While I was away, I saw the very sad news that literary agent Janet Reid passed away.
In an industry notoriously slow to change and beholden to ancient (and often elitist) customs, it’s difficult to overstate what a game changer Janet represented as the biggest early blogging literary agent, first with the anonymous Miss Snark, and later with Janet Reid, Literary Agent and Query Shark.
Up until the late 2000s, many literary agencies didn’t even have websites and operated with a mindset of “the people who need to know who we are already know who we are.” Writers who lacked personal connections and/or the resources to attend the right conferences or MFA programs were more or less left in the dark. If they were lucky, they could peruse the mountainous LMP directory at their local library for some depersonalized addresses with which to send out some paper queries through the post office.
It’s now a given that there are Very Online literary agents who go to great lengths to spell out their very precise manuscript wishlists and give advice to writers far and wide, but early blogging agents risked accusations of unprofessionalism and some not so quiet grumbling about opening the floodgates to the unwashed masses. Janet, more than anyone else, bravely paved the way by providing democratizing advice that spread knowledge about best practices and industry customs beyond the elite circles in which it had been previously confined.
Her generosity of spirit was so clearly palpable behind the shark’s teeth, and she leaves behind a lasting legacy with the careers she shepherded and the innumerable writers who benefitted from the advice she provided. I don’t believe I ever met Janet in person, but when she linked to my fledgling blog when I was a young literary agent, it literally changed my life and you wouldn’t likely be reading this post today without the boost she gave me.
If you’d like to show your appreciation for Janet’s memory, agent Holly Root and others have established a GoFundMe that has already blown past the amount necessary to purchase a bench in Central Park in Janet’s honor, but additional funds will go to her favorite charities.
Here’s to the shark.
Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching!
For my best advice, check out my online classes, my guide to writing a novel and my guide to publishing a book.
And if you like this post: subscribe to my newsletter!
Art: Lamna nasus (NZ) : Porbeagle shark by Frank Edward Clarke
Thanks for the nice tribute, Nathan. Miss Snark got me started in the publishing business. I think I had three followers on my blog until the day she visited and approved of my post on bogus agents. After that, the blog took off. Janet was so kind beneath the Snark.
OMG!!! I had not heard this either. RIP Ms Reid. Your influence went further than any of us will ever know.
I had not heard this either. Thanks for letting us know, Nathan.
RIP Ms Reid
I was one of those Snark followers who first visited your blog when she highlighted it and directed everyone to go there. I’ve read every post since.
I like to think that both as Miss Snark and Janet Reid she not only clarified industry practices to those of us who were largely in the dark about them, she contributed to the standardization of those practices, particularly regarding query letters.
She’ll be around for a long time.
Ditto this in its entirety. Thank you, Nathan for letting us know. Thank you, Ms. Reid, for changing our world for us. We remain grateful recipients of the fruits of your efforts (not the least of which is this newsletter).
Me three. Janet’s passing feels like the end of the early Era of industry blogging. Looking back, getting the sharp end of Miss Snark’s tongue was a right off passage.
Janet Reid was my editor. She gave me focus and critique that made my manuscript work. I will be forever grateful to her for sticking with me. She was ruthless, articulate and kind. Although we never met in person, her passing leaves a void. I believed she would always be there when I needed her. Thank you Miss Shark.
I was so sad to see this (and sorry you had to get the news while on break, Nathan!) Query shark is a favorite literary blog of mine, and I agree with other commenters here that she’ll be around for a long time in many ways, having touched so many people.
I loved Miss Snark and never missed a post. Just so funny and snarky while brimming with generosity.
I thought her advice and wit were stupendous. RIP and thank you.
RIP. She is the only agent who ever said to me, “It’s publishable, and I might take it on if I were not so busy.” She also helped me with a query. I have just gotten a MS in shape to send to her. I never knew her, but I had to love someone who chose a shark for her avatar. The world is poorer for her passing.