually is that, Yes, we DO cheer for the underdog and mean it. Yes, we DO rejoice when she succeeds. And yes, that means that in the end, it’s really “never too late” for any of us until we stop breathing.
And that’s worth weeping a few tears of joy over, no matter what your age.
My (long) take,
Janny
Jen C says
No, Nathan, you were right. Simon knew. The way these shows are put together, they know what they’re getting. And this one – the unassuming older lady with the killer voice – was not something to be kept under wraps. It was brilliant theater.
The audience was surprised.
Simon is the creator of the show.The contestants in these shows usually go through a first round of auditions that we don’t see on TV, and after that they send the best and the worst of them through to the televised auditions.
The first round isn’t with the TV judges, so I’m not sure that they knew, but SOMEONE knew. The non-Simon male judge sure looked genuinely surprised. As for Simon, I think that’s about as animated as he gets!
Martin Willoughby says
There’s a ‘lemonade stand award’ doing the rounds at the moment. I have no idea if this leads to anything, but as it for great attitude I have nominated you.
Hope it leads to more recognition for your work in the blogsphere.
sworsess says
Re: Susan Boyle: Singing is a performance art, and performance requires self-awareness, and the way she presented herself before she started singing showed anything but self-awareness.
My best guess.
Nathan Bransford says
sworsess-
I agree with you there. I think her personal awkwardness followed by great poise when she was singing was what made it so surprising, not her attractiveness.