Thursday, April 27, 2006

Sex, Sex, Sex

No, this post isn't about sex. I just wanted to see how many visitors I'd get to my happy harem with that as the subject line. Hey, I'm demented.

Hm. Sex.

Sex. Sex. Sex.

So sex sells, huh?

I was over to the Evil Editor's blog today where there were more intelligent conversations going on. Man, where have I been? This guy rocks.

Yesterday's post was about agents. Here's the link but do come back, I might even promise you sex, sex and more sex. NOT.

Anyway, he was talking about how important agents were and how tough it was to get one. Sort of like a Catch-22 situation. They won't look at you unless you've been published, yet you can't be published without one.

Well, I am published. Small press. Which is what his blog post today was about.

My opinion on the matter is that traditional still rocks. I don't care which way you look at it, that's the bomb in my book.

It's my dream. My conquest. I know I've made it when I get that publishing contract.

Hell, I'd at least like to get an agent anyway.

I know people who have agents and some are happy with them and some are not. There's something about being represented by one that really makes you want to hang on to them no matter what. Even if it takes years to get your book published.

But, that's just the way it is.

We can be happy about it or not.

I'd just like to have an agent, no matter what the future has in store.

I had an agent once. Terrible, terrible experience. She wanted to cut my book up, make it into two books, because as she put it "NY won't buy a book that long (110,000 words) from a newbie." Crash. Boom.

I started cutting, but when she said to cut out the new age soul mate stories and leave in the ordinary girl/boy soul mate stories, I cut ties with her.

Was that a mistake?

I didn't think so at the time and still to this day if I put her in search, nothing comes up, but I do know at least one person published with her and she's done very well for herself.

This particular author's book is SHORT. Not even 100 pages. Relationship book. Penguin is the publisher.

So, if I had listened to her and did what she told me, would I be published with Penguin? Who knows.

I went with my gut instincts instead. This is what I teach my clients who ask me about soul mate relationships. Trust your instincts; they're never wrong.

But, what if my instincts were sort of out of whack that day? Maybe I had a cold or something and their transmissions were off balance? What if there had been too many stresses that day and the intuition had had it for one day and went on a cruise to the Bahamas because they couldn't handle it anymore?

Who knows. What's done is done.

I do have a wonderful small press publisher, that much I can say, and no, I didn't need an agent, and yes I am a published author.

So, if I am a published author, where are all the freaking contracts I'm supposed to get? My sales are pretty good so doesn't that count for anything?

Okay, keep trying...I know. I've heard it from everywhere. Keep trying.

3 comments:

  1. Hang in there! You were right to go with your instincts I'm sure. There is a reason for everything, and I'm sure your "big" publishing will come in it's time. In the mean time enjoy the slower pace. Success is what you make it.

    I've been enjoying the stories. Some of them sound like fairy tales, but I believe they are all true.

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  2. I had a huge NYC lit agent for nearly a year. One thing I learned is that he or she MUST share your vision and enthusiasm. If you don't agree on anything, chances are you're with the wrong agent (or editor).

    A lot of prose can be cut without damaging the premise, plot, etc. It's merely a matter of knowing how to do it. I even sold a non-fiction article about this to The Ohio Writer Magazine. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to lower a word count by deleting unnecessary adverbs, adjectives, and looking for those phrases that often repeat what an author has already said.

    I think you were right by sticking to your guns.

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  3. You have to trust your instincts. I had an agent who was close to signing me but something in my instincts told me to decline. So I did. I don't know if it was the right decision or not, but I have faith in my instincts, so I don't second guess.

    Most of us are in the same boat, we keep trying because that is all we can do.

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